Skill Building Toddler Games

For many new parents, toddlers are nothing more than adorable babies. Even though they might be starting to walk and talk by the time they celebrate their first birthday, some parents don’t think their children are capable of very much else at this stage of their development.

Nothing could be further from the truth according to the experts. In fact, these people encourage parents to start developing their child’s skills at this early age and what better way than to combine some games that work to accomplish this goal?

Here’s a few suggestions for toddler games that double as skill building exercises.

Strings and Things

Doing all you can to foster their hand-eye coordination and their fine motor skills in the first two years is very important and you don’t need to spend a lot of money for the games that can help. At this stage in their development, small round objects are best to help them with the pincer grasp and you can build a toy that works wonders here with nothing more than a few pieces of round cereal and some string or the kind of plastic cord that’s sold in craft stores.

Spread the cereal Os out in front on them on the highchair tray and let them help you string them onto the string as much as they can. You can fashion it into a necklace when you’re done and let your child wear the ‘jewelry’ you’ve made together.

Letting your little one be Mommy’s or Daddy’s Little Helper is a great way to help them develop while at the same time expand the scope of their experiences around the house. Having them help you with everyday tasks like wiping up spills with a paper towel, picking up their toys and even dropping clothes into the washing machine are great ways to develop their motor skills and have them interact with your daily routines.

Bath Time Presents

Finding out they can get their little fingers to do exactly what they want is a thrill for both parents and toddlers and bath time is a great place to play a game that accomplishes this skill building goal and inject some fun.

All you need to get started here is a washcloth and a few small toys. When she’s not looking at you, wet a washcloth and then wrap the small toy inside. Tell her you’re giving her a gift and present her with the washcloth. She’ll open it with delight and want to play this new game again immediately. You can keep the game moving forward by wrapping a second ‘gift’ while he’s unwrapping the first one and when he gets a little older, don’t be surprised if he starts wrapping up gifts for you to open as his sense of generosity increases.

Finally, boosting self-confidence is important and even cuts down on the tantrums you’ll face from your toddler. Showing her how to put on her own shoes and even a shirt or pants helps her to build dexterity and a sense of self. Having him grab his hat and mittens and put them on when it’s cold outside is a great exercise that helps him to grow.

Read more info like this at  All My Children.

Author: Rob Starr