What activities make children happy?

Toddlers are full of energy, and it can be hard for their parents to get them to sit still and pay attention to one thing. The first three years of a child's life are very important for learning and development, but almost 90% of a child's brain development occurs by age 5. What your little one learns in his first few years can shape his life. As a parent, you should try to get your child involved in activities that help him learn and grow. We've put together a list of fun indoor activities that will keep your child busy without taking away from the fun. Activities to Help Your Toddler's Brain Develop Give your child these fun ways to learn to help him improve his thinking and language skills. These simple games are just brain exercises that help him remember things and solve problems. They will also get him ready for school. Reading We know your child might not be old enough to read yet, so you'll have to read to him instead. Choose a storybook that is right for your toddler, like one with a simple plot and lots of pictures, and read it to them.  Then read the story out loud, making sure to change the tone of your voice for each character and make animated movements. Different parts of his brain will be stimulated by hearing new sounds and words and seeing new pictures and colors. As he listens to you carefully and tries to understand the story, he will improve his ability to imagine, use vocabulary, pay attention, and listen. Children, especially toddlers, are easily influenced and learn most by watching and copying what their parents do. So if you read to your little one, you'll also teach them to read, which is a good habit with many benefits. Coloring Your child doesn't have to be an artist to color or paint. He will be busy for a long time coloring, and if he likes it, it could become a hobby he keeps for life. You can get him crayons and a coloring book with pictures of different animals or flowers. Get your child Camlin Child Grip Crayons that are decided to be made with special non-toxic materials. Five different colors are safe for a toddler to use. Because of how they are made, they are easy for your child to hold. This can help him get a better grip, which will help him in the long run. Coloring can help him improve his fine motor abilities and hand-eye coordination, as well as his creativity, ability to focus, and, in the long run, his cognitive skills. Let him color as much as he wants! Sorting by color or shape For this activity, put blocks, colorful pom poms, or colorful buttons in a box and teach your toddler to sort them by color, shape, and size. As your child gets better at this activity, you can move up a level and ask him to take things like stainless steel bowls and glasses out of the dishwasher and place them in the appropriate drawers. Your child will soon be able to sort as well as group things on his own. This is a very brain-stimulating task! Putting up Cups or Blocks Little kids love to stack things! And as they do it, their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and ability to focus get better. You can teach your toddler how to stack things by giving him stacking cups, stacking rings, or even building blocks. Let him stack his toys as high as he can, or let him put them inside each other. This activity helps him learn to recognize shapes and colors and count and put things in order. Test-Driving Textures Toddlers learn through their senses and using their senses of touch, taste, and smell helps their brains work better. You can let your child touch things with different textures, such as cotton balls, sandpaper, beans, soap, etc., and then let him try to hold each one and tell you what it feels like. This will help him get a better grip and wake up his senses. Working on your child's grasp from an early age is also important because a good grasp is the secret to improving handwriting. Child Grip Camlin Crayons are easy for kids to hold and are made to help them get a better grip. Please give him a crayon and let him color or draw on anything. These colors can be washed off porous surfaces, so you don't have to fret about hiding the marks they leave on your walls when unexpected guests appear. Scavenger Hunt Children like to discover new things, and we're sure that your little bundle of joy will enjoy this hard game. Hide his favorite toys or things that are a certain color, and let him go hunting for them. It will be fun for him to look for those toys and bring them to you. It will also make him feel good about himself and improve his problem-solving ability. Singing Action Songs or Word Songs To help your child learn new words, sing songs with actions like "The Alphabet Song," "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," and "Row, row, row your boat." Invite him to join you in singing. He will try to copy you every day and sing in his own gibberish. He will also learn new words and try to link them to actions. He will also learn a lot about how words rhyme. Cooking You don't have to invite your child to help you cook something with knives and fire. But he can help you get ready (like helping clean peas). You can also teach him how to cook without a flame. Even something as simple as making him a peanut butter sandwich can keep him busy. Plus, when he's done, he gets to eat it! It will also help him learn about the different textures and tastes of different foods. These are some things your child can do to keep his brain active and help him grow and learn. Make your child do one or two things every day.   

