6 games to play with a toddler aged 18-24 months

Are you looking for age-appropriate – and hopefully educational – activities for your older toddler?

At this age they are starting to become more coordinated but they’re not quite ready for a colouring book or intricate craft. Also, they don’t have a particularly long attention span so the ideal game is one that doesn’t take a lot of explaining.

Here are six ideas for low-cost games for your toddler – courtesy of Playgroup Australia.

6 games to play with a toddler aged 18 months to 2 years

1. Sing songs about body parts

It is fun to learn body parts through songs. Sing about, point to and use different body parts in songs like Head and Shoulders and If You’re Happy and You Know It.

Head and Shoulders

Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes, knees and toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Let’s all clap hands together

Eyes and ears, mouth and nose
Mouth and nose, mouth and nose
Eyes and ears, mouth and nose
Let’s all clap hands together
[point to each body part as you sing it, and get faster each time)

If You’re Happy and You Know It!

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, then you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

Repeat and replace ‘clap your hands’ with: Stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
Shout “Hooray!” (hoo-ray!) Do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)

2. Create a scrapbook

Make a scrapbook of objects, and pictures of objects and people that you child knows. You can slip them into a photo album or stick them into a book and let your little one decorate the pages with crayons or pencils as well.

3. Play dress ups

Encourage your child to play dress-ups by providing a full-length mirror and an assortment of old clothes such as hats, scarves, and shoes.

4. Play with play dough

A simple recipe for play dough:

• 2 cups plain flour
• ½ cup oil
• Food colouring/ Edicol dye
• Water

Add the oil to the flour and mix; mix food colouring or Edicol dye with water and add to mixture until it forms a soft dough.

This recipe is safe if eaten by little mouths!

Give your child things to stick in the dough (paddle-pop sticks, straws etc), things to pound with (like a toy mallet), and things to make impressions with (jar lids, cookie cutters, or bottle caps).

5. Create some cool hiding places

Big places to hide are often popular with toddlers. If you or someone you know has a large cardboard box after having something delivered, turn it into a cubby house for you toddler to play and hide in. You can even make some slits in the cardboard to allow for opening windows and doors.

6. Teach them how to play Simon Says

Action games keep toddlers busy while they are learning to move and follow directions. Simon says is a simple game where you use commands such as ‘Simon says, clap your hands’ and give time for your toddler to follow. Encourage your child when they follow correctly.