Games and activities for your toddler 13-24 months

A toddler is constantly learning new things. They learn new things from you, from the environment, their friends, and anything that they can hear or see. They have a lot of energy and they constantly want to show their newfound ability to stand or walk or grasp things. 

To support a toddler’s development through 13 to 24 months, you can engage them in the following activities and games:

Talking and reading to develop their communication

During the second year of your baby’s growth, their communication skills are also developing. You can help them everyday in tons of interesting ways. The more that you communicate with your baby and the more attention that you give, the better they are able to learn. Here are some ways in which you can help them by talking or reading:

• Teach your baby new and easy words with the help of stories. Babies love story time. Use a colorful and engaging book with pictures to grab your baby’s attention. Through pictures, your baby will associate the words with actual things. Read the stories out aloud to them while they are in the bath or before going to sleep. They will grasp interesting sounds and words while listening to you. 
• Along with stories, rhymes and songs are the easiest ways to widen your baby’s vocab. Babies find it very fun to sing along to rhymes. Through rhymes, babies can learn sounds more easily and will retain most of the words.
• You can also introduce new sounds to your baby like the sound of a bell by playing it for them. You can also make the sound of the dog barking or “meow” like the cat. This is also very interesting for them. Through this, they will be able to learn what sounds various animals or things make. 

Simple chores and cleaning around the house

When your baby reaches about 18 months, they would want to be involved in things that the older people in the house are doing. Childhood is the best time to teach your child good manners and set good habits. So, these are some simple chores that you can expect them to learn if you instruct them properly by the 24th month:

• Eat beside you on the table and use their spoons and plates. 
• Put away the utensils after eating. 
• Wipe their toys and furniture. 
• Clean up after their own spills. 
• Pick up and place their toys in the proper place.
• Put their books in the designated spaces. 
• Ask them to help you out during laundry. You can engage them in separating colors or putting together pairs of socks. 
• You can engage your little one in the kitchen once in a while. They love to be a part of the work process. So, give them simple tasks like fetching some dish or putting away dishes. Babies love to play with ingredients: allow them to stir or mix ingredients.

Playing 

There aren’t any toddlers that will hate the right kind of games that are suited to their age. 

Outdoor 

• Your baby is learning to walk and run. You can take your baby outside and condition them to be on the ground outside. 
• Take your baby to a park where there are other kids and encourage parallel play where they don’t play with each other but play beside each other. This way they will learn to stay around other kids and be accustomed to the soon coming school environment as well. 

Toys

• Offer your little one a small ball and teach them to throw or kick the ball forward. They will love the idea of being able to control the ball. 
• Engage your baby with colorful puzzles and toys and teach them the colors and shapes.

Writing and drawing

• Between the 18th and 24th month, your baby might be ready to learn how to hold a marker or a crayon. If you are able to teach your toddler how to do that, you can offer them the option of coloring in a book. You might be able to help them learn the association of colors and the names of colors. 

Cuddles and positive attention

Your baby will be making a lot of progress this year. As a parent, stand by them and help them in each of their new steps. If your baby is looking for your validation, be there to soothe them and affirm their actions. Physically holding and hugging your baby is necessary to ensure that they feel safe and secure with their parents. 

References:

• Quick guide: tips to develop your child through everyday activities (13-24 months): https://sg.theasianparent.com/toddler-developments-activities-13-24months
• 20 fun activities for a toddler (12-18 months): https://chicklink.com/20-activities-for-a-toddler/
• Second Year, 13-24 Months: http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/why-0-3/parenting/guide/second-year