We play with the toys. I choose a toy and show them what it can do, how to use imagination - make the car park in the garage, or the window open and close, or do a shape sorting activity. In most cases it is a toy they are just learning to use so gives them some idea of the various things they can do with the toy. At the same time it allows me to teach how I expect the toy to be treated. Often I will start with an activity and then gradually withdraw myself leaving the children to play taking note of where each one is in terms of manipulating the parts, using imagination, etc.

We will actually do more of this kind of play at the under 2 stage rather than art. What the children are learning is arm, hand, finger control, hand-eye coordination, sticking with a task, following directions - all of the skills needed to be successful with art.

We use things like blocks or a row of hot wheel cars to do math - count how many, sort by colour or size or some other attribute, create patterns.

This form of teaching is very cheap in the sense of you work with what you already have and what is of interest to the children and because it is always out in the playroom they can repeat an activity as often as they want. To extend the lessons make some generic items such as cut four large circles or squares from construction paper and glue to a sheet of bristolboard. Then put the board with a dish of blocks to sort by colour or another day use a dish of cars.