Top 18 Activities For Your 18-Month-Old Toddler

My 18-month-old toddler Rosie is developing into quite the little character. She is a perfect princess when she is preoccupied but she can be such a menace when she is “bored”. Aside from our mornings out, I try to have at least one engaging activity for her to do at home in the afternoon. Today I’m sharing her top 18 activities for your 18-month-old toddler to enjoy too!

SENSORY ACTIVITIES For Your 18-Month-Old Toddler

1. Sensory Muffin Tray

This is a great way to keep little ones entertained while you’re trying to get some cooking done. I set up a muffin tray with various ingredients in my pantry like cornmeal, flour, kidney beans, quinoa and candy. Lay out a few kitchen utensils like different sized spoons, measuring cups and pie trays. Watch her scoop, sort and pour to her little heart’s content. *Caution: it will be messy.

2. Ice Play

Make ice cubes in an ice cube tray with various objects frozen inside. I just threw in some ribbons, colourful foam pieces and pom poms. This is a great activity to soothe the eczema on her hands. She loved scooping the ice and she was ecstatic as they melted to free the trapped objects.

3. Playdough Fun

Make your own or just buy a few packs. Either way, the little ones will love rolling and squishing it between their fingers. Make patterns in the dough with cookie cutters or other toys lying around the house. My toddler is already plenty entertained when I roll little balls for her to squish back together into a big blob.

4. DIY Sand

I used a recipe that’s safe to eat from Powerful Mothering. The little one can help mix it and practice scooping and playing with textures. I tried this because somehow Rosie started getting really picky with touching specific textures. Maybe we’ve been unintentionally “sheltering” her hands because of her eczema. An alternative I found was Kinetic Sand, which my kids absolutely love.

5. Colourful Balls

Gather all the toy balls around your house into one area. Your toddler may love throwing, rolling and kicking them with you. I found it was a good way to review colours with them too.

6. Blow Bubbles

Who doesn’t like bubbles? Let your toddler chase and pop the bubbles. Let them try to blow as well. We use bubbles from Gazillion Bubbles because they last forever!! Pair that with the Gazillion Bubble Machine and you’ve got yourself a party.

7. Bath Time

Toddlers love to play in the water. It’s no surprise bath time is always a hit. Give your toddler sponges to squeeze and wash with. Provide toys that she could use to practice dumping and pouring.

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GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES For Your 18-Month-Old Toddler

8. Hide & Seek

This is a favourite pastime with daddy – in our condo lobby or around the house. Hide and let your toddler find you. Give lots of clues if they can’t find you or are distracted. Then let them hide. Rosie’s favourite hiding spot – her closet!

9. Dance & Sing

Sing action songs together and do the dance moves. Our favourites include “If you’re happy and you know it” and “Skidamarink”.

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10. Copycat

Copy your toddler’s every move. They will be totally weirded out and ecstatic at the same time. My toddler caught on quickly and loves when we do this. It’s great for everyone to get active (especially me) and it’s cool to see her be creative and make new moves for us to imitate too!

FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES For Your 18-Month-Old Toddler

11. Drawing

This is a favourite mommy & daughter pastime. Have an assortment of writing utensils for the little one to try. We use markers, crayons, pencil crayons and stamps. Rosie loves when I draw scenes and narrate as I go. She gets particularly excited over suns, fishes and lions.

12. Sticker Books

My toddler is obsessed with stickers, especially sticker books. Our all-time favourite is Usborne’s Zoo Sticker & Colouring Book. Rosie loves to (try to) peel and stick the stickers in each scene. Even after the stickers are all used up, these books have been great for learning about ABC’s and animals.

13. Q-tip Fun

Grab an old egg carton, turn it upside down and poke some holes. Your toddler will love poking Q-tips through the holes. Rosie also loves filling a travel bottle with Q-tips and then pouring it all out – an idea we got from my friend Candy.

14. Painting Fun

I love how you can involve your toddler in the whole process. She helps me set up by bringing her paint, tray and smock to the table. I let her pick out her favourite colours. She uses a paintbrush or sponge bits to make different patterns. She always ends up finger painting at the end. My toddler is a little artist-in-the-making.

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PRETEND PLAY ACTIVITIES For Your 18-Month-Old Toddler

15. With My Stuffie

Another out of my top 18 activities for your 18-month-old toddler list is playing with stuffies! Pretend play becomes lots of fun at this age. Include a favourite stuffie in your toddler’s daily routine to do what he/she does. Eat, play, nap, dance and go on a trip together! These squishy ones are SO cute!

16. Doctor’s Kit

We received the cutest little doctor’s kit from KiwiCo, a kid’s subscription box. It kept Rosie entertained for ages. She learned how to use the stethoscope and loves to give every family member a daily check-up. Browse for a kit your little one might enjoy and watch them become little doctors right in front of your eyes!

17. Dress Up Fun

Lay out clothes (their own or yours) and ask them to identify each. Have fun dressing up and being silly. Rosie’s favourite things right now include raiding mommy’s jewellery box, make-up and figuring out how to put on daddy’s belt.

18. Kitchen Play

My little one loves her play kitchen. We received it second hand along with tons of cookware, accessories and food. She always tries to imitate what she sees us do in the kitchen. She’s definitely going to be a little chef someday.

So there are my top 18 activities for your 18-month-old toddler that I have loved doing with my daughter. What would you add to this list? Let us know below!