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Activities for 18 months - 2 year olds

A collection of activities and things to do with children aged 18 months - 2 years. By now you might have a little explorer on your hands, enjoying pretend play and stringing together a few words.

Where to start -18 months - 2 years

Tools for Talking: Expanding on toddlers' words

As toddlers start to string a few words together, help them go that step further by expanding on the things they say.

18-24 MONTHS

Not sure what activity to try?

Answer a few simple questions and let us choose you something to try today.

18-24 MONTHS

18 months - 2 years: What's the best way to respond to my toddler?

Dr Saloni Krishnan helps a family explore the best ways to respond to their children's first words.

TODDLER DEVELOPMENT

Activities for 18 months-2 year olds: All day chat

Teaching about teeth cleaning

Teddies can make great teeth-cleaning pals.

18-24 MONTHS

Be a little helper

Household jobs are fun if you use them as a chance to talk and interact with your child.

18-24 MONTHS

Wash your hands

How to turn the simple act of washing your hands into a brilliant learning opportunity.

18-24 MONTHS

Doing the laundry outside

Turn the laundry into an activity that helps your child understand how words and things are connected.

18-24 MONTHS

Doing the laundry inside

Discover how sorting laundry is a great time to chat with your child and boost their vocabulary.

18-24 MONTHS

Making choices at breakfast

Breakfast is the perfect opportunity for a natter.

18-24 MONTHS

Getting dressed

Find out how getting dressed is a great chance to introduce lots of new words to your little one.

18-24 MONTHS

Take a look at a book

Picture books are a great way to encourage a conversation with your toddler.

18-24 MONTHS

Activities for 18 months-2 year olds: Games to play

Chatting about favourites

Asking toddlers about their favourites can get them thinking about and using words for preferences.

18-24 MONTHS

Exploring texture

Try making a sensory collage with your little one.

1-2 YEARS

Clapping games

Clapping games are great for teaching children about rhythm.

1-2 YEARS

Tap tap box

Play this fun game to help your child learn the words for everyday items.

18-24 MONTHS

Explore a treasure box

Create and explore a box of interesting objects to help boost your child's chat.

18-24 MONTHS

Play hide and seek

A simple game of hide and seek benefits your child's development in many ways.

18-24 MONTHS

Puppet play

How playing with a sock puppet is not only a fun thing to do, but great for your child's development too.

18-24 MONTHS

Copycat

How copying your child’s actions and sounds is a great way to start a conversation.

18-24 MONTHS

Activities for 18 months-2 year olds: Role play

Shopping game

Playing shopkeeper is a great way for your toddler to express themselves.

18-24 MONTHS

Give dolly a bath

Help your child learn the names of body parts by washing their favourite doll.

18-24 MONTHS

Exploring food textures in the kitchen

Everyday tasks like cooking can be a great time to chat with your child.

18-24 MONTHS

Let's pretend

How pretend play can help develop your child's imagination and encourage them to chat.

18-24 MONTHS

Activities for 18 months-2 year olds: Out and about

Listen with me

Find out how listening to everyday sounds is great for your child's development.

18-24 MONTHS

The name game

Boost your child's chat by taking time to name things while you're out and about.

18-24 MONTHS

Activities for 18 months-2 year olds: Simple DIY toys

Create your own ball run

Here's a super easy and fun DIY ball run for you and your toddler to try at home.

18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS

Make your own binoculars

These binoculars for kids are really easy and you can make from things lying around your home.

18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS

Make a cardboard box guitar

Have hours of musical fun with this simple and easy cardboard guitar make.

18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS

Have noisy fun with a rainstick

Make a rainstick out of an empty snack tube.

18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS

Try making a xylophone using jam jars and water

Make a jam jar xylophone with water and food colouring.

18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS

How to make balloon skin drums

Yoghurt pots and balloons make great drums to play with.

18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS

Parent Challenge - families take on fun learning tasks

Mealtime challenge

We challenge families to have fun at mealtimes by getting their young children involved.

18-24 MONTHS

Messy play challenge

We challenge families to try messy play with their young children as a fun way of bonding and interacting.

18-24 MONTHS

Storytime challenge

We challenge families to get creative and make up stories together.

18-24 MONTHS

Tips for 18 months - 2 years

Advice on everyday chat: 18-24 months

Speech and language therapist Sinead Campbell explains how daily routines can build your child's language skills.

18-24 MONTHS

Top tips from a speech and language therapist: 18-24 months

Easy ways to boost your child's language skills through everyday activities.

18-24 MONTHS

Is your child younger or older?

12-18 months

2-3 years

Find an activity to try

Tips and advice

Child development science