Shopping Guide 12-18 Months
Between 12 and 18 months, children experience important changes as they grow from babies into toddlers. They start to show more curiosity and engage in more complex play.
Multipiece Knobbed Puzzles, with thicker knobs, can now be presented. As children fit the pieces into the correct slots, they enhance their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The different shapes and colors capture their interest and boost problem-solving abilities, as well as develop their size and shape discrimination skills.
Fine motor skills can improve with different toys for posting and stacking which help with coordination and dexterity.
Ball runs and Trackers are a fun way to work on visual tracking and fine motor skills.
Gross motor keeps developing at this age. Walking, might already be happening or start to happen soon. Engaging in activities that improve balance after they can walk unassisted is great. Toys that allow them to pull or push while walking encourage coordination and help them learn how to maneuver objects effectively, which are essential skills for new walkers.
Materials for practical life activities can be introduced. Simple activities like cooking and chores help children become independent and learn important life skills. As toddlers grow, they may lose interest in traditional toys and instead want to engage more with their “real” environment. This change shows their eagerness to explore and learn.
Finally, as play becomes more and more complex, there are new and different toys that can be introduced.
Lovevery toys for this age range do a great job on offering most of these categories in pre-curated kits. They include learning resources for parents to understand how their toys aid in children’s development.
Multipiece Knobbed Puzzles
Large knobs are excellent tools for developing the pincer grasp in young children.
The puzzles presented here are arranged by their level of difficulty, allowing for a gradual progression that supports skill development.
It's important to recognize that childrens interest in puzzles can fluctuate significantly from child to child, especially as they grow older. Observing your individual child's preferences and adjusting activities accordingly will enhance their engagement and learning experience.
1.Multi Circle Puzzle // 2.Circle Sorter [Code HALFWAYMONTESSORI for 10% off] // 3.Multi Shape Puzzle // 4.Geo Puzzle [Code HALFWAYMONTESSORI for 10% off]// 5.Friends Shape Puzzle // 6.Pets Jumbo Puzzle // 7.Fruits Puzzle
Posting and Stacking
Posting activities help children build fine motor skills. Placing items in a container improves hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Toys like shape sorters and slot boards let kids explore different movements as they match items to openings.
Stacking toys also support fine motor growth. While stacking, children practice balance and improve their gripping and releasing skills.
Both posting and stacking activities aid physical development and provide focused playtime.
1.Ring Stacker // 2.Pounding Toy // 3.Horiztontal Dowel // 4.Galt Pop Up Toy // 5.Veggies Stacking // 6.Coin Box // 7.Shape Sorter
Veggies Stacking Toy: This was a favorite in our home.
Galt Pop Up Toy: At the beginning it’s a simple posting game by placing the pegs in and out. It can then be followed by the popping function of the pegs and/or color matching.
Ball Runs and Trackers
Playing with ball runs and trackers can improve children’s visual tracking and hand-eye coordination. It's common for kids to explore small toys as well, instead the balls, helping them learn which items roll and which do not. This play fosters curiosity and cognitive growth while also developing motor skills.
1.Roller Derby // 2.Ramp Racer // 3. Simple Ball Tracker // 4.Wooden Marble Run // 5.M&D Pound and Roll // 6.Pound & Roll
Gross Motor
Walking is big work and a milestone that might show up around this time range (maybe sooner).
These toys support those first steps or provide the next interesting challenge after beginning to walk. Improving balance and learning how to move objects (pull and push while walking is a great skill to work on for new walkers).
1.Pikler Triangle // 2.Walker Wagon // 3.Butterfly Push and Pull // 4.Walk Along Puppy // 5.Pull Up Pup // 6.Walk and Roll
Pikler Triangle: Babies can first use it to pull up to stand, and then to take some steps with support. They will later start to climb it. This material can be used for years with most children outgrowing it sometime after 5 years old, and you can add features like a ramp for toddlers and up.
Baby Walkers: A Baby Walker helps with independence when taking those first steps. Sadly ours has been discontinued. An alternative with good reviews is this Walker Wagon. You can add books to the basket to make it slower to roll.
Pull Up Pup: Our most favorite toy from 1 to 2.5 years old. The effort of pulling this wooden puppy helps develop balance and coordination. It can later be used for pretend play and it still gets played with at 5 years old.
Butterfly Push and Pull & Roller Push Toy: Similar to a pulling toy, this adds a new challenge to new walkers and encourages balance and movement
Practical Life
Around 14 months you can start introducing some practical life materials.
Practical life is a cornerstone of Montessori education, emphasizing the importance of everyday skills that foster independence, responsibility, and a sense of community.
Food Preparation is a great activity to introduce and encompasses tasks such as slicing fruits, pouring drinks and ingredients.
1.Wooden knife // 2.Tiny pitchers // 3. Toddler Silverware // 4. Tiny glass // 5.Nylon knives // 6.Tovla Kitchen set // / 7.Toddler Tower [CODE halfway10 for 10% OFF]
We started with most of these at around 14 months.
Wooden knife: To start offering cutting opportunities (of soft things like bananas) the safest way.
Tiny pitchers: To start offering pouring opportunities.
Toddler Tower: Our most used item daily. I recommend getting it when your child can firmly stand on their own.
Nylon Knives: These knives are our favorite child-friendly knives, we introduced closer to 2yo, but you could start them sooner depending on your child.
Tovla Kitchen set: This kitchen set is more advanced, meaning it has less for young toddlers, but a good buy around 18 months. You would start by mostly using the measuring cups which are nice and light. This set includes the nylon knives.
Other Toys
Buckets and Boxes can be used for stacking and nesting, while other toys practice fine motor skills.
1.Stacking Cups // 2.Shapes Puzzle // 3.Stacking Boxes // 4.Hide and Seek Magnetic Board
Hide and Seek Magnetic Board: A favorite in our home. It can be used for years starting simply with opening the doors (for a little one). Then getting the magnets in and out (in any order), and later on used to match the magnets to the corresponding door.
Lovevery
Lovevery is a toy delivery subscription based on the child’s age. Below are my thoughts on the Play Kits that are available for the 12-18 month old age range.
The Babbler: Possibly my personal favorite kit available. It really encompasses so many of the skills and ways to play for children this age and your kiddo will most likely enjoy them. The posting toy was only a coin box in our time and was very well used. I am happy to see they expanded it and made it more flexible for it to grow with your child.
The Adventurer: A very well thought-out kit as well. Everything here is something you would want to offer your child around this age.
Notes & disclaimers:
*Some of this products are affiliated. This means, I get some commission when you buy them from the link posted in this page. This is at no cost to you.
*No products in this guide have been sponsored or given in exchange for being part of this gift guide
*This gift guide is broken down by ages with the hopes of give you a better idea of what’s developmentally appropriate and of interest based on a child’s age. This is information I’ve gathered from child development learnings, personal experience, as well as feedback from other parents. In any case, specially as children get older, interest and skill levels might vary. Please have the particular child you’re shopping for in mind
