Toddlers learn new words and concepts at an amazing rate. Any parent of a toddler knows how quickly their young child can pick up new words (and how important it is to be careful what they say when the little one is around!). For this reason, it is absolutely vital that parents choose toys, books, games and activities that will teach the right skills and lessons – not just those that serve as marketing tools for television shows and movies.
You may think that crayons are for older children, but as long as your toddler has gotten past the chewing-on-everything stage, non-toxic (and preferably washable) crayons and several sheets of white paper make for an entertaining activity that develops fine motor skills. (Remember that toddlers often have difficulty keeping their art on their paper, so the surface underneath their paper should be easy to wipe clean.) Point out the colors of the various crayons; draw familiar animals and objects (like balls and flowers) and have your toddler guess what they are. Applaud your toddler’s own efforts, even though his or her drawings will remain “abstract art” for the time being!
Most other crafts will remain outside your toddler’s ability for the time being, but “play dough” (either store bought or homemade) is another fun choice as long as your child is properly supervised and the dough is non-toxic.
A nice collection of board books is essential for a young toddler. At first, the child will just enjoy looking at the pictures and pointing out familiar objects and animals. As his or her vocabulary grows, ask questions about the pictures and situations in the books: “We saw some of these animals in the zoo, didn’t we? Did you see the monkeys jumping and climbing?” This activity will build vocabulary and also help the child connect book learning with real-life memories, reinforcing both. Older toddlers are better able to follow storylines and enjoy books with plots.
Classic games and toys, such as building blocks and wooden puzzles, are also excellent learning tools. Building blocks in particular are fun to use with other toys in ways that foster the imagination: your child can build a “house” for toy horses or dolls, a garage for toy cars, or just a tall tower to knock down when your child has a little extra destructive energy to work out of his or her system. As for puzzles, the best kind to start with is a non-interlocking wooden puzzle with pictures of each puzzle piece in the frame and pegs on the pieces to make them easier to hold.
Although the typical toddler may not be quite ready for games with complex rules, the “Memory” game is a good grow-with-me activity. This familiar game is usually played by turning the pieces picture-side-down and trying to match them up from memory. For your toddler, however, spread the cards out picture-side-up, hand your child a card, and ask him or her to try to find the match (“Here’s a puppy – do you see the other puppy?”). Later on, learning to play the game the more difficult way will be easy; learning to take turns with another player will probably prove more of a challenge!
Equally important as the activities and games you choose is the daily practice of helping the child to learn more words by using descriptive language in everyday life. For instance, when putting away the groceries (an activity that many toddlers actually find fascinating), let your child touch the fuzzy brown kiwi fruit and the bumpy yellow lemon – and describe them.
With all of these activities, providing gentle guidance while allowing the child to use his or her imagination is an important balance for the parent to maintain.
