One face, two faces
* Make four enlarged photocopies of two children's faces. Leave two copies intact, cut one in two and cut the last into four pieces. * Show a child the two complete images and ask them to find both noses/mouths/noses.
Substitute another child's face for one of the images and repeat. Ask if the faces are the same or different. * With two children, offer them the two-piece jigsaws of themselves to put together. * Suggest they swap a piece to create another face. * Repeat the process using the four-piece jigsaws and try to make even funnier faces.
Where's my face?
* Sit behind a toddler in front of a large mirror. * Encourage them to tickle their chin or touch their nose in the mirror. * As they do this, gently tickle their chin/stroke their nose. * Repeat with other features.
Say the rhyme, 'Eye, nose, cheeky, cheeky chin, Cheeky, cheeky, chin, nose, eye. * Distract the child while you smear yoghurt over the mirror. * Look again at the mirror and wipe patches clean to reveal the child's face.
On the nose
* Encourage the children to explore the smells, tastes and textures of powders such as hot chocolate, strawberry milkshake, malted drink and icing sugar with green food colouring with peppermint essence (or other scent).
Place some powder on the child's fingertips and let them make marks on paper. * Repeat after adding water to the powders to make pastes. * Cover the tip of your nose with one of the pastes, and describe the smell.
Encourage the children to do the same.
Ear, ear
* Cut the bottoms from two stiff cardboard cups (don't leave any jagged edges). * Sit opposite a child and say their name quietly, then a little louder. * Cover your ears with the ends of two cups and explain that you are helping your ears to hear better. * Move the cups towards the child, say their name and exclaim, 'Oh, my voice sounds much clearer.' * Move the cups away from the child, repeat their name and exclaim, 'Now my voice sounds far away!' * Let the child try. If they are reluctant, cup your hands round your ears and suggest they copy you.
Alice Sharp is the director of training company Experential Play in Glasgow