Planning activities for a child who isn’t a baby anymore, yet isn’t quite a toddler, may seem difficult. Although the young one is still wobbling a little and trying to master the art of speaking, there are plenty of things to do with your young child. Think for a moment of how the world looks through his or her eyes. There are so many things that your child will discover on a daily basis. By doing activities with young children, it will set them off on the right foot as they continue to grow older.
Fingerprint Art
Although kids this age haven’t yet learned what all of the different colors are, this activity allows them to have a little fun by using their own hands. All you need to have are paper, ink/stamp pads of different colors, and markers. By pressing your child’s finger into the stamp pad (non-toxic), you can show him/her how to create different shapes.
Naming Cards
These are the big, colorful cards that have pictures of different objects on them. Some have pictures of body parts or food. By going through each card, you can point to the card and also point to that particular part on his/her body so that it can be identified. Go through these cards in short bursts, to account for the shorter attention span of your young child. Over time, you'll be delighted to see how your child begins to grasp these concepts.
Playing in The Water
Bath time can be lots of fun. When your child is sitting in the tub, get several containers of different sizes and fill each one of them with water. This will show your child that things come in various sizes. Get a boat or rubber duckie for your child, to help show them the concept of floating. They'll enjoy being able to play with either toy, too!
Toy Instruments
There are toys that come in different types of instruments. By playing on a toy xylophone or toy piano, your young child can be introduced to the world of music. They'll also be able to work on their fine motor skills, which will help them be ready for preschool.
Noise Making
Depending on the time of day, your child can learn how to create noise by banging on several things. By getting out different pots and pans, they can be used as drums with wooden spoons as drumsticks. Just remember to make sure that everyone else in the house is awake!
Roleplaying with Dolls or Stuffed Animals
Giving personalities to dolls and stuffed animals can be a really fun activity. Both you and your child can give names to each of them and create a story. They can even represent different members of the family, too. This is a fantastic way to help your child learn to recognize certain animals. Start easy, with animals like dogs, cats, birds, and other common creatures.
Soft Alphabet Blocks
The alphabet will be taught to your child once he or she enters pre-school. By introducing young kids to the alphabet, they can have a head start on learning how to identify the letters of the alphabet. Plus, your child will enjoy stacking the blocks. This can help them with their coordination and gross motor skills.
Stacking Rings
This toy introduces a young child to different colors and shapes. As they stack the rings, they might notice that they don’t fit properly and will learn the concept of how to make objects or different parts fit together. As they get older, you can move to more difficult ring or block puzzles. This will help them learn to problem-solve, a critical skill they'll need once they enter school.
This is a really exciting time in a child’s life. By surrounding a one to two year old with different activities, they are sure to enjoy learning and grasping as much as they can. You'll enjoy spending quality time with them and watching them grow.