Dress for the Place

Where are we going, and what should we wear? Today your little one gets a simple paper person and dresses them for different places: somewhere snowy, rainy, hot or sunny. It connects the weather, the places we go and how clothes help protect our bodies.

What you need

• A paper person (draw a simple outline on cardstock, or trace your child's favorite toy)

• Paper clothes: a coat, hat, mittens, boots, raincoat, umbrella, shorts, T-shirt, sun hat, sunglasses

• Four "place" cards: draw or print a snowy place, a rainy place, a hot beach and a sunny park

• Crayons, child-safe scissors and a glue stick or tape (optional)

How to do it

1. Make the clothes. Draw and cut out the clothes, or let your child color them first. Grown-ups can do the cutting.

2. Pick a place. Turn over a place card: "Our paper friend is going to the snow!"

3. Dress them. Your child chooses the clothes that fit the place and lays them on the paper person.

4. Explain it. Ask, "Why did you choose mittens? How do they help your body?" (They keep hands warm.)

5. Switch places. Take the clothes off and try the next card. Rain, sun, heat: every place needs something different.

Why we love it

This is early science and social studies in one. Kids learn that clothes do a job: they keep us warm, dry and safe from the sun. It also opens a bigger conversation. Clothes can reflect culture and family traditions too, like a special outfit for a holiday, a celebration or a place of worship. Ask, "Do we have special clothes we wear for celebrations?"

Tips from our table

• Start with two places, snowy and sunny, before adding more.

• Look out the window first. "What should our paper friend wear today?"

• Try it for real. Let your child pick their own outfit for tomorrow's weather.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• White cardstock

• Crayola toddler safety scissors

• Elmer's glue sticks

• Crayola jumbo crayons

• Shop everything for Week 3: My Body

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our My Body activities, Letter C activities and Number 3 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.