Every parent has dreams for their children. Some of these dreams may include their children becoming famous musicians or billionaires. But one thing that every parent hopes for is that their children will be able to succeed in life. Fortunately, acquiring skills is one way that your child can achieve this. And while there's no one perfect way to teach skills, several strategies can be used to help improve your child's skillset. In this blog post, this article will discuss some of the most effective strategies for fostering your child's development and encouraging them to attain their full potential. Follow Their Interests Parents can help their children build skills by following their interests. If your kid enjoys playing video games, you may help them pick the genres they like by letting them try out a variety. If your child is interested in music, have them listen to different kinds of music and find musicians they enjoy. When parents follow their children's interests, it helps them learn new things and develop skills they may not have otherwise. Learn to Ask Questions Start by asking your kiddos questions if you wish to aid in their skill development. Asking questions lets, you understand what your child is interested in and encourages them to investigate independently. When children learn to ask questions, they become inquisitive and thrive in a curious world. To improve your question-asking skills, consider these suggestions. 1. Be specific. When asking questions, be as detailed as possible. If you want your kid to learn how to paint the inside of a cup, ask them to demonstrate how they painted something similar in the past. This specificity will help them remember the steps and avoid repeating mistakes. 2. Encourage curiosity. When your child asks a question, encourage their interest by responding with open-ended responses instead of giving straight answers yourself. This will help them explore independently and build their confidence when learning new things. 3. Praise their efforts! When your child demonstrates knowledge or skill through questioning, reward them with compliments such as: "That's really smart of you for figuring that out." This will promote positive questioning habits and encourage children to seek out information for themselves instead of relying on others too often. Practice Role Playing Role-playing is a great way to help children practice taking turns, following directions, and communicating. Here are some tips for creating successful role plays: 1. Make sure the role play is fun for you and your child. Some fun ideas include making up a story together, acting out a favourite movie scene, or coming up with your game scenarios. 2. Try to involve as many of your child's senses as possible. For example, have them smell something new, feel something cold or hot, see something in 3D, or hear noise from all directions. 3. Model good behaviour before leading your child into role-play. This will help them understand what is expected of them and set the tone for the play proceedings. 4. Be consistent with your role-playing instructions. If you tell your child to say "please" and "thank you," make sure they follow these instructions throughout the play! Teach Empathy Teaching empathy is a skill that is essential to building solid relationships. When your child can empathize with others, they are better equipped to understand and support their feelings and those of others. There are many ways to foster empathy in your child, but here are five tips: 1. Model empathy yourself. As the parent or guardian, be aware of how you react to situations and what you say to your child. Show them that you care about their feelings and understand their feelings. 2. Encourage your child to ask questions. Open up discussions about different topics – especially those that affect your child – by encouraging your child to ask questions. This will help them develop a deeper understanding of the situation and other perspectives. 3. Help them practice self-compassion. Show your child that it's okay to feel unhappy, frustrated or overwhelmed sometimes (even in difficult situations). Help them cultivate healthy self-compassion by teaching them how to recognize and cope with negative thoughts and emotions. 4. Whenever possible, speak up for them. Reassure your kid that they can always talk to you about anything that's upsetting them – regardless of how large or minor the issue seems. This will help build trust and ensure safety during tough conversations or situations." Know Your Child's Limits Parents continually look for new and innovative methods to help their children learn and grow. While some skills may be innate, many can be enhanced with proper instruction and practice. It is essential to know your child's limits. This will provide insight into what training is required to get them where you want them to go. If your child cannot do a task correctly, it's best not to force them to try. Tell them they can try again later if they have more time or resources available. Remember that children learn best when they are interested in what they're doing. If you can find activities that interest your child, they are more likely to engage in the action and learn from it. Be a Good Role Model Parents are great role models for their children. What they do and say can have a significant impact on the development of their children. It is important to set good examples for your children and to be present, active, and positive during their early years. Listed below are some suggestions for improvement as a role model: Be present: Be there when your child is doing something special or getting ready for school. Acknowledge their accomplishments and show interest in what they are doing. Be active: Play with your child, go on walks, and play together. Show interest in what they are doing and ask questions. Be positive: Don't criticize your child excessively or use negative language. Encourage them and praise them when they do well.

