Toddler Development Stages -> 18 months - 3 years

 

A short course on how to play kid games and toddler development stages

The toddler development stage is very important in a child's life. It is the time between infancy and childhood when a child learns and grows in many ways. With each stage or skill the child masters, a new stage begins. During the toddler development stage, most children learn to walk, talk, solve problems, relate to others, and more.

Here you will find free toddler stuff and early childhood education activities together with a short course on how to play kid games and playthings listing the skills associated with play, appropriate playthings and what caregivers can do for 18 months - 3 year old toddlers and how to guide them through this very important developmental stages.

 

Ages and Stages of Child Development: 18 Months - 3 Years

GROSS MOTOR:

• first tricycle,
• wagon to get into,
• rocking horse,
• large balls,
• outdoor play equipment,
• push-pull toys

 

FINE MOTOR:

• weaving sets,
• art materials,
• peg boards,
• clothes pins for tossing into an open pan,
• large balls,
• wheel barrows,
• sandbox toys,
• blocks of different shapes and sizes

 

EXPLORATION:

• sandbox,
• child-size play furniture,
• play appliances and utensils,
• handmade materials,
• doll furniture,
• large packing boxes for climbing in and out

 

SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION:

• simple dress-up clothes,
• stuffed animals dolls,
• tea sets

 

PROBLEM SOLVING:

• various size boxes,
• simple puzzles,
• games,
• stringing large beads,
• take-apart toys with parts that snap together,
• construction toys that snap together

 

CREATIVITY:

• clay and modeling dough,
• blocks,
• large crayons,
• non-electric trains,
• blackboard and chalk,
• simple musical instruments,
• finger paints,
• safety scissors,
• paper and pencils

 

LANGUAGE:

• picture books,
• children's magazines,
• tapes of stories

 

Early childhood activities that caregivers can do to promote toddler development and play in kid games:

• Pretend-play (create a traffic jam with a toy car).
• Play tag, bounce, catch, and empty-fill games.
• Hide things; "lose" things, and let children hide things from you.
• Build something with blocks.
• Play "guess what it is."
• Tell stories and let children supply missing words.
• Reverse roles (you be the child; child be the caregiver).
• Play follow-the-leader.
• Play guessing games.
• Act out stories.
• Let children imitate your activities (such as washing dishes and cleaning house).
• Notice the child's play and praise efforts.
• Help children to classify objects.
• Sing to children.
• Go on field trips in the backyard.
• Take children to library.

 

Everything that happens to the toddler is meaningful. With each stage or skill the child masters, a new stage begins. This growth is unique to each child.

Remember: Toddlers have their own time-table.

I hope you found this child development information useful.

Please let me know by making use of the How to Raise Smart Kids link.

 

 

 

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