Social/Emotional Activities for Toddlers 12-18months

Taking Turns Game


Age: 12-18 months

Development: Social /Emotional (Sharing)

Materials: Child's favorite toy

Objective: Baby offers the toy back, but quickly retrieves toy from adult

Give your little one an object, like a favorite toy. After he/she has had a chance to touch, look at, and explore the toy, ask for the toy back. If your baby returns the toy to you, hug and praise the him/her for taking turns. Continue trading, taking turns, and dividing resources.

Here is your race car, Hunter.

Will you give the car to Mommy, please?



Do What I Do

Age: 12-18 months

Development: Social/Emotional (Imitation)

Materials: Your hands

Objective: To have child attempt to imitate your actions

Play a game of imitation with your toddler. Perform different actions such as clapping or stomping and encourage your child to imitate these with you. If the child watches at first, move his/her hands or arms to make the action. Include lots of hugs as you play.

Can you clap your hands like Daddy, Sarah?

Yes, Sarah can clap her hands.



Dancing with Teddy

Age: 12-18 months

Development: Social/Emotional (Imitation)

Materials: Doll or Teddy bear

Objective: To have child imitate your actions

Set the stage by playing "Ring Around the Rosy" with your child. Then show your baby how to play the game with his/her teddy or doll. As he/she holds the bears arms, sing the song and encourage him to move in a circle. Play as long as child is interested.

Mommy is singing, and Shon is dancing with his bear.

Yeah that was fun Shon.



Mirror Play

Age: 12-18 months

Development: Recognition, Self Awareness

Materials: Mirror

Objective: Child recognizes his/her self in the mirror

Place a mirror low on a wall or use a hand held mirror so that your child can see themselves easily. Talk to your toddler about their reflection and who they see in the mirror.

What do you see in the mirror, Kelly?

I see Kelly there she is!

Yes, that’s Kelly in the mirror.



Which One?

Age: 12-18 months

Development: Indicates wants without crying

Materials: two objects (such as two toys)

Objective: Child indicates wants with language or gestures but without crying

Hold up two toys for a toddler to choose which one he/she wants. Encourage the child to say the name, but accept a reach, a look, or pointing finger for the desired toy.

Grandma has a block and a ball.

Brian wants a toy. You're reaching for the block, Brian.

Block, Brian. You want the block.



Housekeeping Supplies

Age: 12-18 months

Development: Pretends housework

Materials: Toy house hold items ( vacuum, mops, brooms)

Objective: Child enjoys imitating and pretending housework

Put brooms, mops and other cleaning supplies out for your toddler to explore with.

You did a awesome mopping Keisha!

Here's another spot you can mop.



Picking up Toys

Age: 12-18 months

Development: Picks up toys

Materials: Child room or other toy area

Objective: Child picks up toys and places them where indicated

Singing is an excellent way to help children complete necessary task. Once your child is done playing, have him/her help pick up toys and place them in appropriate places.

Song1:

We're picking up the toys.

We're picking up the toys,

High ho the derry-o,

We're picking up the toys.

Song2:

Clean up, clean up everybody everywhere

clean up, clean up everybody do your share.

Reference
Welcome To Learning (1997).
Kindecare Learning Centers, Inc.
Montgomery, AL