Kids love to play, but it's important to know that play isn't just for fun. Children need time to play to grow and develop. Children learn about themselves and how to interact with others by playing. They learn to take turns, be part of a team, work together, and share or hide important information. Play is complex, has different stages, and can be put into different groups, just like everything else that has to do with human evolution. In this article, we'll talk about eleven important kinds of play for kids' growth. What is a play? Play is any activity you do to get pleasure from it. Children need to play because it helps them learn about themselves, get along with others, and solve problems. It helps them calm down and get to know other kids their age. People also think it helps them learn important motor skills such as balancing and helps them focus better. Why is play so important for your kids' development? In his book Playful Parenting, Lawrence Cohen explains that play serves three main purposes: ●    Play is an important part of learning because it lets kids try to be like adults and learn new skills.●    Play allows a child to get close to and care about his friends and parents.●    Playing helps him deal with his feelings. Because of this, it is very important to keep your child busy every day. Play is an important part of the school day, particularly for younger kids, because it helps them stay alert. What Types of Play Are Important for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers? Whether it's just rolling a ball around or putting on a costume to play a role, the play keeps a child's mind busy and helps them develop their creativity and imagination. Here is a list of 11 activities that help kids grow and learn. Unused Play When a child is playing by himself, he does things like wave his hands and kick his legs in the air. Even though these might look like random moves, they are a way to play. Usually, babies and young children play like this. Benefits: ●    Explores movement and learns about the excitement naturally.●    Lays the groundwork for future play activities Examples: ●    Moving hands and feet at random●    Being busy with what seems to be nothing Parallel Play Parallel play is when kids one or two years old play next to each other but don't talk much and appear to be doing their things without involving anyone else. During parallel play, kids may watch each other play and adjust their games based on what they see, but they won't try to change their peers' games. Benefits: ●    Learns how to get along with kids his age●    knows about ownership●    Learned how to act. Examples: ●    Using each other's toys●    Putting on costumes and playing roles●    Using the same box to build individual sand castles Association Play Associative play is when kids start paying more attention to other kids and less to their toys. Even though it looks like the kids are playing together, there are no set rules, structure, organization, or common goal. This kind of play is common among kids three to four years old. Benefits: ●    More kids hanging out with other kids●    Learns how to obtain ahead with other people●    Language development learns to share●    Learned how to perform together and solve issues. Examples: ●    The same kids are using the same toys.●    Exchanging toys●    talking, or getting in touch with each other Solitary Play Usually, kids who are two or three years old play by themselves. During solo play, kids are busy holding toys, lifting, and looking at things. They aren't interested in the other kids around them. Children who are shy or haven't learned how to play with others or with their bodies need time to play alone. Benefits: ●    Learns to be on their own●    He makes up his mind.●    Gives you the confidence to talk to other people.●    Boosts creativity and imagination●    Learns new things on his own. ●    Learned to slow down and think. Examples: ●    Acting out a made-up event●    Toys that shake●    Drawing, sketching, or writing Drama/Fantasy Play During dramatic play, kids often tell stories about places and people or put themselves in a certain role, which they then act out. This kind of play gets kids to try out different languages and show how they feel. Benefits: ●    Makes people more interested in things outside of themselves. Encourages imagination and creativity.●    Improves problem-solving skills Improves language skills●    teaches people to care about others. Examples: ●    Role-playing●    Talking to dolls●    Caring for and loving stuffed animals Onlooker Play Onlooker play is when a child doesn't participate in a game but watches other children play with great interest. Onlooker play is most common in toddlers. It is a way for kids to learn by watching. Benefits: ●    Learn from what it sees.●    Listens and learns to improve language skills. Example: ●    Taking a strong interest in other children's play but not engaging in it. Competitive Play Children who play competitive games learn to play with clear rules and ways to win and lose. Football, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders are all competitive games. Benefits: ●    Teaches how to play by the rules●    Teaches himself to wait his turn●    Learns how to work with others Examples: ●    Tabletop games●    Outdoor activities like table tennis, badminton, and racing Cooperative Play As kids get older, their social skills improve, and they learn to work together, talk to each other, and play together. Children play cooperatively when they work together to reach a goal. Benefits: ●    Learns to share and get along with his friends.●    Learns how to talk to people●    Learned the value of working as a team, improved at expressing themselves, and gained confidence. Examples: ●    Making sandcastles with each other Symbolic Play Symbolic play is when kids use things to act out what they want to do. Symbolic play can happen when you sing, play music, draw, or color. Benefits: ●    Self-expression●    tries out new ideas●    tries things out and learns how to feel Examples: ●    Drawing●    Singing●    Using musical instruments to make music Physical Play Play that involves some physical activity is called "physical play." Benefits: ●    Encourages people to be active●    Enhances both gross and fine motor skills. Examples: ●    Bicycle riding●    How to throw a ball●    The game of hide and seek.

