Best Learning Activities for 21-Month-Old Toddlers
If you are looking for the best learning activities for 21-month-old toddlers, you are in the right place. As a mom of two, I have definitely learned the best ways to keep up with an energetic baby and toddler. Every day is a new adventure filled with exciting activities. At this age, your toddler is learning at lightning speed. And this is a great opportunity to help aid them in their growth. All of these activities are fun and develop their fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, language skills, and a lot more. So let’s dive into the best learning activities for 21-month-old toddlers.
Your Toddlers 21-month-old Developmental Stage
At 21-months, toddlers are exploring and learning about the world and their environment. They do this through their movement, observing and interacting with objects and people. At this age, they are beginning to develop strong motor skills like walking, climbing and running. I am sure you are well aware of these things as your little one likely doesn’t want to ever stop moving.
Their hand eye coordination is also improving at this age which makes it easier for them to complete more complex tasks like stacking blocks or turning pages in books. At 21-months, their language skills are really developing and they might be saying more and more words. All of these 21-month-old activities for toddlers were curated and put together with all of this in mind.
Importance of play
Play is more than just having fun at this age. This is how your toddler will learn and grow. By playing your toddler will learn their problem solving skills, social skills, and habits which that they will carry with them. Having structured play activities will promote positive learning while they are having fun.
There are many ways to incorporate a fun game that still enhances their gross motor skills. A sensory bin, picture books, and simple jigsaw puzzles can turn into the best toys that also promote learning. Every moment of play offers an opportunity for learning and development. But don’t forget to have fun!
Fine Motor Skills Activities
Stacking and sorting
Toddlers love stacking and sorting activities and it is an early-on developmental tool to help their problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination. One and two year olds begin to understand balance and more complex concepts like organization. This is a good way to introduce those concepts at their own pace.
Simple puzzles
When we introduced simple jigsaw puzzles, we started with 3-4 piece puzzles. They have great options for these at Walmart. Once they master this, you can begin to introduce more complex puzzles one by one. It is really amazing to see how fast they learn and master this skill. This is a very easy toddler activity that they can continue to use as they get older.
Threading Beads
If your toddler is into arts and crafts, you likely have everything you need for this activity already in your house. You can use large colorful beads and shoelaces or pipe cleaners. They will learn new concentration skills and hand-eye coordination. Don’t be discouraged if they fail at first. You might be surprised at how resilient they are.
Hand-Eye Coordination Games
Ball- Rolling
This is a super fun and easy activity your 21-month-old is going to love. And it requires no prep work. All you have to do is sit on the floor and roll a soft ball back and forth. It is so easy but it can really improve their focus and coordination. There are many simple games like this that you can play with them that is an easy way to foster learning.
Pegboard Activities
Pegboards are great activities for your toddler to learn how to use their little hands. As they get better and better, this activity can be made more challenging by adding color matching, shape sorting and a lot more.
Scoop and Pour
A great activity for your 21-month-old that you likely have in your house already. Using cups, spoons, bowls, rice, or beans, you can make the most fun activity your toddler has ever seen. These kinds of activities are great for improving hand-eye coordination as well as to teach them grabbing and sorting as they get better and better.
Sensory Play Ideas
DIY Sensory Bags
A sensory bag is a great learning activity for a 21-month-old because the options are endless. This is another craft or activity that can be made using regular household items. All you need to do is fill Ziplock bags with different textured materials and your toddler will love to see the creations come to life. Taping them to the floor or window will help ensure the bag doesn’t open and also keep them entertained longer.
They will love squishing the little objects within the bags. This is also an easy way to use every day items to build a sensory activity. They will learn new skills along the way.
Play Dough
Play dough is a big activity all of my kids and their friends really love. There are endless creations to be made and many ways to expand on the basic toy.
Water Play Activities
Water play activities are a great sensory activity that your toddler will love. Sensory exploration is a way for your toddler to try new textures and objects in a safe and fun way. Sensory bins and sensory tables are great activity ideas for babies and toddlers of any age. Incorporating toy animals can also enhance the learning experience.
Finger Painting
Finger painting is a great fun activity that all kids will love. It mixes sensory activities with different colors and is a great activity for one and two year olds.
Obstacle Course
Indoor Obstacle Course
An indoor obstacle course is a great activity for babies and toddlers. You can use items like couch cushions, chairs, blankets and so much more. We love to make forts and jumping courses in our house. It’s a really fun activity that can help them learn to build strength and balance. Having an obstacle course will teach them new skills and help them figure out how to use their small muscles.
Tunnel Crawling
A play tunnel or a DIY version with chairs and blankets can make crawling a lot more fun. My son loves to build forts and climb through them. These kinds of activities keep him occupied for hours. This will teach your child new ways to overcome new challenges.
Mommy and Me Activities
There are so many great interactive activities you can do with your little one. Red light green light, follow the leader, simon says and so much more. Your toddler will learn to follow instructions in a fun way, mimic, and listen.
Language Development Activities
Storytime
Reading books is a nightly routine in our house. But it can be added to the daytime activities as well. Toddlers love this one-on-one learning activity and it makes them feel close to you as well. They will quickly learn colors, shapes, animals and more concepts the more and more you read to them. It is a great way to begin to teach them things without feeling like they are being forced into learning.
Sing-along songs
Toddlers love to sing and dance and this is a really great activity for a 21-month-old. This will quickly help build their vocabulary and teach them new kinds of stories that spark their imagination.
Animal Sound Games
Making animal sounds and encouraging their repetition is a great learning activity and language builder. They will learn the names of the animals themselves as well as the sounds that those animals make.
Interactive 21-Month-Old Activities
Themed Activity Days
My number one recommendation for moms is getting out of the house. This can mean down the street, in the front yard, or even somewhere fun. A great way to incorporate learning activities for your 21-month-old is by having a themed activity day. A few examples of this could be a day centered around the color blue. Finding blue objects, going to see the ocean, getting a blue drink and making a craft with the color blue can fill the whole day with excitement and learning. Another exciting activity can revolve around “under the sea.”
This themed activity day can include reading sea-life books, going to the beach or aquarium, and learning new animal sounds. Your toddler will learn communication skills and problem-solving skills by trying these new things.
Outdoor Exploring
Nature walks, trips to the park, and digging for bugs are all great activities for toddlers and babies of all ages. It is important to boost their immune systems, spark their curiosity, and teach them new things.
Interactive Play Dates
Having a playdate with another kid or group will teach your toddler more than you would think. They will learn how to be part of a group, share, and socialize. These are important learning activities they will use their entire life. It is good to teach and promote these habits early on.
If you are planning on having a play date, you can center it around a learning activity. Magnetic tile toys are a great toy that you can use to teach sharing and exploration of other concepts. Your little one can make houses for animals or a space station. You can even use the magnetic tile toys along with everyday items you can find around the house.
21-Month-Old Activities
Being a mom to a 21-month-old is a fun-filled journey where you are both learning along the way. All of these activities have helped my toddler develop important life skills while keeping their play time exciting. You really don’t need a bunch of toys and things to make learning fun.
When you are playing with your 21-month-old, remember to always acknowledge and promote their good behaviour so they know when they are doing a good job. These toddler activities are all excellent ways to teach things like social interaction, cognitive development, and hand eye coordination. Your toddler will learn new words and dive into pretend play. I hope all of these ideas inspire you to create your own and spark your children’s imagination.
If you are looking for Montessori style toys, check out this article on The Best Montessori Toys for Babies and Toddlers
