As your little one nears their second birthday, they are on the brink of an incredible language explosion! (After all, turning two means they’ll have plenty of ways to express their opinions, especially when it comes to their likes and dislikes.) You’ve already helped them build a foundation of vocabulary by identifying everyday objects like the tree, the puppy, and the fire truck. Now, it’s time to dive deeper. Discuss attributes like shiny, stinky, or soft textures. Present your toddler with various tactile items, such as sandpaper scraps or fluffy cotton balls, and talk about the sensations they offer. When reading together, emphasize details: “Look how the porridge is steaming! It must be very hot!”
Your toddler is also keenly developing early math skills. Understanding shapes and spatial relationships, such as whether something is under, beside, or on top of another object, lays the groundwork for geometry. What a clever little one! Shapes are everywhere (just ask Team Umizoomi!), and pointing them out can help your child begin to recognize them, even if they can’t name them quite yet. You can further their grasp of spatial concepts by showing examples: the toy is under the blanket, the cat is behind the couch, and perhaps the juice is in the fridge (just a little humor here!).
A great way to teach spatial awareness and let your toddler expend some of that boundless energy is through fun activities like the Hokey Pokey dance. It’s a perfect way to incorporate movement into learning… Anything that leads to an easier bedtime is worth it, right?
Homework:
- Explore the 5 Stages of Parenting a Toddler Who Can’t Sleep
- Discover 10 Things Toddlers Prefer to Play With
- Embrace the Idea that Naps Are Overrated
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In summary, this week is all about enriching your toddler’s vocabulary with descriptive words and nurturing their understanding of shapes and spatial concepts. Engage them through hands-on exploration and active play to foster their learning and development.