| If you have a toddler, you already know that he or she | | | | just the right way to fit into the puzzle, but it kept them |
| is a little bundle of endless energy! My twin boys turned | | | | busy for 10-15 minutes at a time and it was amazing |
| two several months ago, and they have been | | | | how much they remembered each time they sat |
| non-stop action since they learned to walk. There is | | | | down to do their puzzles. Shape sorters are also |
| never a dull moment! It's been a long time since I've | | | | great. We've had several different ones, and the boys |
| had a toddler in the house and I had forgotten how | | | | have responded better to some than others. We |
| quickly they grow and how much they learn during this | | | | found a neat one at Baby Depot that is shaped like a |
| toddler stage. | | | | toolbox on the outside and is a shape sorter on the |
| At this age toddlers are developing many motor skills. | | | | inside. My boys have spent many hours figuring out |
| There are two main types of motor skills: gross motor | | | | which shapes go where. The toolbox makes a sound |
| skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills involve | | | | when the shape is placed in the correct hole. |
| large muscles, and are strengthened by walking | | | | Songs with Hand Motions |
| running, climbing, and general play. Fine motor skills | | | | Toddlers love to sing and dance. Songs with hand |
| involve mostly the hands and fingers and hand to eye | | | | motions are a great way for toddlers to learn fine |
| coordination. Your toddler will strengthen many of | | | | motor skills. My boys started doing small hand motions |
| these abilities on his or her own, but there are many | | | | at around 18 months old, but after about age 2 they |
| ways you can encourage and help them to develop | | | | were ready to do most of the hand motions to their |
| their motor skills. | | | | favorite songs. Some of their favorites: "Itsy-Bitsy |
| Eating and Grooming | | | | Spider", "Patty Cake", "If You're Happy and You Know |
| The easiest way to encourage your toddler to | | | | it Clap Your Hands". Sunday school favorites include: |
| develop motor skills is to have them help with | | | | "Deep and Wide" and "This Little Light of Mine". |
| everyday activities like feeding and grooming | | | | Free Play and Exercise |
| themselves. Toddlers are famously messy when | | | | Playing is a great way to develop both gross and fine |
| eating, but this is the age when they should be using a | | | | motor skills. Running, jumping, hopping, and skipping are |
| spoon and fork to feed themselves, as messy as it | | | | all skills your toddler will eventually master. I'll never |
| may be. This will greatly help their fine motor skills and | | | | forget the first time one of my boys jumped. He |
| hand to eye coordination. Your toddler will also enjoy | | | | squatted all the way down on the ground and threw |
| dressing and undressing, combing their own hair, and | | | | himself up in the air with his hands all the way up, and |
| brushing their own teeth. | | | | jumped about a half an inch off the ground. It was the |
| Drawing and Coloring | | | | most hysterical thing I'd ever seen. When you catch |
| A toddler as young as 18 months old is capable of | | | | your toddler doing these types of activities you can |
| coloring. I didn't know this until my boys brought home | | | | encourage them to keep doing them to develop these |
| their first coloring page from Sunday School. I couldn't | | | | skills. |
| believe it! Toddlers love to scribble. Walmart sells some | | | | While your toddler may or may not be ready for a |
| great oversized coloring books that my boys love to | | | | tricycle yet, this is a good age to introduce one to |
| color in. Sit and color with them and show them how | | | | them, so they will know what's expected and be |
| to hold the crayon. My boys love to take the crayons | | | | ready to jump on and pedal away when they're ready. |
| out of my hands and tell me "no" when I try to color on | | | | My boys are also working on mastering climbing jungle |
| the same page with them! | | | | gyms at the park, and playing "catch". Throwing and |
| Puzzles and Shape Sorters | | | | catching a large ball is great for developing your |
| Puzzles and shape sorters are great for toddlers 18+ | | | | toddler's hand to eye coordination. At first just have |
| months old. Again, I was surprised at how young my | | | | your toddler hold out their arms and throw the ball into |
| boys were able to place pieces into a wooden puzzle. | | | | their arms so it is easy for them to catch. They will |
| It took them a couple of months to figure out which | | | | soon get the idea! |
| pieces went where and to be able to turn the pieces | | | | |