Toddler Tips
(Age 12 – 36 months)
“Terrific
Toddlers!”
Georgia CTAE Resource Network
Instructional Resources Office
July 2009
Toddler Property Law
If I like it, it’s mine.
If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.
If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
If it’s mine, it must never appear to be
yours in any way.
6. If I’m doing or building something, all
the pieces are mine.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Toddler Law Continued
7. If it looks just like
mine, it’s mine.
8. If I think it’s mine,
it’s mine.
9. If it’s yours and I
steal it, it’s mine.
10. When in doubt if it’s
mine, read 1-9!
Physical
 Can run, jump, hop, skip, gallop, climb, march, dance,
and balance on one foot, throw, catch soft toys
 Rate of growth and appetite decreases from infancy
 Arms and legs grow proportionally longer
 Does not have the coordination for things such as a
tricycle.
 Teeth come in quickly nearing 2nd birthday.
 String beads, build with blocks
 Cut with safety scissors –
Fine Motor skills
 Use large crayons and pencils
 Fold paper; Screw & unscrew
objects
 Manipulate puzzles
 Gross Motor skills – jumping
over a water puddle
Mental / Cognitive
 Make-believe play shows the
beginning of symbolic thought.
 Showing insight
 Language abilities improving
 Recognize and count objects
that are similar.
 Basic colors
 Can recall basic events of day
 Imitates parents verbal expressions
 Will ask many questions out of curiosity (“Why is the
sky blue?”)
 Do NOT usually have ability to arrange and rearrange
in an organized logical manner.
Emotional
 Usually affectionate, especially w/ caring
adults
 Emotional dependence from family
 Deal with anger and negative emotions in
hostile ways
 Some behavior aggressive
 Can become frustrated at
limited abilities
Social
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Can cooperate with others
Exhibit independence
Ready to learn
Conform to standards
Like to help (especially adults) –
give easy task – don’t criticize
Interact with others on limited basis
Self-help skills
Should be praised for contribution
Begin to participate in parallel play
Solitary play still present – tea party w/
stuffed animal
Caregivers should be a ROLE MODEL
for courteous behavior.
Vocabulary
 Accommodation – deciding that all structures with four
walls and a roof are houses
 Assimilation – believing that every older male is
“grandpa”
 Attention span – listening to a story from beginning to
end
 Autonomy – refusing to wear the shoes mom has
chosen
 Parallel play – playing close to someone but not
playing with the same thing
 Solitary play – usually imaginative play without other
children
 Preoperational Period – (Piaget) – Starting to notice
the pictures in a book instead of simply tearing up the
pages
Safe Activities
 Imitative toys: small broom, toy lawn mower,
toy vacuum, toy stroller
 Play games with lightweight balls, bean bags,
rolled up socks. A large laundry basket can be
used as a “target.”
 Play simple games of hide-and-go-seek. Give
them sound of voice to follow.
 Read picture books to toddler. Ask them to
“find the….”
Activities cont.
 Give plastic bowls, containers with lids, and
some plastic spoons. Children enjoy banging
the spoons on the containers and matching lids
to correct containers.
 Tie a short string to a medium-sized cardboard
box. A toddler will enjoy filling the box with toys
and stuffed animals and pulling the box from
place to place.
 Give an empty paper bag and some safe
objects. The child can play “shopping.”
Group Times
 Always should be optional
 2-5 minutes
 Close off areas in the room that could be
distracting
 Don’t be afraid of repetition. If they love
it, do it over and over again.
 Try to incorporate activities that involve
movement.
Group Times Cont…
 If you are conducting a group time for the
first time, it probably will not go as
planned. Practice!
 Go to the children to begin group time,
then eventually stick to a certain place in
the room.
 Try to incorporate activities that involve
movement (dancing, stretching, etc.).
Group Times Cont…
 Non-movement group times should be
minimal and always “hands on” to ensure
active involvement.
 Must Have: opening, prop, body, closing
 Choices: All them to have a “Free pick
Friday.” Allow the children to choose the
group time.
 Be Flexible…Plan A, Plan B, Plan C…