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular worldwide among people of all ages, and this therapeutic, calming, and relaxing exercise is also great for young children or toddlers. Please read this post to learn more about yoga for 2-year-olds, including why it's good for your child, when they should start doing it, tips, and the best yoga poses. How is yoga good for children? Even toddlers in this generation are becoming more and more dependent on different kinds of electronics. This overdependence on electronics is bad for kids' health, and getting them involved in activities like yoga for little kids helps them use their energy in good ways. It also works well as a way to keep your emotions in check. Yoga is one of the best indoor activities for growing up, and it has many health and wellness benefits for young kids. Yoga is a great way for toddlers to build strength and flexibility when done regularly. It also helps young, growing minds get better at coordination, balance, and being aware of their surroundings. Yoga is a great way to get to know other people, and it's also a great way to teach your child to follow directions, gain confidence, and try new things by copying what others do. Again, yoga is a great way for young kids to improve their motor skills. When should you start teaching your child yoga? Yoga is a form of exercise with many physical benefits, but it is also good for the mind and spirit. Most other forms of exercise only focus on the physical side. When one's child should start doing yoga is not a hard and fast rule. Toddlerhood is a very important time in a child's life because it is when they are moving from being babies to being kids and becoming more conscious of their bodies.  At this age, their curiosity grows by leaps and bounds, and they also learn many other skills. So, now might be a good time to teach your child something useful like yoga, which is good for his or her body and mind. It's great to get kids started on something that will help them for the rest of their lives at a young age. Tips for doing yoga with small kids Teaching young kids anything can be fun and hard at the same time. But at this age, kids are so energetic that teaching toddlers yoga will be a fun and exciting experience. Here are some ideas for doing yoga with young children: Be flexible with your time. Kids like to do things at their own pace, so if your little one wants to take his time with a pose, don't rush him. You might be surprised to see how much longer he can hold a pose than you can. Be easy on the structure. When it concerns kids, they might want to do things their way. And if you want to stick to a rigid or fixed plan, that may not always work out. This means that if you want to do 8 to 10 poses in a certain amount of time or a certain order, it may be hard to do so with young children in the picture. But it would help if you didn't let this get you down because it will finally get your kid down too. Keep your cool and let things happen as they will. Make it more enjoyable. As you do yoga, tell your child something funny, act hilarious, or do something else that makes them laugh. The idea is to make yoga fun and interesting for the child. If your child enjoys it, he or she is likely to keep engaging in it for the rest of their life. Remember that you give your child happy and fulfilling memories that will stay with them for a long time. Don't worry about perfecting the pose. Yoga for toddlers can't be about doing everything perfectly, and mastering a pose can't be about doing everything perfectly, either. We know your child wants to learn how to strike the right pose, but you can't expect that to happen in just a few days. If you give it time, your child may soon be able to do the yoga poses perfectly. Also, being too strict about getting the pose right can turn young kids off and make it no longer fun. Trying using props You can use fun props to make your child's yoga sessions more interesting. You can use stuffed animals, balls, and other similar toys to make yoga asanas more fun. It's all about making the activity you want your child to do more fun. Try yoga with your children. Being a good example for your child is one of the most important parts of teaching them good habits. If you do what you tell your child to do, he or she will be more likely to pick up that habit. Put your yoga mat beside your child's mat and tell him to do what you say or what the yoga teachers say if you are in a class. Maintain control of your expectations. You got matching yoga mats and other gear for you and your little one to make yoga class so much fun and exciting, but all your kid has to do is run around while you try to master the poses. Well, don't expect too much from toddlers because, let's face it, they aren't grown-up kids and are still attempting to figure out many things. Let your kid be himself; he'll like doing yoga with you over time. Kids learn a lot by watching, so even when he's sitting quietly on his yoga mat or running around the room, he's doing a lot of observing. Play good music Music moves our hearts and minds and can also calm and relax us. Even young children can feel this. You can play music that is good for kids or music that helps you relax while doing yoga poses with your child. Use language that is simple but engaging. You can't just expect your child to follow you around while you do yoga. Instead, you must tell your child what to do and help him or her along the way. Make your instructions easy to understand and interesting so your child will be interested in the activity. Changing the pitch of your voice is another great way to add some fun to the session. Use different sounds, like making animal sounds, while doing yoga poses that look like animals. Stick to a routine. Setting up a routine is an excellent way to assist young children in forming healthy habits. Your child will get both physical and mental advantages from doing yoga regularly. So, incorporate yoga into your child's life. Yoga Pose Ideas for Toddlers Here are some of the greatest yoga poses for kids: ●    The Cobra Pose●    The Cat and Cow Pose●    The Bow Pose●    The Butterfly Pose●    The Corpse Pose

