Shopping Guide 18-24 Months
The transition from baby to toddler marks a significant developmental stage.
They can start engaging with more complex puzzles such as thin knob puzzles, nesting puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. This not only stimulates their cognitive development but also enhances their fine motor skills.
During this stage, toddlers may begin to show signs of being able to color discriminate, although they might not yet be able to name the colors accurately. Providing color learning toys is a great way to support this skill.
As play becomes more diverse, a wider variety of toys can be included. Activities such as using stepping stones can encourage balance and coordination.
Introducing art materials and musical instruments can greatly aid in their creative and sensory development.
The ability to walk steadily while carrying objects allows toddlers to participate in practical life activities more effectively, fostering independence and self-confidence.
Puzzles
Now is a good time to start offering different kinds of puzzles and gauge the child’s interest.
Interest on puzzles can vary greatly from child to child (specially as they get older), so keep that in mind to focus on your specific child and avoid comparison.
For example, in our home, we had more interest with stacking and nesting puzzles than more traditional jigsaw puzzles (which changed at ~4 years old).
The following puzzles are great examples of different forms that can be presented, but they are not a suggested order to present.
1.Size Discrimination Puzzle // 2.Nesting Puzzle // 3.Chunky Puzzle // 4.Vehicles Small Peg Puzzle // 5.Matching Puzzle // 6.Shape Sorting and Stacking // 7.Geometry Puzzle // 8.Shapes Pegs Puzzle
Color Learning
Color recognition usually begins around 18 months, with some children ready by 30 months.
Activities like sorting colored objects or using colored toys support this learning. Incorporating colors into daily routines or stories can further enhance their understanding. Each child progresses at their own pace, so positive reinforcement is important.
These toys offer a color matching component, allowing children to practice at their own pace. Each interaction enhances color understanding and fine motor skills, fostering development and enjoyment.
When introducing toys, it is effective to start with primary colors or fewer variations, gradually incorporating additional colors as the child becomes more comfortable.
A helpful tip for teaching color names is to phrase it as “The car is blue” instead of “The blue car,” as this promotes clearer understanding of the color in relation to the object.
1.Fruit Sorting Set // 2.Pegboard and rings // 3.Color Matching Puzzle // 4.Colors and Shapes Puzzle // 5.Color Sort Cups and Coins // 6.Peg People // 7.Color Sort and Stack // 8.Color Sorting Ball in Cup
Color Sorting Ball in Cup: At the time we had an 18 month old, this toy wasn’t available in this format. We used the cups from the cups and coins and colored balls from other toys. Given that pouring was a high interest in our home, this was a favorite setup.
For both toys with cups, you can adjust the activity in a lot of different ways using the cups and other elements. For example, at 3 years old we offered lots of smaller colored buttons for color sorting.
Other Toys
At around 18 months, children display diverse interests and engage in various play forms, crucial for their development.
1.Spin Again // 2.Cut Fruit Set // 3.Flower Stacking Toy // 4.Roll and Play // 5.Surprise Inside Set // 6.Stepping Stones // 7. Pikler Triangle // 8.Stacking Blocks
Surprise Inside Set: This was a favorite in our home around this age. Perfect open and closing toy for toddlers.
Spin-Again Stacking Toy: Another favorite in our home. This toy encourages big movement which is great and harder to find in toys.
Stepping Stoners: These stepping stones weren’t around when we were 18 months old, and the ones we had tried we didn’t really love. These ones however are an amazing gross motor/open ended toy. We get a lot of use from them at 5 years old
Pikler Triangle: At 18 months we introduced the Pikler Triangle and it worked great for us. We first used it by itself and then added a ramp to 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.
Arts & Music
Now is a great time to introduce music and art materials to enhance children's cognitive and emotional development.
Music improves listening, self-expression, and social interaction, while art fosters exploration of color, shape, and texture, boosting fine motor skills and creativity.
Provide various music options, like instruments and rhythm games, alongside art supplies such as paints and crayons.
1.Lovevery Music Set // 2.Floor Tom Drum // 3.Egg Shakers // 4.Toddler Drum // 5.Multi-talented Pencils // 6.Dot Markers // 7.Beeswax Crayons // 8.Easel
Practical Life
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.Crinkle Cutter // 3.Nylon knives // 4.Tiny Pitchers // 5.Small Pitcher // 6.Medium Pitcher // 7.Toddler Tower [CODE halfway10 for 10% OFF] // 8.Tovla Kitchen set // 9.Watering Can // 10.Little Vacuum
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.
We started using these after 18 months.
Crinkle Cutter: A great step up from the wooden cutter. Ours is not sharp, but I would test to make sure.
These can cut a lot of things, but I would suggest to use them for semi-soft things for safety (like apple pieces)
Watering Can: For watering plants you can use a regular pitcher, but we like using this one to learn yet a different type of pouring
Little Vacuum: This is a real vacuum, but the perfect size for kiddos that love to vacuum. Much better than a toy vacuum in my opinion
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
