Encouraging Healthy Development - Healthy Development Ideas - 18 Months

Incredible growth occurs during the first three years of a child’s life. There are many things you can do to support and nurture healthy development during this time. Below, we’ve listed some specific activities to help an 18-month-old develop and grow.

Moving - Physical or Motor Development

Child-proof your home: lock up household cleaning , laundry, lawn care and car care products; use safety gates; and lock doors to outside and basement.
Provide safe areas for your toddler to walk and move around.
Provide toys your toddler can push or pull safely.
Provide balls for your toddler to kick, roll and throw.
Encourage your toddler to drink from a cup and use a spoon, no matter how messy.
Blow bubbles and let your toddler pop them.

Talking - Communication and Language Development

Hold your toddler on your lap, read to him/her and talk about the pictures in the book using simple words.
Repeat the words your toddler says; say the words clearly and correctly.
Ask your toddler simple questions.
Talk about what you and your toddler are doing together, using simple phrases to describe what you are doing.
Sing songs and repeat rhymes together.

Interacting - Social and Emotional Development

Provide a safe, loving environment; be consistent and predictable.
Set limits that are firm, fair and consistent.
Describe your toddler’s emotions – “You are mad when we have to leave the park.”
Give your toddler lots of hugs and kisses, and give praise for good behavior.
Encourage your toddler’s wanted behaviors rather than punishing unwanted behaviors. Give four times more encouragement than correction.
Encourage your toddler to have empathy – for example, to hug or pat another child who is sad.

Thinking - Cognitive Development

Encourage pretend play with dolls, toy phones or stuffed animals.
Have your toddler play with books, balls, puzzles and toys that teach cause and effect, and problem solving.
Give your toddler crayons and paper, and let him/her draw freely.
Hide things under pillows or blankets and have your toddler find them.
Play games naming objects in pictures and body parts.
Ask your toddler to tell you what he/she sees while you are riding in the car; sing songs and say rhymes.
Sing songs with actions like “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” and “Wheels on the Bus”; teach your toddler the actions.
Turn everyday routines into fun learning moments, such as what toys sink and float at bath time.

If you have concerns about a child's development and think a child might need extra help to learn and grow, don't hesitate to refer a child.

The family will be contacted by the local school district to arrange for a screening or evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for Infant and Toddler Intervention or Preschool Special Education services in Minnesota.

Refer a Child

Services are free!

Regardless of:

Income
Immigration Status