Children have boundless energy and curiosity that must be channelled into constructive activities. When children are running around all day, it can be hard to get them to sit still long enough to do their schoolwork. Fortunately, there are ways to make mornings more stress-free for you and your kids. In this blog post, we'll explore some steps you can take to ensure a stress-free morning. Pick out their outfit the night before. Creating a positive mood first thing in the morning is a great approach to kick off a productive day. Here are five tips for a stress-free morning with kids:  1. Get organized and set some ground rules. Please make sure everyone knows what's expected of them before they get out of bed, and stick to those boundaries. This will help keep things calm and orderly.  2. Establish a morning routine. Set specific times for each child to get up, eat breakfast, brush their teeth, etc. This way, they know what to expect and won't be surprised when things happen outside their routine.  3. Put away toys and other materials that could be disruptive during the morning hours. Put all electronics and books away, so there's less clutter and less potential for distractions.  4. Have some quiet time together as a family in the morning before everyone starts getting ready for the day ahead. This can be used for prayer or just taking a few minutes to relax before starting the day.  5. Let them have fun too! Playing games or doing something special together before school can help ease any anxiety or excitement that may come with starting the day." Have Them Get Dressed First, Before Doing Anything Else There's always a good time to get children dressed, but mornings can be particularly challenging. With everyone rushing to get ready, it can be difficult for children to feel organized and prepared for the day. Here are seven steps to help make the morning more stress-free for all involved: 1. Have everyone get dressed first and then have their breakfast. This will allow them to feel more in charge of their mornings and reduce the likelihood of surprises. 2. Establish specific morning routines for everyone in the family. This will help children know what to expect and decrease the number of surprises when they wake up. 3. Allow time for meaningful conversations before getting started with the day. This will help build relationships and create memories that will last a lifetime. 4. Help children learn how to handle frustration and boredom by providing opportunities to try new activities or experiences throughout the day. This will keep things exciting and prevent them from growing bored with routine tasks. 5. Be patient with kids - they may not always understand what's required of them in the morning, but they'll eventually catch on. And remember, you're always young enough to start learning new skills! 6. Reward good behaviour during mornings - this will encourage kids to follow through with their plans and make waking up easier for everyone involved! Make Sure All Gadgets are Put Away Making sure all gadgets are put away at the end of the day can help create a more stress-free morning with kids. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure they're not running around and adding to your stress level. 1. Set a one-hour timer and have your kids sit down and organize all their toys. As a bonus, it will make their mornings less chaotic and offer them a feeling of success. 2. Have them put away the toys by colour and by type (plastic vs wooden). This way, they'll quickly identify what belongs to them and what doesn't. 3. If there's an electronic toy that needs batteries replaced, have your children bring it to you so you can do it before bedtime. This will help avoid power struggles in the morning when trying to get those pesky devices turned off! 4. Give children storage containers or baskets to place their toys after they're put away. This will cut down on search time during the morning and keep things more organized overall. Practice Stretching Together or Doing a Small Exercise When it comes to getting kids out of the house in the morning, one way to ease their anxiety is by setting some ground rules. One such direction is that they need to be able to stretch together before they leave. This will help them get used to the idea of testing and can even lead to them enjoying a morning stretching routine! Also, exercising before breakfast is always a good idea, as this sets the tone for the day. Examples include doing quick squats or Twist and Shouting with your child. Play Music Having a stress-free morning with kids can be a lot easier than you think! Start by setting the tone for the day by setting limits on screen time and homework. Explain to your youngster why these restrictions are necessary if they are old enough to comprehend them. If they are younger, try using simple phrases like "We need some time to ourselves today" or "We need some quiet time to work". Once you have set the limits, it's essential to follow through. If your child is asking for something they cannot have right then and there, be firm but fair. For example, if they ask to play video games after school, say no but offer alternative activities like going outside or doing their chores. Finally, make sure you are stressed-free! It can easily spill over onto our children when things get hectic at home. Make sure you take time each day to relax and rejuvenate. This will help you be more patient with your children and set an excellent example for them. Make a Morning Checklist It would help if you wrote down your daily to-dos as soon as you left the bed. By doing so, you will be better able to concentrate and avoid distractions. Here are some steps to creating a stress-free morning: 1. Have a plan. Before getting out of bed, list what needs to be done that day. This will help keep you organized and from becoming overwhelmed by everything waiting for you. 2. Set boundaries. Try to do only a little at a time in the morning. Instead, focus on one or two tasks and complete them. 3. Take breaks. If something feels too complex or tedious, take a break until you're ready to try again. This will help prevent burnout and increase your efficiency later in the day. 4. Stay positive! Starting the day with a positive mindset can be challenging, but it's essential to have a successful morning overall. Remind yourself why it's worth it, and celebrate small victories along the way.

