Children love to be chased, and your 18 month old now is at the age where he/she can start to enjoy this simple activity and it can be played outside or inside. The physical activity is a huge plus – it’ll help your toddler burn some of his/her never ending energy. The plus is it’s a great way for the parent to get some extra exercise as well.

Suggested age: 18 months +

Skills assisted with: interactive play, gross motor skills

What you need for this: a safe, open space

If weather is nice, this can be a great game for your  yard or even a playground. If neither of these work, you can play inside at your house/apartment. My strongest suggestion is to move the toys from the path. I am speaking from experience of stepping on toys, my so thought it was the funniest thing.

Start off on the slower side. You don’t need to yell “RRRAAAARRRR” and jump out of nowhere, although that day will come. Try to keep it on a small scale until your child gets used to how you play the game. Using a fun softer tone with your voice, I have always found it fun to call your toddler, whisper in his/her ear “Let’s play chase!” Then say “I’m going to get you!” and then reach out and grab him/her by the wrist or waist with a hug.

The next step is to move a short distance away and say, “I’m going to get you again!” and walk (or perhaps crawl!) toward him/her, using exaggerated, slow-motion movements. Then “catch” him/her again. Continue to move slightly further away each time and repeat the process. In no time at all this will be your 18 month old’s favorite game.

At some point in this process, he’ll/she’ll probably start to run, walk, or crawl away from you, looking back over her shoulder with an impish little smile. Then you can let the real chasing begin. Go after him/her, making sure to keep your chasing speed just slightly slower than his/hers so that the game can last a little while. Also be aware that your child is likely to run into something while giggling and look back while they run forward.

Hats off!

Most people think that because your folding paper you must have had some serious origami skills. There is nothing farther from the truth with this wonderful game. Watch as your little one is amazed by the your hats change his/her appearance.

Good for age: 18 months +

Skills assisted with: imagination

What you need for this: Large pieces of paper (you can also use newspaper), and Tape

We have found that by assisting parents on paper folding that the wizard’s hat seems to be the easiest to fold. Start by rolling the paper into a cone and tape the ends together. You guessed it, that’s it! You and your little one are ready to cast some spells and change the world!

For something a little more difficult, take a piece of newspaper (or very large piece of paper if you have it) and fold it in half. Now lay it down with the folded side facing farthest away from you.

Next fold the top two corners down so they touch in the middle of the paper. You should have a piece of paper folded with a triangle at the top and a long rectangular shaped section across the bottom.

There should be two layers of paper making up your rectangle. Take the top layer of the paper and fold it up to the bottom of the triangle, then repeat this process again. Now turn over the hat and repeat the same process.

Make sure you make hats for both you and your toddler. Your toddler is more likely to play with the hat if he/she sees you wearing one as well. Make sure you show your toddler what he/she looks like in front of a mirror.

The Little Drummer

If you are to go to any decent sized city in the spring/summer on a weekend, and walk around, you most likely to run into a drummers somewhere. Drummers always create a feeling of energy and it always draws people in. Just think with this and your toddler can have your own private drum solo, or you can beat the drum together!

Good for age: 18 months+

Skills developed: rhythm, large and fine motor skills

What you’ll need: a Couple Toy Drums or Home Made Drums (Making the homemade is easy, you can start by using empty oatmeal containers, empty metal or plastic popcorn containers or even plastic bowls. Turn all of the items  upside down, you can use either hands or wooden spoons to rap on your drums.)

It is best if you and your toddler sit on the floor to beat out some music on your new drums. Start with just one drum in front of each of you. Show him/her starting with just one constant beat. As he/she starts to get it, then add in more drums and show the different sounds that each drum can make. We would like to suggest doing an experiment beating your drums from slow to fast to slow again and see what your toddler can do. Have fun with this, that is the biggest thing with our activities that we suggest is to pick a few that you can do and enjoy with your little one.

Side note you can also trade drum sets if they are not exactly the same. Like adults your child will gravitate towards one particular drum sound. Remember here that there is no wrong way to drum!

Beanbag basketball

Beanbags sure can be a fun way for your toddler to work with his/her motor skills. He’ll/She’ll enjoy the satisfying toss of a good beanbag in his/her hands, and he’ll/she’ll appreciate how easily it can be handled.  

Good for age: 18 months +

Skills developed: large motor skills

What you’ll need: two smaller beanbags and some sort of a large container, Like a Trash Can or, Laundry basket or even a large bowl.

