Alligator Swamp

Can your child rescue the beanbag frog without stepping on any of the alligators? This first obstacle course lets her rise--or hop--to the occasion. Set up the game by giving her a bucket of socks or fabric scraps to toss around the room; these are the alligators. Now throw a beanbag into the middle and see if she can get to it, pick it up, and wend her way back, all without disturbing one of the pretend reptiles. For a more advanced challenge, ask her to hop there and back on one foot. When you're done playing, make a game of the clean-up too: challenge her to gather all of the socks before you count to 10.

Variation: Leaping Lily Pads On a carpeted floor, have your toddler hop from one sock to the next, like a frog, to snatch up the beanbag dragonfly.