When a baby turns one, parents get a new look at how their child is growing and changing. From getting stronger to making smarter choices, their child is sure to amaze them. But this can't happen if parents don't spend time helping their toddlers learn new skills. Activities that are right for their age. This article has a list of activities that are great for toddlers who are 16 months old. Plan your baby's playtime around these fun things that are sure to become your favorites too! By 16 months, babies can start to move around more. Their sleep habits change, too. They nap less often during the day. So, you'll need a lot of ideas to keep your child busy throughout the day. The ideas below will help you out when you need them the most. The Tiny Helper When a child is 16 months or older, they can copy what they see. It's the best time to teach them good habits and to help them improve their motor skills and hand muscle strength. That's exactly what this activity will assist you in doing. After he plays with his toys, ask your child to help you put them back in his toy box. Or, give him a towel to clean his table when he's done eating. For more fun, please move to a porch or safe balcony and give him a small bucket of soapy water and a piece of cloth. Show him how to clean up the area. You won't get the best possible results, but your child will have fun and learn responsibility and discipline through this activity. Reading + Role-Play You must have read your little one a lot of stories. Your toddler must have his favorite books on the shelf, ready for you to read them. This is one step up from reading. It involves playing different roles and can help your child learn, listen, and enhance his language skills.  Choose a story and interpret it aloud while you get your little one ready to go on an adventure. Dress up like the story's characters or make funny noises to make it even more fun. Your little one will enjoy it. Musical Jam We love musical jams because they have a lot of music and fun. Bring out all the toys that make music you bought for your child. Not got any? No problem. Get some bowls and wooden spoons and dress up one little performer. Then, play some music and tell your little one to move to the beat. This can help your child get better at moving his or her body, coordinating his or her eyes and hands, and listening. Water Fun Kids love to do this, especially when it's hot in the summer. And you don't need to give them anything else to keep them busy. You're all set if you have a baby tub or a baby pool. Put some of your toddler's toys in the water and fill the tub halfway. You can also put spoons made of wood and cups made of plastic. Let him splash in the water, play with his toys, and laugh pure joyfully. This is a great way to help your child cool down and improve his motor skills, coordination, and hand and upper body strength. Passing the Parcel This is a classic way to help your child improve his eye-hand coordination, concentration, and motor skills. Take a ball, stuffed toy, or soft pillow and throw it gently at him, aiming for his hands if you can. This will make him more likely to try to catch or pick up the thing. Then, tell him to throw it your way. When he throws, his arm muscles can also get stronger. Sorting Fun When your child's stuff is lying around, you can ask your toddler to help you put things in baskets. Say you have a load of clean laundry, and your baby's toys are all over the floor. Make two baskets, put them about 3 feet apart, and tell your little one to put the toys in one basket and the clothes in the other. You'll have to join in and keep showing your toddler how to do it if they don't understand it after the first few times. Your child will walk more because of this activity, strengthening his leg muscles and improving his eye-hand coordination, motor skills, and memory. You can also tell him the thing's name out loud so he can learn new words. Bubble Burst! Who doesn't like bubble wrap? If you did this with your toddler, you and he would love it. Get a piece of bubble wrap and wash it with water and soap to get rid of any dirt or germs it might have on it. When it's dry, put it on the floor before your child and start popping bubbles one at a time. Your toddler will also start to burst. Let him be patient. He can improve his pincer grasp and build up the small muscles in his hands by popping bubbles on bubble wrap. To make the activity more interesting, point at a bubble and tell your baby to pop it. This will also help him work on his eye-hand coordination. Foodie Fun If your toddler is picky about what he eats, you can sneak food into his activities, and he won't even know he ate. For this activity, your child will require finger food or broken cereal that is easy to swallow. Put two bowls in front of him. One should have food in it, and the other should be empty. Sit in front of your child and put one piece of food in the empty bowl. Keep doing it as you try to get your child to join you. You can also keep his attention by singing and dancing a little. When their toddler starts to act like you, put a little food in your mouth and begin chewing. Again, try to get him to do it. This activity will help your child eat his food, but it will also improve his listening skills, motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and language. The Little Paleontologist This is a fun way to improve your toddler's ability to pay attention and move his or her body. It would help if you had a tray, toys, and brightly colored tissue paper. Spread three or four toys on the tray and cover them with a few sheets of tissue paper. Put a few more toys on it and cover it with more tissue paper. This way, you can add one or two more layers. Start by searching for a toy and pulling it out by touching the tissue on the tray. Keep doing it until your child starts copying you and looking for the toys and pulling them out. Put a big bowl or basket beside the child so that he can put his toys in it. Water Painting This kind of painting with water doesn't need any paint. All you need is water in a small bowl, a paintbrush, and construction paper. When you put the paintbrush in the water and paint something on the paper, ensure your child is paying attention. Then give him the paintbrush and then let him paint. Painting with a brush is relaxing and makes your grip stronger, improves your eye-hand coordination, and makes you more creative. Children grow up quickly, so spend as much time as you can with your 16-month-old toddler to make the most of this time. The above activities will not only be good for your child's body and mind, but they will also assist you and your child in feeling closer to each other. Try them out and tell us if your little one likes them.