Safety note: Normally beanbags can be purchased at any local toy store (Some times you have to purchase a juggle kit). This is a100 % Parent Supervision Required. The reason is when tossing bean bags, you need to make sure that your little one is tossing towards the container that you have designated as a goal. As well you need to make sure your toddler does not try and chew, suck or bite the bean bags. These could potentially be a choking hazard.

Place the Goal next to you and simply drop in your beanbag. Then retrieve it and repeat the process several more times, encourage your toddler to do the same. After doing this a few times, move the basket a foot or two away, and demonstrate how to toss the beanbag into the goal.

This is your time to practice your acting skills. You need to overly praise and applaud when your toddler tosses the bag towards the goal. Encourage your 18 month old to keep trying. It’s ok to jump around and act like a nut here. This is a time where it will really pay off! It makes it really fun for the little one!

Finger and Hand Prints

It’ll be a while before your child can manipulate a paintbrush, but don’t let that squelch her inner artist – she can do some lovely printing with her hands. The prints are great mementos, too: Use them to make cards for friends and relatives, who’ll consider them priceless!

Good for age: 18 months +

Skills developed: fine motor skills, sensory skills, color identification

What you’ll need: children’s paint (nontoxic), paper, a plate or paint tray, newspaper

Spread newspaper over your table and floor to protect them from paint drippings, then pour some paint into a tray or plate. Talk to your toddler about the paint’s color.

Help your little one put the palm of her hand into the paint and gently press it onto the paper. Explain to your toddler that this is a print of her very own hand, and enjoy the delight in her expression. You might want to do your hand, too; then you and your toddler can marvel together at how different the prints are in size.

You can also try this with your toddler’s feet – but be ready to whisk her off to the bathtub or hose as soon as you’re done. Unless, that is, you wouldn’t mind a trail of cute little footprints across your floor. Hey, some might call that art.

Get that bubble

There’s something delightful about bubbles – we never seem to get too old for them. This game is a great way for your child to explore how to make different bubbles and get them to pop.

Good for age: 17 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

Skills developed: cause and effect, gross motor control, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination

What you’ll need: a bottle of bubbles

If you don’t mind little splashes of soapy water in your house, you can play this game indoors, but doing it outside gives your toddler more room to roam. If the weather’s right, take your bottle of bubbles into the yard or to the park.

Blow the bubbles and show your child how to chase them down and pop them. Send them off slowly if your child is still a little tentative on his feet (blow gently to create big, drifting bubbles) or more quickly if your toddler loves to run (blow hard to send out a spray of faster-moving, smaller bubbles).

And here’s a secret trick: Wet your hand to get a bubble to rest on your fingers. Then say, “Uh oh! Here comes bubble trouble!” and watch your child toddle over to playfully pop it (and giggle).

 Little Scientist

Toddlers love playing with water, and who can blame them? It’s a fascinating substance that takes the shape of any container. Set your toddler up with a few water-filled containers in the tub, or wait for a sunny day to bring them outside.

Good for age: 17 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

Skills developed: independent play, tactile awareness, fine motor skills, observation and experimentation

What you’ll need: a clean plastic bin (a little larger than a shoe box will do), plastic cups and containers in various sizes, a funnel, and a spoon or two

Safety note: Keep an eagle eye on your toddler because even small amounts of water pose a drowning danger to young children.

Strip your child down to a swim diaper and put her in an empty bathtub with the drain open. Fill the plastic bin with water and put it on the floor of the tub (or, if you’re outside, right on the grass).

Lay out the cups, containers, and funnel, and show your toddler how to scoop up water with one cup and pour it into another. Talk to her about how some of the containers are small and only hold a little water, while others are bigger and hold a lot of water. You can also show her how to stir the water with the spoon.

Now it’s time to let her experiment. Your child will love being able to investigate water’s amazing properties herself.

Don’t be surprised if some of the water finds its way into your toddler’s mouth via spoon or cup. It’s not a bad thing – it’s great practice for learning how to feed herself.

Moving with the bus

Your 17-month-old is pioneering a lot of new territory, both physically and developmentally. It’s fun, but it can also be overwhelming for him. That’s why routines and predictability help keep him feeling in control.

The well-known song “The Wheels on the Bus” includes just these elements, plus lots of opportunity for hand motions and social interaction – the perfect combination for your little explorer.

