Task boxes for toddlers and children in preschool are so important for child development. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I use task boxes all of the time to help support the little ones I work with, and these are DIY and inexpensive. This task box package (digital thematic templates with instructions) are great for early interventionists and educators including Speech-Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and ABA therapists. Additionally, preschool teachers, and parents and caregivers will love these versatile task boxes to help children develop their skills! This task box system digital package includes the following thematic activities:
Under the Sea, Treasure Hunt, Camping, Farm Animals, and Pond Life: each activity incorporates speech and fine motor skills for toddlers and children in preschool.
These task boxes are created with the focus on the following skills:
Speech Skills
-in/out & open/close, following directions, picture Matching, concepts: big & little, turn-taking Interactions for sharing, and supports joint attention and engagement to increase time spent on task completion.
Fine Motor Skills
Pick up with Pincer Grip, Horizontal/Vertical slots for problem-solving, take off/put in for multi-step directions, and facilitates task completion.
Here is how to set up: Treasure Map/Under the Sea (Product & Supply List listed at end of tutorial)
1.Print Treasure Map/Under the Sea slide pictures on 8.5 X 11 Sticker Template
2.Peel off Treasure Map Sticker and place on shoebox. (Optional: use clear adhesive tape to place over sticker to make it last long).
3.Use sharp tool (i.e., scissors, craft knife, etc.) to cut along red lines to create slots in the template on top of the shoebox.
4.Print label stickers for discs (see Treasure Map Label Stickers 1 and 2 in product file).
5.Peel off label stickers and place on discs (if your discs have protective film on them KEEP IT ON as it softens the edges of the discs). (Optional: clear masking tape to place over sticker label to make it last longer).
6.Place the cover stickers (total of 4) on each side of the box for efficient storage.
Here is how it can work for you:
1.Depending on child’s skill level, give the child a disc and say what’s on the picture. Your little ones can also choose their discs from the pile and place them into the box.
2.Your child can work on putting the disc in the horizontal/vertical slots either independently or with your help (you can teach your child by showing them how to put the disc “in” (horizontal first if just learning). Gently take their hands and place them on the disc to push “in” the box. Tell your little ones, “in, in, in” to help them understand the concept as they make the movement to push the disc “in” the box.
3.You can also place the discs in the slots and have them stick out just enough for your little ones to begin pushing them “in.”
4.Your little ones can also explore the box and take the discs out of the box. Tell your child what you’re doing as you’re doing it (i.e., now we open the box, now we close the box)
5.Encourages turn-taking when working with children in groups or with siblings.
6.Describe the sea monsters, snakes, mountains, boats, buried treasure and more as you play together. Encourage building a story about maps and buried treasure! Read “Addy’s Treasure Adventure” as a paired activity (check out author read-aloud on the Simplicity Happens YouTube channel)!
Here is a video of my three year old playing with the treasure hunt task box:
How to Set Up: Farm Animals & Camping
1.Print Farm Animals/Camping pictures on 8.5 X 11 Sticker Template
2.Peel off and place on shoebox. (Optional: use clear adhesive tape to place over sticker to make it last longer).
3.Use sharp tool (i.e., scissors, craft knife, etc.) to cut along the sides of the red boxes to make square holes in the top of the shoebox.
4.Print Farm Animals/Camper label stickers on 8.5 X 11 sticker sheets for clothespins. Cut along the black outline with scissors. You can put them on one side or both sides.
5.Place the label stickers on the clothespins. (Optional: clear masking tape to place over sticker to make it last longer).
6.Place the cover stickers (total of 4) on each side of the box for efficient storage.
How it works for you:
1.Line up the clothespins on the side of the box (or on another item that you can put beside the box).
2.Your child can work on taking “off” and putting “in” the campers/animals. Your children can independently or with your help (you can teach your child by showing them how to put the clothespin “in” (horizontal first if just learning). Gently take their hands and help them take the clothespins “off” and push “in” the box. Tell your little ones, “in, in, in” to help them understand the concept as they make the movement to push the clothespin “in” the box.
3.You can also place the clothespins in the slots and have them stick out just enough for your little ones to begin pushing them “in.” Talk about what you’re doing (i.e., now we put the piggy in here.).
4.Your little ones can also explore the box and take the clothespins out of the box. Tell your child what you’re doing as you’re doing it (i.e., now we open the box, now we close the box).
5.Encourages turn-taking when working with children in groups or with siblings.
6.Describe the farm animals and campers as you play together. Encourage building a story around the theme! Talk about your own experiences about camping and/or visiting a farm and share your funny stories!
How to set up: Big/Little Fish Pond
1.Print Pond picture on 8.5 X 11 Sticker Template
2.Peel off and place on shoebox (Optional: use clear masking tape to place over sticker to make it last longer).
3.Use sharp tool (i.e., scissors, craft knife, etc.) to cut along red dashes to create slots in the template on top of the shoebox.
4.Print pictures of big and little animals (i.e., frog, turtle, fish) by cutting along the black outlines.
5.Glue each animal back-to-back on a popsicle stick to make it two-sided. (Optional: use clear masking tape to place over sticker to make it last longer).
6.Place the cover stickers (total of 4) on each side of the box for efficient storage.
Here is how it works for you:
1.Line up the big & little animals on the top slots of the box.
2.Your child can work on taking “out” and putting “in” the popsicle sticks with the big/little animals. Your children can independently or with your help (you can teach your child by showing them how to take out the popsicle stick and put it “in” the box. Gently take their hands and help them take the popsicle sticks “out” and push “in” the box. Tell your little ones, “in, in, in” to help them understand the concept as they make the movement to push the popsicles “in” the box. You can also give them the popsicle stick to learn the concept of “in.”
3.Your little ones can first learn to put the animals in the ponds so they can the put the big fish in the little pond or the little turtle in the big pond or the little frog in the little pond. Don’t worry about teaching big & little just yet if your child is still working on basic concepts including “in, ” “on,” etc.
4.To teach big & little concepts, go over each animal and talk about how they are big or little. Ask your child to give you the little turtle or the big fish. As your child begins to understand the concept of big & little, you can take the animals out and talk about what you’re doing (i.e., I’m putting the big fish in the big pond. What are you going to do?).
5.Encourage turn-taking when working with children in groups or with siblings.
6.Describe the pond animals as you play together. Encourage building a story around the theme! Talk about your own experiences about going to the pond and share your funny stories!
To purchase this template package with instruction guide, click here to visit the Simplicity Happens shop:
Click here to view the supply list I used to create the early intervention task box system