Fun Activities for 18-Month-Old

I am probably one of the few people in the world who thinks the 18-month-old milestone is a big deal. Not that I celebrate it, but I do introduce more activities for 18-month-old because their development tends to take a leap forward.

Don't worry if your little one doesn't do what I suggest. I've found that 18-month-olds love to explore new items, which is the main point of these toddler play ideas. Remember play has great value, even if we don't see the point.

Coasters and Food Boxes: Activities for 18-Month-Old

Toddlers love putting smaller items into containers. I find the challenge of having to fit thin flat objects like safe coasters or large jar lids into food boxes with rectangular openings creates great activities for an 18-month-old. 

Toast Rack Lid Slot Activities for 18-Month-Old

If you happen to have a toast rack and medium to large sized lids, they can also be used together by your 18-month-old.

Empty Tissue Box Posting: Activities for 18-Month-Old

Reused tissue boxes offer plenty of activities for toddlers. I have provided various activities for one-year-olds with what I have on hand. Many 18-month-olds have enjoyed slotting jar lids through the openings of tissue boxes and retrieving them again, repeating this for a while. Check the lids fit and are not a chocking hazard.

Cardboard Tubes on Kitchen Roll Stand: Activities for 18-Month-Old 

A vertical stand for kitchen paper rolls or extra toilet rolls is needed for this 18-month-old activity. You can either cut a used the inner tubes of kitchen roll or toilet paper. Encourage your 18-month-old to stack the cardboard rolls on the stand. 

Dolly Pegs on a Container: Activities for 18-Month- Old

Thermal Foil Blanket Activities for 18-Month-Old

This shiny, rustling thermal foil blanket creates a unique sensory experience for toddlers. Be aware that this is a loud activity due to the rustling of the foil-like material. I found that one-year-olds either love or hate this activity depending on their tolerance for noise and a lot of stimulation at once.

Fairly inexpensive, this emergency blanket can be found among outdoor supplies. At the end of races or charity runs, they often give them out to the runners. I always have to find a cloth bag to store it in because it expands when played with.

This should be a closely supervised activity, ensuring they don't hold it too close to their face (the photo shows a quick moment with plenty of air around his face, and I've never had an issue with this). They are generally strong, but they do tear occasionally, so I remove any smaller pieces as it happens.

After the novelty wears off, small light balls or small stuffed animals can be bounced around on it to bring back the excitement.

Unwanted Catalogs and Old Magazines: Activities for 18-Month-Old 

Looking at appropriate catalogs, magazines , and sale leaflets are amazing vocabulary-building tools when we discuss the pictures. Only give what you don't mind your 18-month-old ripping and crumpling up, though. 

Straw Cup and Straw Slot Plaything

Save and clean a plastic cup with a straw hole in the lid and several plastic straws. Using scissors, I cut the straws twice, into three pieces. This needs to be a closely supervised toddler activity.

Look closely at the photo and notice that this is the safest straw hole opening because the X-type slot can pinch little fingers that tend to be pushed through with the straw pieces. I tend to collect a few cups to swap them out when they get spilt. At least for the first few times of introducing this plaything, I hold the cup during its use. 

Dishwasher Utensil/Silverware Holder Stand with Straws 

This was a spur-of-the-moment idea while looking at a pile of straws on the kitchen floor that a toddler had just dropped out of the packet. I simply placed the empty dishwasher utensil holder stand with the grid lid down next to the straws, and she immediately started putting them into the holes at the top.

The toddler enjoyed it so much that she repeatedly had long, focused sessions on this activity for 18-month-old. Metal straws could be a replacement if the end aren't sharp.

Opening and Closing Activities for 18-Month-Old

Look around for small containers with lids that ideally open in various ways. Now here's the tricky balance: the lids need to be small enough for their tiny hands to wrap around them, but not be a choking hazard. The sports-style-spout-lid of the bottle in the photo was bulky enough to be safe and I left out the smaller bottle cap that covered that.

As I say throughout this site, use what you have. Larger screw-on lids would be too tricky for their small hands to grasp properly. Try your best to find a variety of ways things can open and close. 

It is possible, as I've found at least three separate sets I've collected for this activity throughout my years as a nanny. A few toddlers have enjoyed and repeated similar activities for 18-month-old countless times.

Check your kitchen for food containers. Start saving cream and lotion shallow containers with screw-on lids. Mint and candy tins can be handy, especially with attached lids. Those daily pill divider tiny containers on a tray with attached lids and supplement containers with screw-on lids, as long as they aren't too small. Makeup or wash bags add variety.

Adding items into them is optional. Remember to check for choking hazards. I found they try to stack them together. Don't worry if they just play with the items; it is an activity they can grow with, as it can be a challenge at this age.
I presented the first set on a tray; later, I kept one set in a large tin and another in a wash bag with a zipper. I've found that the tin and bag holding the activity added to it. 

Click through to check out more Activities For 1-Year-Olds.