Week 51: At-Home Activities for 12 Months+
Welcome to Toddlerhood!
First, congratulations and welcome to toddlerhood! This will be a very exciting journey with your growing new toddler! Here are things happening now that didn't happen in the first year:
- Increased Mobility: They are a lot more mobile and on the move! Make sure you visit our guide on creating "Yes spaces" to prepare the environment for their new exploration.
- Curiosity and Exploration: She is curious and wants to explore everything, especially around the house. In Montessori, we call these Practical Life skills.
- Social Interaction: Loves seeing other children's faces and expressions and learning to mimic what they see in pictures.
- Short Attention Span: Can get distracted easily and move around; focused play will happen for a minute or two at a time.
- Mimicking Behavior: She starts miming everything you do and wants to be more involved in day-to-day activities.
Importance of Routine
Routine is vital for your toddler. Research shows that creating a consistent routine at home for your child encourages their independence, confidence, and provides comfort and safety. This will also help as you start working towards a toddler one-nap schedule and bedtime routines.
Recommended Activities
Here are some suggestions to incorporate into your daily routine:
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Language Explosion: This is a language explosion time for your child. They might still babble, but they absorb a new word every day. Incorporating books into their daily routine is great; you can add it during nap time or bedtime for consistency. Books with real-life images are recommended because your child connects to what they see in real life.
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Seasonal Language Basket: Keep your language basket from Observe with Me and turn it into a seasonal language basket. Grab things around the house and let your toddler explore what is inside; name what they see.
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Language Activities Outdoors: All daily activities outside the house can be turned into a language activity; going for a walk, going to the grocery store, or even a car ride can be turned into a language activity for your toddler.
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Kitchen Helpers: Start inviting your child into the kitchen. Have them help you with things they can do, for example, loading the washer and helping put clothes in the washer for you. They want to do what you're doing, especially chores. (yes, they find this extremely fun!)
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Independent Eating: Get them a small table and chair to sit at when they eat. Independent eating is a big skill they are working on right now and throughout toddlerhood.
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Motor Skills Development: Help their growing motor skills. For example, a pile of throw pillows can make a fun impromptu climbing spot for your toddler. Or pull the cushions off your sofa to use for this purpose. You can also purchase sturdy foam cushions shaped like blocks and wedges and stack them together in various configurations to create a soft obstacle course for your child.
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Outdoor Play: Go outside. The weather is great right now, so take advantage of this! Outdoor play has clear physical benefits for developing children, including helping children to acquire gross motor skills and eye-hand coordination and helping to prevent obesity.
Conclusion
These activities will help your toddler thrive during this exciting time. For more tips and ideas on toddler activities, early childhood development, and Montessori-inspired activities, visit our blog regularly.