If you were an only child, you probably remember trying to play toys and games by yourself or via your parents until you got friends. This change from being independent to interacting with others is necessary for a child's development. Toddlers learn how to get along with others and interact properly by playing with others at the same time. What is a parallel play? Parallel play is when your child comes out of himself and gets ready to play with other children or people. Be it going from playing with toys by yourself to sharing them with someone else and playing together, or just going to the garden to play with other kids. A child plays make-believe in his or her early years. As he ages, parallel play becomes a big part of his life. Parallel play is an important part of a child's development. It's the first time a child steps out of his comfort zone and tries to have another person near him while he plays and tries to make a connection with that person. How old should a child be before they start playing with their friends? Age is not a general factor in parallel play because every kid plays and interacts with other people at his own pace and in his way. When your baby is between one and a half and two years old, he might notice other kids playing alone but react to it. Sometimes, he'll try to get their attention by throwing the ball back to them. As he gets older, around 3 or 4 years old, he becomes more interested and starts to understand what it means to play with friends. Parallel Play and Its Benefits for Child Development Parallel play is an important part of kids' growth and development in the following ways. The Rise of Communication Not every bit of growth and change has to be done on purpose. Some of it can happen without anyone doing anything. Your child could learn a lot by observing how other kids act, talk and think in a group or at a park. If someone calls out for a ball, he will quickly look in their direction and try to find it. This is also how many children learn new words and ways to speak a language. Improvement of Movement Skills When a child plays alone, he or she only thinks about the toys, and everything is pretty much under control. When your child starts to play with another child in a parallel way, he or she will know how the other child will react and will start to play in the same way. This way of learning is at its best when learning a new sport or game. You can pick up new skills by watching how others do things. Your child will get to know the person he is playing catch-catch with and may even try to learn something new. Freedom of Expression All emotions, feelings, and wants can be fully expressed through different kinds of parallel play. From jumping for joy when something goes well to dealing with an injury when their child falls to getting into a fight when he does something wrong, your child learns about and expresses the full range of emotions through interactions with other people and the environment. This also helps parents understand how their child acts in everyday life. Getting a sense of your limits Your child won't act toward other people as he does toward you. He is now in a place where he doesn't know what he can and can't do. Even though it might be fun for him to playfully pull your hair, it is not fun for him to do the same to someone on the ground. Handling somebody who takes his ball and throws a fit because they want to play with it teaches your child what he should and shouldn't do. Developing the Feelings of Friendship and Kindness Most kids grow up to be very protective of the things they own. It takes them a while to figure out that things are not scarce and that sharing what they have with someone can make them both very happy. This is when you'll be able to tell if your child is usually friendly and makes friends easily or if he is usually shy and takes his time getting to know people before deciding who to talk to. The biggest sign is that he shares his toys with other kids. How to get kids to play together in parallel? Try the following things to get kids to play together. But don't force a child to do something he isn't ready for. Let him take his time getting to know people; he'll get there eventually. ●    Let the kids play next to one another rather than with each other first. Let each person play with his or her toys. This is parallel play in the most literal sense of the word. It gives your child a chance to slowly step out of his or her comfort zone and then return to it.●    Ensure there are enough toys for the kids. If your kid only has a car and the other kid has a whole set of toys, your kid will feel left out and want to play with the other kid's toys. Try setting up simpler activities like coloring books and clay molds, where it will be hard to compare the amount or quality of play.●    Again, kids don't have to be playing all the time. Even if they watch their favorite cartoon together, your child will feel closer to the other child. The same can happen when you dance to a favorite song or watch a game together.●    Kids sometimes argue or fight with each other. It makes sense. If there isn't a fight, your child might not want to be around anyone and go into his room or another one. For the parallel play to work, the kids must be in the same room, even if they're not talking to each other. They will talk to each other and break the ice sooner or later.●    If kids are playing together, show them how to trade their toys and see what happens. You could also talk about both toys with involvement and try to find a way to connect them. For example, if one child has a monster toy while the other has a duck, you could ask, "What would happen if the monster decided to chase the duck?" Then, you could try making monsters and duck sounds to see how the kids react.●    Make sure the parallel plays take place in a homey place where there aren't too many people or kids running around. This could add to their stress and make them less likely to talk to each other. While at the same time, don't let the play go on for too long. Your child might not be very interested in it at first. So a shorter period could make him feel less stressed and better ready to do it the next day. Kids gradually learn and start to do things like play with other kids. For kids with autism or other special needs, this may be an even bigger problem. Supporting them as a parent and being a part of the team can help them try new things without fear because they know you'll always have their back. Use different examples of parallel play to make it easy for both kids, and soon their child will have his first friend.

