Play ideas for 12 to 18 months

17 things to do

• Laundry basket push6 min · you need a laundry basket, a stuffed animal · Pushing something heavy-ish gives a new walker steadiness and a job to do.
• Shopping bag helper5 min · you need unbreakable groceries: a box of pasta, a bag of bread, a roll of paper towels · Carrying and helping make a toddler feel capable, and every item has a name.
• Where's your nose?3 min · nothing to get · Body parts are some of the first words toddlers understand and point to.
• Socks in the basket5 min · you need a basket, a pile of rolled-up socks · Throwing at a target gives a toddler practice aiming and letting go.
• Find the lid5 min · you need two or three pots and their lids · Trying lids until one fits is early problem solving.
• Posting slot6 min · you need a shoebox, big plastic lids from food tubs · Turning a lid to fit a slot takes careful hands and a bit of thinking.
• Pasta in a bottle5 min · you need a clean plastic bottle with a wide mouth, large dry pasta tubes · Picking up one small thing and dropping it in a small hole builds a careful pinch.
• Tape on the floor5 min · you need painter's or masking tape · Peeling tape is a good workout for little fingers.
• Walk like a duck5 min · nothing to get · Moving like animals mixes walking practice with animal names and sounds.
• Ring Around the Rosie4 min · nothing to get · Falling down at the end is the best part, and your toddler learns to wait for it.
• Stop-and-go walk8 min · nothing to get · Starting and stopping on a word is early practice in listening and self-control.
• Scoop and pour in the dirt10 min · you need a patch of dirt or sand, old cups and spoons · Scooping and pouring take careful hands, and dirt is endlessly interesting.
• Paint with water8 min · you need a paintbrush, a cup of water · Painting with water is all the fun of painting with nothing to clean up.
• Pick the book6 min · you need two books · Choosing the book gives your toddler a say, and turning pages is part of reading.
• Wheels on the Bus actions4 min · nothing to get · Actions help toddlers join in with a song before they can sing the words.
• Pretend phone call3 min · you need a wooden block or a hairbrush · Pretending one thing is another is a big step in thinking, and phone calls are all talk.
• Blanket hide3 min · you need a light blanket · Being found is a joyful game that toddlers ask for again and again.