We asked three child development experts - Dr. How we chose the best toys for 18-month-olds A toy definitely doesn’t need to have lots of bells and whistles or a whopping price tag to be an enriching part of playtime. Know, too, that simple toys help facilitate open-ended play and foster your child’s creativity. ![]() At 18 months, you still need to keep an eye out for toys with loose or small parts that could potentially become a choking hazard. “Babies can start using crayons and paints when they’re younger, but at 18 months, you’ll really start to see children be creative,” Dr. Toys like a doll or pretend kitchen are sure to be winners. ![]() At 18 months, your child is increasingly interested in engaging in pretend play to be just like you. Pick up some new titles from the library or add a couple books to your cart during shopping trips (whether online or IRL). Books are always a great choice for your little one, and reading with your child will help encourage her vocabulary development. Many of these toys are also great for developing her fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, too. Seek out toys that encourage your child to move with her whole body, like music she can dance to or a ball she can kick, roll or chase. What to look for in toys for 18-month-oldsīefore you purchase toys for an 18-month-old, take these factors into consideration: And, don’t forget that you can always make play time out of just about anything! Whether using household items to make up a game or turning a car ride into an educational opportunity to point out shapes and colors, there’s a limitless amount of opportunity to make everyday fun with your little one. Lytle suggests parents look for toys and games that encourage this newfound mobility and burgeoning independence.Īs always, remember that toys shouldn’t replace time spent playing with your little one, but rather, enhance caregiver-child interaction to make the time spent together even more fun, educational and captivating. So when you’re looking to add some new toys to your 18-month-old’s collection, Dr. Your little one is constantly developing her motor skills at this age as she can now walk independently and is likely starting to try to run, too. And though you might get tired chasing after her, it’s actually a good thing, says Sarah Lytle, Ph.D., director of the Outreach and Education division at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) at the University of Washington. ![]() Finding creative approaches to new and existing problems is a key skill needed in today's economy and the workplace of the future.Chances are, your 18-month-old is always on the go. ![]() What is really important for STEM education is that children learn how STEM applies to their lives, along with the critical thinking and reasoning skills that will allow them to identify a problem and find ways to solve it. All students-including girls, minorities, and struggling learners-have opportunities and access to project-based STEM instruction.Project-based learning includes the use of other content topic skills, such as reading, writing clearly and persuasively, proper use of math to analyze data, and more.Good design and aesthetics are taken into account on projects, when appropriate.Project-based learning assignments allow students to make observations, identify problems, and create solutions independently and with their peers.Science and math learning are related to real-world problems.What does matter is that the key elements of good STEM instruction are present in the classroom. Rather than asking your child's teacher if they teach STEM or STEAM or something else, look for these marks of quality:
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