Children learn about shapes and colors in school before learning the alphabet's numbers or letters. Shapes are important to teach because they help kids compare things, figure out what's the same and different, and put things in order visually. In the first few years of school, learning about shapes is a good way to get ready to learn letters and numbers. It helps a child tell the difference between letters and numbers. Understanding shapes also helps with math, especially geometry, and figuring out what makes sense. Looking for ideas on how to teach toddlers about shapes?  You and your child will have a lot of fun with shape activities at home if you follow these tips. Treasure these early lessons you're teaching your little one. Have you ever thought about why preschoolers need to learn about shapes? At an early age, children are taught the four basic shapes: circle, square, rectangle, and triangle.  This helps them get ready for more complicated lessons in the future. These different shapes also help them get better at reading and writing. Also, they lay the groundwork for math lessons and figure out what makes sense. Here are some good shape-friendly hacks and things to do to help the cause. Use Shape Puzzles Puzzles are one of the best ways to teach something. You can find simple puzzles that involve shapes both online and in stores. They are smart ways to help toddlers learn about basic shapes. Most of the time, these puzzles are big and brightly colored, making it easy for little kids to hold them and figure out each shape. Use shapes to draw on paper: Children love to write with anything they can get their hands on pens, pencils, crayons, etc. If your child likes to draw, you can use that to teach her about shapes. Hold her hand and have her draw a line, which is the simplest shape. Explain what a line is to your child. For example, it links two points. Hold her hands and have her draw various shapes like a square, triangle, and circle over time once she starts drawing lines. Make shapes with toothpicks: Children like doing things that let them be creative and use their skills. On a piece of paper, draw the shape of a triangle, square, rectangle, etc. Give your child some toothpicks as well as a tube of glue. Ask him to glue the shape's outline and put the toothpicks on it. Stick shapes onto paper: On a piece of paper, draw different geometric shapes. Now, draw an additional group of the same shapes on a separate piece of paper. Give the second sheet, some crayons, and scissors to your child. Ask her to color a shape first, and you can help her cut it out. Then, tell her to put it where it is on the first sheet. Use cookie-cutter shapes: Give your child a package of kinetic sand. Ask him to disperse it on a large tray and use his palms to make the surface even. Now give him different-shaped cookie cutters. Ask him to take one cookie cutter at a time, say out loud what shape it is, and then press it into the sand. Your child could also spread some sand out on a tray and then use his fingers to make shapes in the sand. Hopscotch: Draw different shapes and cut them out on large sheets of chart paper. Now, use glue tape to stick these shapes to the floor. Say the name of a shape out loud and tell your child to run to that shape and stand on it. To start making the game more fun, you can say the names quickly, one after the other. You can also make the shapes on the ground of your house with chalk instead of chart paper. Build shapes with tangrams: A tangram is a Chinese puzzle of seven geometric shapes: one square, five triangles, and one parallelogram. You can put these pieces together to make different shapes. Your child can make different shapes by putting the pieces together. Get books: Children love to look through a book's pages and see what it's about. So, get your child some slit-and-slot books, books with pictures of different shapes, and worksheets. Go for a walk: Every day, you should take your child for a walk. And as you walk together, show him different things and ask what shapes they remind him of. Shapes help in school, but they also help with things like reorganizing the house, making designs, thinking about space, etc. So, go ahead and teach your child about shapes right away. Building a strong foundation when your child is young will help him or her learn faster and better.