#asktheexperts Which interesting activities can i indulge my 1 year 8 months daughter, so that she remains away from mobile?

Question

#asktheexperts Which interesting activities can i  indulge my 1 year 8 months daughter, so that she remains away from mobile?

Accepted Answer

At 1 year and 8 months, your daughter is at a curious and energetic stage where she’s learning through exploration and play. It's great to engage her in activities that foster development and creativity while steering her away from excessive screen time. Here are some fun and educational activities you can try:

1. Sensory Play

Sensory activities are perfect for toddlers as they engage multiple senses and support cognitive and motor development.

Playdough: Let her squish, roll, and mold it. This helps develop fine motor skills.

Water Play: A simple basin of water with cups, spoons, and toys can provide hours of fun. It helps her understand cause and effect while improving hand-eye coordination.

Texture Exploration: Fill a box with various textures like soft fabric, rough sandpaper, or cotton balls. Let her explore by touch.

2. Building and Stacking Blocks

Blocks (wooden or soft) can be used to create towers, shapes, or patterns. These activities help improve hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.

3. Pretend Play

Dress-Up Games: Offer her simple costumes or old clothes to help her engage in imaginative play. This encourages creativity and social-emotional skills.

Toy Kitchen or Tools: Give her plastic kitchen tools or pretend food. Pretend play can enhance social skills and language development.

4. Story Time and Picture Books

Reading aloud to your toddler can be a great bonding activity. Choose interactive books with textures, flaps, or buttons to engage her. Point to pictures and name the objects to build her vocabulary.

5. Music and Dance

Play some music and encourage her to clap or dance along. You can also give her simple instruments like a tambourine or maracas.

Singing nursery rhymes with actions, like "Wheels on the Bus," will engage her and improve language skills.

6. Nature Walks

Take her on walks in the park, garden, or around your neighborhood. Talk to her about the things you see—trees, flowers, animals, etc. Nature walks improve cognitive development and social-emotional learning.

7. Art and Craft

Finger Painting: Let her experiment with colors and textures. This encourages creativity while building sensory and motor skills.

Sticker Books: Simple sticker activities can develop her fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

8. Interactive Games

Hide and Seek: Play simple versions of hide and seek or peekaboo. This not only entertains but also teaches object permanence.

Sorting Games: Use objects like colored balls or shapes, and ask her to sort them. This helps with categorization and color recognition.

9. Animal Sounds and Movements

Use animal toys or flashcards to teach her animal sounds and movements. This fosters language development and motor coordination.

10. Building a Routine

Create a consistent daily routine with activities like snack time, playtime, outdoor exploration, and quiet time. This will give her a sense of security and help with self-regulation.

By offering a variety of interactive, hands-on activities, you can ensure she’s learning and playing actively, rather than relying on screens. Always try to make these activities fun, engaging, and part of daily life, so she remains curious and entertained without the need for mobile devices.

Sources:

Zero to Three: Learning Through Play

Healthy Children by the American Academy of Pediatrics: Promoting Healthy Screen Time Habits