Between 12 and 24 months, children are learning to walk, talk, and interact with the world around them. Play is how they practice independence, develop motor skills, and begin to understand emotions, problem-solving, and imagination.

Here are ideas and tips for playful activities that nurture learning while keeping things fun and simple.

Toddlers love to get their hands (and sometimes feet!) into different textures. This stage is all about experimenting with materials in new ways.
Ideas:
1. Water Play – use containers, cups, funnels, and spoons for pouring and splashing. Add floating toys or food colouring for variety.
2. Sand Play – dig, scoop, and bury small objects to find. Encourage filling and emptying containers.
3. Edible paint / yogurt painting – let toddlers “paint” with yogurt tinted with fruit purée or food colouring.
4. Texture trays – fill trays with rice, pasta, shredded paper, or fabric scraps. Add scoops and cups for exploration.
5. Play dough fun – provide simple tools (rollers, safe cutters, spoons). Toddlers enjoy squishing, poking, and pressing. favourite thing to do/eat/say.
Toddlers are learning balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. Active play helps build strength and confidence.
Ideas:
1. Obstacle Courses – use pillows, tunnels, or soft blocks for crawling and climbing.
2. Ball Play – roll, kick, and throw soft balls. Practice simple catch by rolling to each other.
3. Push & Pull toys – trolleys, carts, or toy buggies help toddlers practice walking and balance.
4. Dancing – put on music and encourage jumping, clapping, and spinning.
5. Bubble Chasing – blow bubbles and watch your toddler run, jump, and clap to pop them.
Simple puzzles, stacking, and sorting activities encourage thinking skills and fine motor development.
Ideas:
1. Shape sorters – let toddlers match shapes to correct holes.
2. Stacking blocks – build towers and knock them down again and again.
3. Treasure baskets – fill with everyday safe objects e.g. wooden spoon, sponge, whisk. Let toddlers explore freely.
4. Cause-and-effect toys – push a button and something pops up, turn a knob and music plays.
5. Sorting games – group toys by colour, size, or type (all cars together, all animals together).
Toddlers are starting to say words and understand short phrases. Play that encourages communication builds confidence.
Ideas:
1. Nursery rhymes with actions – Row, Row, Row Your Boat/ Incy Wincy Spider. Toddlers love the rhythm and repetition.
2. Animal sounds – use toy animals or books: What does the cow say? Moo!
3. Pretend play – simple role play with dolls, toy phones, or tea sets.
4. Name the world – point out objects during play, try adding describing words to each object - ‘red ball’ ‘big car’
5. Simple turn-taking games – roll a ball back and forth, or take turns stacking blocks.
Toddlers enjoy exploring art and music without needing a finished product. The process is more important than the outcome.
Ideas:
1. Finger painting – large paper sheets, thick paint, and messy fun.
2. Stamping & printing – use potatoes, sponges, or toy wheels in paint.
3. Music time – bang drums, shake shakers, tap wooden spoons on pots.
4. Nature crafts – collect leaves, sticks, or stones and glue them to paper.
5. Chalk play – let toddlers scribble outdoors with chunky chalk.
Fresh air gives toddlers space to move, explore, and experience the world with all senses.
Ideas:
1. Nature walks – collect leaves, point out birds, or feel tree bark.
2. Garden play – watering plants, digging in soil, or carrying small pots.
3. Climbing & sliding – toddler-safe climbing frames and slides encourage bravery.
4. Ride-on toys – push along cars, trikes, or scooters for balance and movement.
5. Balloon play – a simple balloon provides endless fun as it floats and bounces.