Good for age: 17 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

Skills developed: love of music, fine motor skills, language, imagination

What you’ll need: yourself, your toddler, and your singing voice

Sit on the floor, facing your child. He can sit, too, or he may prefer to stand. Slowly sing the first few verses (you can hear the melody here), incorporating hand motions as follows:

These hand motions are just suggestions – feel free to change them to suit your style.

It’s also fun to make up your own lyrics. For example, pause between verses to ask your toddler, “What else is on this bus? Hmm … how about a cow? What does a cow say?”

Your toddler may or may not answer you, but he’ll definitely be listening as you belt out, “The cow on the bus goes moo moo moo / Moo moo moo, moo moo moo / The cow on the bus goes moo moo moo / All through the town.”

Knees and toes

A fun activity for your toddler

This classic singing game has entertained children for generations. It’s a fun way to teach body parts, encourage language skills, and develop coordination.

Good for age: 16 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

Skills developed: naming body parts, fine motor skills, music and singing

What you’ll need: your singing voice

Face your toddler, either sitting or standing together. Put both hands on each body part as you sing about it – you can use your own body or your toddler’s, or go back and forth. Start off slowly, and then as your little one gets the hang of it, speed up a bit. An older toddler may participate by pointing to a few of his own body parts, but don’t worry if he prefers to watch you and giggle. He’s definitely taking it all in.

Here are the lyrics:

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
Knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
Knees and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
Knees and toes

A friend to the end

A fun activity for your toddler

While 16-month-olds often ignore their same-age playmates, they can be quite social with older children, as well as with the important adults in their lives. Your child realizes that her actions have an effect on others and that she can do certain things to elicit a hug, a laugh, or a frown. You can put this social awareness to good use – and provide plenty of entertainment – by introducing a puppet friend.

Good for age: 16 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

Skills developed: language and cognitive skills, social skills, naming body parts

What you’ll need: a puppet (you can make a simple one by drawing eyes, mouth, and a nose onto a light-colored sock)

Try this activity when your child is finishing up a meal in her highchair, or give it a go during inside play time. Fit the puppet onto your hand and make it “talk,” remembering to use short, clear sentences. For example, “Hi, Emily! I’m Posey. I need a nose. Do you have one? Where’s your nose? Oh, I see it. Can I kiss it? Yummy! And now I need a mouth…”

Your little one may laugh and try to grab the puppet. You can easily turn this into a game by saying, “Hey, you got me! I’m going to run onto the table now. Can you catch me again?”

Similarly, the puppet can pretend to catch your child. Have the puppet look around in an exaggerated manner, saying, “Where’s Emily? Emily! Where are you?” Then make the puppet suddenly spot your child and pounce on her ecstatically, shrieking, “There you are! I found you!”

Let your creativity rule the day during puppet time. The puppet can ask for a hug, sing a song, grab a handshake, pick up a book, or hand your child a toy. The possibilities are endless – and your child’s delight with her new friend will be, too!

Gloop

A fun activity for your toddler

It’s a solid … no, it’s a liquid … no, a solid … no … wait, what is it? It’s gloop! A fascinating, curious substance that has properties of both a liquid and a solid.

This activity is a little messy, but it’s definitely worth it. Gloop will mesmerize your toddler – and probably you, too!

Good for age: 19 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

Skills developed: fine motor skills, language

What you’ll need: a large bowl (preferably plastic), two big spoons, cornstarch, water, food coloring (optional), an apron or clothes you don’t mind getting messy; newspaper to protect the floor if you’re playing inside

Safety note: Discourage your child from eating gloop since it’s thick and might cause him to gag. If your child has asthma or you’re concerned about him breathing in the cornstarch, mix it with water while he’s at a safe distance.

This activity is probably best outdoors, but if you’re inside, put down plenty of newspaper to protect the floor. Either way, make sure your toddler is wearing clothes you don’t mind getting messy.

Pour a cup or two of cornstarch into your bowl, and gradually add water until you have a gloopy mixture. Let your toddler hold one of the spoons and help you “stir” as you go. Add a few drops of food coloring, if you’re using it, and stir again.

Now roll up your toddler’s sleeves and let him plunge his hands into the bowl. Pick up some of the gloop yourself and squeeze it. Note that as you apply pressure, it feels like a solid. Relax your hand and the gloop will run back into the bowl as a liquid.

Talk to your toddler about what he can feel as the two of you squish and squash the gloop. For example, you can say, “When we squeeze it, it feels solid and firm. But when we stop squeezing, it gets soft again. Isn’t that funny?” And make sure there’s enough gloop for both of you – it’s a little addictive.