Little G is 21 months old and VERY active… Which is made tricky by the fact that I’m nine months pregnant. Ha! So for us, having quick, go-to learning activities makes all the difference. Here’s are some activities you can try when you are playing and learning with your 21 month old:
If you’re nervous about tiny pieces, this one may not be for you but G loves ANYTHING tiny. So I dumped out some sea animal beads and gave him an ice cube tray. We sat together (ALWAYS monitor with small pieces!) and he transferred, played, and examined all the beads. I would also ask him to find a certain bead (“Can you find Mama a dolphin?”) and have him search and find! This is a great activity for new words, different colors, and even counting.
With a new baby coming in a month (eek!), we’ve been doing a lot of role playing with big sister’s dolls (yes, we totally promote him playing with dolls). It’s such a great way to demonstrate being gentle and kind and loving!
I picked these little paint books for a dollar each at Michaels and both M and G love them! I love them because all you need is water and a paint brush, as the paint is built into the page. G loves dipping into the water and painting. So easy, quick, and fun!
More Learning Activities for Your 21 Month Old
- Sensory Play – Rice, beans, shaving cream, pasta, etc. with small objects, spoons, cups, and funnels.
- Say Nursery Rhymes together (over and over again!)
- Chant a finger play with hand movements
- Drive toy cars on a road made of blue painters tape (great for an older sibling to make for your toddler).
- Make an obstacle course with things to jump over, climb through, and go under.
- Let your child create with building blocks.
- Water Activity – Use a turkey baster to squirt different things in the bath tub.
- Curl up with your favorite picture book (again and again).
Ann Harquail
Monday 25th of February 2013
Great list of activities. I did some similar ones with my son when he was that age (he's now 33 months). I'm going to share this on my Facebook page.Congrats on the new baby! -Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest