You and your toddler will have lots of fun playing these simple games, and they'll help her development, too.
12 to 16 months
Coming to life
Pretend your child's favorite teddy or doll is real—make him walk, go to bed, or dance around the room. Include him in everyday activities—sitting him at the table for dinner, for example, and putting a bib on him. Talking about what you're doing helps your toddler with her language skills. Act out happy and sad times so she can learn about feelings and emotions as she's developing her imagination.
Push me, pull you
If your toddler is pulling himself up and trying to walk, help him practice with a pushing and pulling game. Use a moveable object such as a child-size chair or plastic stacking box filled with soft toys. While he holds the edges for support, you can hold the other side and keep it steady. Then slowly pull the box toward you to encourage him to step forward. Soon he'll start to push while you gently pull. This will build his confidence for the day he finally walks on his own.
Clap happy
By now your toddler can hold her hands open, but it may be a while before she claps independently. For now, clap them together for her, or let her hold your hands while you pat them together. Sit her facing you on the floor or on your lap and sing clapping songs like patty-cake. These will boost her language skills as well as her hand-eye coordination.
Who's hiding here?
Just as he loved peekaboo as a baby, your toddler will love to play simple games of hide-and-seek. First thing in the morning, take turns hiding under the bedsheets. At bath time, use a big towel. For extra fun and giggles, you can gently prod him when he's hiding. Say something like, "Hmm, is this a leg? Or is it an arm?"
Games like this show your toddler that just because he can't see something, that doesn't mean it isn't there. For a change, carry him into another room while he's wrapped up in the towel. He'll be delighted when he pops his head out to discover he's in a new spot.
The magic of sound
Word play increases your child's awareness of sounds and gives her the confidence to try out new words. From books that mimic car sounds to farm animals that moo and cockadoodledoo, there's no shortage of toys that can ignite your child's imagination through sound. Playing games that repeat certain sounds, reading nursery rhymes out loud, and experimenting with different tones and rhythms are other ways you can help your toddler develop language skills—and have fun while she's at it.
16 to 20 months
Tea party
On a sunny day, take a child-size plastic tea set outside and fill a large plastic bowl with water. Pretend you've "come to tea" and have your toddler fill the teapot and pour the tea. Don't expect a dainty tea party—it's likely to be a watery mess. But this fun game will challenge his coordination and he'll be fascinated with the properties of water—for example, that it always flows down, not up.
Block patterns
This requires some concentration on your toddler's part, so it's best played when she's feeling refreshed. Use building blocks to make simple patterns, such as three in a row or "two up, two down" to make a square. Show her how to copy your pattern using other blocks. Then let her come up with her own pattern, which you have to copy. Sorting objects like this into shapes helps your toddler develop problem-solving skills.
Roll it to me
Balls are popular toys for toddlers. Bouncy balls are best kept outside, but soft, foam balls make great indoor toys. Keep a close eye on your child when he's using these—some curious toddlers like to see what they taste like.
The best ball game to start playing with your toddler is an easy version of "catch." Both of you sit on the ground facing each other with your legs apart and toes touching. You can now roll the ball back and forth to each other without it going out of bounds. Fun for building arm muscle strength and hand-eye coordination.
Young collector
Go for a walk together and take a bucket with you. Collect small objects that interest your toddler, like stones, leaves, and pinecones. Your toddler will want to carry the bucket, but don't be surprised if she also dumps its contents and starts again. Toddlers this age love to fill containers just so they can empty them again. Meanwhile, she's practicing her hand movements and developing dexterity.
