I-Spy Tray Activity

Table of Contents:

1. Need a game for siblings to play? Check out this I-Spy tray.
2. Setting up an I-Spy Tray is so easy!
3. How to play I-Spy tray with siblings
4. What are toddlers learning here?
5. Will you make an I-Spy Tray at home?

View more

Need a game for siblings to play? Check out this I-Spy tray.

There are a few ways to help keep the peace with siblings. Separate them permanently in their rooms – if they can’t see each other, they can’t fight. Put them in bubbles so they can’t touch each other. Or find a really simple activity that they can play successfully at together.

Since I can’t lock them away or put them in bubbles, my favorite way to help siblings play together is with this easy I-Spy Tray.

Setting up an I-Spy Tray is so easy!

Materials:
(this list contains affiliate links)

• Random toys and items
• Tray (ours came with this toy)

I-Spy on it’s own is a great game for toddlers but it can be a little overwhelming. Endless possibilities! Hundreds of choices to spy!

And the toddler mind has a hard time focusing on what to pick.

So for my take on I-Spy, I set up a tray of toddler friendly items to minimize the choices and keep things simple.

How to play I-Spy tray with siblings

The trick to setting up a really successful I-Spy tray is to use only items your kids have words for. My youngest toddler has a word for “penguin” but she doesn’t have a word for, say, “duck billed platypus”. Stick with toys and items that your kids knows and can identify.

I set up I-Spy tray all the time for my toddlers as a quick game to play together.

I select the toys to use in the tray and arrange them carefully. I’m making sure I don’t get too many of one color or anything that could be particularly confusing.

My toddlers sit across from each other and take turn “spying” different objects in the tray.

• “I-spy an animal.”
• “I spy something yellow.”
• “I spy a letter.”

Because the choices are limited, I’m using their toys, and they have the vocabulary to describe each item I’ve picked, this activity is simple and successful for both kids.

Frustrated siblings or someone feeling “behind” is a recipe for sibling play disaster. I remove the element of frustration by limiting the activity.

What are toddlers learning here?

Toddlers learn so much with this simple I-Spy game!

• Speech development
• Vocabulary
• Taking turns
• Game play skills
• Descriptive words / attributes

Playing I-Spy might seem like a simple, mundane activity but it’s actually a super powerful game for toddlers to play.

And the simplicity of the set up makes it a great chance for siblings to practice playing together. Since everyone can be successful and the game has no winners or losers, it’s a great first step to sibling game play.

Making an I-Spy tray is a quick and easy toddler activity that your kids will love. They’ll also love this chance for simple sibling play without much parent help required.

Will you make an I-Spy Tray at home?