Activities for 18 months - 2 year olds
Where to start
Tools for Talking: Expanding on toddlers' words
As toddlers start to string a few words together, help them go that step further by expanding on the things they say.
18 months - 2 years: What's the best way to respond to my toddler?
Dr Saloni Krishnan helps a family explore the best ways to respond to their children's first words.
All day chat
Reading books with a toddler
Picture books are a great way to encourage a conversation with your toddler.
Getting dressed
Find out how getting dressed is a great chance to introduce lots of new words to your little one.
Making choices at breakfast
Breakfast is the perfect opportunity for a natter.
Doing the laundry inside
Discover how sorting laundry is a great time to chat with your child and boost their vocabulary.
Doing the laundry outside
Turn the laundry into an activity that helps your child understand how words and things are connected.
Wash your hands
How to turn the simple act of washing your hands into a brilliant learning opportunity.
Be a little helper
Household jobs are fun if you use them as a chance to talk and interact with your child
Teaching about teeth cleaning
Teddies can make great teeth-cleaning pals.
Games to play with your little one
Copycat
How copying your child's actions and sounds is a great way to start a conversation.
Puppet play
How playing with a sock puppet is not only a fun thing to do, but great for your child's development too.
Play hide and seek
A simple game of hide and seek benefits your child's development in many ways.
Explore a treasure box
Create and explore a box of interesting objects to help boost your child's chat.
Tap tap box
Play this fun game to help your child learn the words for everyday items.
Clapping games
Clapping games are great for teaching children about rhythm.
Exploring texture
Try making a sensory collage with your little one.
Chatting about favourites
Asking toddlers about their favourites can get them thinking about and using words for preferences.
Role play
Let's pretend
How pretend play can help develop your child's imagination and encourage them to chat.
Exploring food texture in the kitchen
Eveyrday tasks like cooking can be a great time to chat with your child.
Give dolly a bath
Help your child learn the names of body parts by washing their favourite doll.
Shopping game
Playing shopkeeper is a great way for your toddler to express themselves.
Out and about with your toddler
The name game
Boost your child's chat by taking time to name things while you're out and about.
Listen with me
Find out how listening to everyday sounds is great for your child's development.
Garden fun
Ideas to enjoy a dry day in the garden together, watering plants and having fun.
Fun outside with your grandchild
Your garden or park is full of learning opportunities for your young grandchildren.
Simple DIY toys
How to make balloon skin drums
Yoghurt pots and balloons make great drums to play with.
Try making a xylophone using jam jars and water
Make a jam jar xylophone with water and good colouring.
Have noisy fun with a rainstick
Make a rainstick out of an empty snack tube.
Make a cardboard box guitar
Have hours of musical fun with this simple and easy cardboard guitar make
Make your own binoculars
These binoculars for kids are really easy and you can make them from things lying around your home.
Create your own ball run
Here's a super easy and fun DIY ball run for you and your toddler to try at home.
Families take on fun learning tasks
Storytime challenge
We challenge families to get creative and make up stories together.
Mealtime challenge
We challenge families to have fun at mealtimes by getting their young children involved.
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