Be Prepared: Put two board books in each tote bag and place the tote bags near, but not in, your room’s book area. Enhance the book area with cushions, if available.

Invite 2–4 toddlers to each carry one tote bag to the book area. Explain there are books in each tote bag. Describe toddlers’ carrying actions. Example: “Everyone is carrying a bag to our book area.” Encourage toddlers to sit down and take books out of their bag. Move from child to child to talk about books in the bag. Example: “Mateo, you took books out of the bag. Look, one of your books is about ducks.” Some toddlers may turn pages and point to pictures. Others may take books out of their bag and be ready to move on. Talk with toddlers about pictures in books of interest. Repeat and extend toddlers’ comments and recognize their actions, like pointing to a book or picture.

Encourage each toddler to put the books in the bag when he/she is done looking at them and then carry the bag to a place you designate, which could be the bags’ original location outside the book area. Draw toddlers’ attention to parts of their body used to move and hold books and carry a bag.

Be Prepared: Place the paper bags, food containers, and toy foods in the dramatic play area or in a space you create for a pretend grocery store. The small tote bags used in Option 1 can be used for carrying items in this activity, too.

Invite several toddlers to join you to put pretend food items into grocery bags. Create a simple grocery store theme for the activity that involves each toddler packing a bag, carrying bags to a designated area, and taking items out of a bag. Talk with toddlers about what they are putting into the bags, including sizes of items. Some toddlers may wish to add other toys to the bags, such as dolls or toy dishes. Offer a smaller bag to a toddler who has recently begun to walk.

Help toddlers determine how much they can put in a bag without things falling out or the bag becoming too heavy. If you do not wish to pursue this useful cognitive challenge as part of the activity, consider setting a limit on the number of items each toddler can put into and carry in a bag.

Draw toddlers’ attention to the parts of their body used for picking up food items and for carrying the bag, including the use of two hands. Examples: “Josh’s bag has handles. He is carrying his bag with both hands holding the bag handles.” “Candice has both of her hands under her bag.”