Journaling for toddlers doesn’t look like writing words — it looks like art, glue, counting, and imagination. This Tot Journal activity invites young children to respond creatively to a familiar story while strengthening fine motor skills and early math concepts through play.
Inspired by the book Goodnight Zoo, this activity encourages toddlers to explore cause and effect, creativity, and counting in a calm, open-ended way.
Skills Supported
- Early Math Concepts – counting objects in a meaningful context
- Fine Motor Skills – squeezing glue, placing small objects
- Creativity & Imagination – storytelling through art
Materials
- White glue
- Construction paper or mixed media paper
- Googly eyes
How to Do the Activity
- Read Goodnight Zoo together.
- Show your child the page where the room is completely dark and only a pair of eyes can be seen.
- Tell your child that you’re going to create a picture of all the animals that came to sleep with the zookeeper.
- Invite your child to explore the glue freely:
- Let them squeeze a little
- Let them squeeze a lot
- Talk about what happens when glue spreads
- Model placing googly eyes onto the glue.
- Encourage your child to add eyes wherever they choose.
- As the page fills up, pause to count how many eyes are on the paper together.
- Set the artwork aside to dry and admire their creation.
There’s no right or wrong way to do this activity — the process matters more than the final result.
Learning Through the Process
As your child plays, they are:
- Strengthening hand muscles needed for future writing
- Practicing counting in a meaningful, visual way
- Exploring creativity without instructions or expectations
- Connecting stories to personal expression
How This Activity Grows With Your Child
For Younger Toddlers:
The focus is on squeezing, placing, and exploring materials. Counting may sound like “one, two, many” — and that’s okay.
For Older Toddlers:
Children may begin counting eyes more intentionally, grouping them, or telling stories about which animals are awake.
The same materials support deeper learning as skills develop.
Bonus Activity Note
This Tot Journal is a bonus activity in the Home Play Curriculum — perfect for slower days, quiet afternoons, or when you want to extend learning through books and creativity.
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