“I do it myself!” That may be your toddler’s mantra, embracing every opportunity to learn, do, and become more independent. Role-play toys that encourage pretending will help your child understand new experiences, bringing the big world down to size.
Express a range of moods, from joy to frustration to jealousy
“It's what all of us moms want to do: provide the best for our little ones—whether it’s fresh produce, shoes that fit properly, or a toy that will boost her brain matter.”
He's on the move, walking forward, sideways and backward as well as running
Her rapidly-increasing vocabulary may range from 50 to 200 words
He can express a range of moods, from joy to frustration to jealousy
She can use shape sorters and throw balls
He can follow basic directions
She can scoot on toddler ride-on toys
He can stack one block on another
Toys to refine eye-hand coordination
I Can Play™ Basketball
Little People® Builders Build ’n Fun Palace™
Growing Baby™ Animal Activity Puzzle
Help your child learn more:
Nurture curiosity and problem-solving skills by providing gentle encouragement as he explores the toy's properties and responses to his actions. Your enthusiasm now will give him the confidence to tackle bigger challenges later on.
Make connections—this is a prime age for making connections between colors, shapes, etc. and their names. Reinforce these by saying color names out loud and pointing them out on the toy. Do the same with shapes or other features.
Demonstrate and explain over/under, up/down, in/out, loud/soft. Putting words to what’s happening with a toy helps your child understand the concepts behind language.
Ride-on toys for toddlers
Brilliant Basics™ Roll-Along Musical Pony™
Ford F-250 Super Duty
Rock, Roll ’n Ride Trike™
Help your child learn more:
Clear a path all around so he won't be frustrated by bumping into things. As he gains more control, he'll learn to steer around obstacles.
Create a route for her to follow, with guideposts along the way. This will challenge her coordination and thinking skills as she anticipates what to do to reach the destination.
Build understanding of directions by saying the words as he moves forward and back and makes the vehicle stop, go or turn. He'll quickly learn that his actions put him in control.
Stimulate imagination by suggesting trips for her to take, passengers to bring along… even snacks to eat along the way. Having her own set of wheels will come in handy when your child is ready for role playing.
Cars, trucks, trains and other vehicles
Little People® Zoo Talkers™ Animal Sounds Zoo Train
Little People® Wheelies™ Zig the Big Rig™
Little People® Wheelies™ Stand ’n Play™ Rampway
Help your child learn more:
Read picture books about different types of vehicles and what they're used for. Talking with him is especially important at this stage, when he's building receptive language.
Encourage listening to directions (keep them simple at this age) and get her thinking about problem solving. Create little stories and assign small jobs to complete. "Can you drive the truck over to the door and unload the boulders there?"
Let him haul things around in his vehicles, or use them to transport people from place to place to foster understanding of each vehicle's purpose. Tell him how helpful he is, and you'll really bolster his confidence.
Building playsets
Little People® Builders Load ’n Go Wagon
Little People® Classic Shapes Blocks
Little People® Builders Build ’n Drive Dump Truck™
Help your child learn more:
Explore the toy with your child, expressing interest in its features and strengthening thinking skills by questioning how it works: "I wonder what happens when we put the ball in here? … What do you think will happen when we push this lever?"
Read picture books together about construction work. Point out construction vehicles when you see them on the road, and remind your child of their similarity to his toy.
Foster imaginative play and ability to follow directions by giving little construction "jobs" to do. "We need to unload those boulders over here. Can you help?"
Children develop at their own pace and reach milestones at different times. The highlights mentioned in this website are approximate guidelines only. If you have any questions about your child's development, consult your healthcare provider.
Animal Walk
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Dr. Doolittle sings a song called "Talk Like the Animals," but your baby can "Walk Like the Animals" with a little assistance from you. All you need are a little imagination and a creative step!
Materials
Pictures of animals
Marching music
Floor space
Instructions
Pick out pictures of animals that have a distinct walk, such as an elephant (sways back and forth), a cat (tiptoes), a dog (runs), a snake (slithers), a crane (high-steps), a duck (waddles), a mouse (scurries), a spider (uses all its arms and legs), and so on.
Put on some marching music to inspire your Animal Walk.
Stand in the middle of a large floor space and show your baby the first animal picture.
Then begin to walk like the animal, using your body creatively.
Encourage your baby to follow your footsteps.
After a few moments, pick another animal and change your walk to suit.
Safety
Be sure the floor space is clear so your baby doesn't trip over anything.
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Look who’s not talking! Help!
My son is 22 months old and does not talk to anyone but me and his daddy. He only points to things if other people are around. I have tried to get him to speak up, but it’s a no-go, and I’m worried that his speech may stall as a result of not talking all the time, or even trying to talk. Please help me. I’m very worried.
If he is already talking to you and his daddy, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. It sounds as though he’s just a bit shy around other people and needs a little reassurance that his contribution will be accepted. If, when oth
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