Activities and Play
12–15 Months
Activities We Enjoyed
1. Stacking Rings
Stacking rings were one of the first toys she explored independently. In the beginning, she enjoyed removing the rings more than stacking them, but over time she started placing them back onto the stand. This simple activity helped develop hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.
2. Building Blocks
We started with large blocks that were easy for little hands to hold. I would build small towers, and she would happily knock them down before we built them again together. This encouraged coordination, cause-and-effect learning, and creativity.
3. Object Drop Activity
She loved dropping large safe objects into containers and then taking them out again. It may look simple, but babies learn a lot through repetition. This activity supported concentration, hand control, and an understanding of cause and effect.
4. Naming Body Parts
We learned body parts naturally through books, songs, and everyday conversations. I would point to her eyes, nose, ears, mouth, hands, feet, and tummy while naming them. Repetition helped build both language skills and body awareness.
5. Action Songs & Rhymes
Action songs were a big hit during this stage. We sang songs with clapping, waving, pointing, and simple gestures, and she gradually started copying them. These activities encouraged imitation, movement, coordination, and language development.
6. Snap Fasteners & Velcro Play
She enjoyed opening and closing snap buttons and Velcro straps on bibs and other baby items. It became a fun activity that kept her engaged for quite some time.These simple tasks helped strengthen finger muscles and fine motor skills.
Toys We Loved
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Stacking rings
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Large building blocks
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Soft ball
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Push-and-pull toys
15–18 Months
Activities We Enjoyed
1. Scribbling with Crayons
We used large sheets of paper and chunky crayons that were easy for little hands to hold. She enjoyed making marks on the paper and watching the colours appear. This helped develop hand control, creativity, and early pre-writing skills.
2. Transferring Objects
She loved moving objects between bowls and containers, often repeating the activity again and again. Simple activities like this kept her focused for surprisingly long periods. It helped strengthen concentration and fine motor skills.
3. Simple Puzzles
We introduced large knob puzzles with animals, fruits, and vehicles. At first, she needed help finding where each piece belonged, but gradually she became more confident. Puzzles encouraged problem-solving and hand-eye coordination.
4. Watering Plants
She enjoyed helping water the plants with supervision. Although most of the water sometimes ended up everywhere except the pot, she loved being involved. It was a simple way to encourage responsibility and a connection with nature.
5. Practical Life Activities
She loved helping with small tasks around the house, such as putting toys away or carrying light items from one place to another. Toddlers naturally enjoy feeling involved in everyday routines. These activities encouraged independence and confidence.
6. Shape Sorters
Shape sorters became more interesting during this stage. She enjoyed trying different shapes and figuring out where they fit. This helped develop problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and fine motor coordination.
7. Container Play
Opening and closing containers became one of her favourite activities. She enjoyed taking objects out, putting them back in, and repeating the process many times. This simple play helped develop hand strength, coordination, and concentration.
8. Water Transfer Activity
This was one of the simplest Montessori-style activities we did at home. She enjoyed pouring water from a larger cup into a smaller cup and back again while I supervised closely. It helped develop hand control, coordination, concentration, and independence.
Toys We Loved
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Knob puzzles
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Building blocks
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Animal figurines
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Nesting cups
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Shape sorter
18–24 Months
Activities We Enjoyed
1. Play Dough
Play dough became one of our favourite activities during this stage. She enjoyed rolling, squeezing, flattening, and cutting it using child-safe tools. It was a fun way to strengthen hand muscles and develop fine motor skills.
2. Pretend Cooking
She loved using toy kitchen items and pretending to prepare meals. Sometimes she would 'cook' food for us and proudly offer it to everyone around her. Pretend play encourages imagination, creativity, and social development.
3. Sorting Activities
We sorted objects by colour, type, and size using items we already had at home. She enjoyed grouping similar objects together and checking if she got them right. These activities supported early thinking, observation, and problem-sol
4. Arts & Crafts
We explored crayons, stickers, painting, and simple craft activities. She especially enjoyed sticking and peeling stickers and making colourful marks on paper. These activities encouraged creativity, hand control, and self-expression.
5. Matching Activities
We matched animals, fruits, vehicles, and everyday objects with pictures in books and flashcards. She loved recognising familiar items and finding the correct match. This helped strengthen memory, observation, and language skills.
6. Building & Construction Play
Building blocks became more interesting as she grew older. She enjoyed creating taller towers, experimenting with different structures, and sometimes knocking them down to start again. This supported problem-solving, spatial awareness, and creativity.
7. Exploring Music
Music became a regular part of our day. We listened to songs, danced together, and explored simple instruments like the xylophone. Music helped develop rhythm, listening skills, coordination, and a love for movement.
8. Helping with Household Tasks
She enjoyed helping with small household tasks such as wiping spills, putting toys away, and assisting with simple chores. Toddlers naturally love being involved in everyday activities. These experiences encouraged independence, responsibility, and confidence.
Toys We Loved
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Play dough tools
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Wooden blocks
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Toy kitchen set
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Colour sorting toys
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Xylophone
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Simple musical instruments
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Magnetic tiles
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Wooden train sets