The enclosing schema: 4 simple activities for toddlers
When your toddler crawls into a cardboard box or places a cup inside a bigger container, they’re exploring the “enclosing” schema.
16 - 18 Months
16 - 18 Months
- Filter by age
-
- 12 - 48 Months
- 4 - 11 years
- 46 - 48 Months
- 43 - 45 Months
- 37 - 39 Months
- 40 - 42 Months
- 0 - 8 Years
- 0 - 12 Weeks
- 3 - 4 Months
- 5 - 6 Months
- 7 - 8 Months
- 9 - 10 Months
- 11 - 12 Months
- 13 - 15 Months
- 16 - 18 Months
- 19 - 21 Months
- 22 - 24 Months
- 25 - 27 Months
- 28 - 30 Months
- 31 - 33 Months
- 34 - 36 Months
- 18 - 48 Months+
- 0 - 12 Months
The connection schema: putting things together and taking them apart
Toddlers love discovering how objects fit together and come apart. Discover 5 ways to support this type of play.
The enveloping schema: what’s behind your toddler’s fascination in hiding things
Does your toddler love hiding under a blanket or stuffing little toys between the couch cushions? Covering up and hiding objects is a type of schema play known as “enveloping.”
What to do when your 1-year-old takes another child’s toy
Grabbing at this toddler stage isn’t malicious and doesn’t need a consequence or any form of discipline. Learn what to do instead.
When is the best time to start potty learning?
Learn the signs your child may be ready to potty train and expert tips for introducing the concept.
Pointing: a simple gesture with big meaning
Research shows a close link between pointing and toddler language development. Learn how to build on this social-communication skill.
3 subtle signs your toddler’s language skills are developing
Many parents underestimate how many words their young toddler understands. Watch for these non-verbal signals to get a better idea of what your toddler knows.
How to create a sleep-inducing bedtime routine for your toddler
Learn how to create an effective toddler bedtime routine from our certified sleep consultant, Lauren Lappen.
Skip the night light: 4 tips to help your toddler sleep longer
Studies show that a child’s sleep environment can strongly impact their sleep quality. Try these research-backed strategies tonight.
4 types of pretend play—and why they matter
They way your child plays make-believe changes as they grow. At each stage, pretend play offers cognitive and social-emotional benefits.
Spotting patterns prepares your toddler’s brain for math
Patterns are an important element of math. Learn the stages to learning patterns and 4 ways to help your toddler recognize patterns.
Toddlers benefit from ‘crib talk’
It's a good thing when toddlers talk to themselves. Here's why.
The benefits of playing pretend with your toddler
Pretend play lets your toddler learn by trying new roles. Discover why pretending along with them matters and tips for playtime.
Simple ways to boost your toddler’s phonological awareness
Understanding how individual sounds make up words—known as phonological awareness—is a key literacy skill. Learn how to encourage it.
How to help your toddler understand their emotions
Discover expert tips on how to help your toddler connect how they feel to what they do.
What to do when you lose it with your toddler
Learning that emotional connections can get disrupted and repaired is an important lesson for your child. Try these four steps to reconnect.
What’s behind your toddler’s separation anxiety?
What’s behind your toddler’s separation anxiety? Here are four things to know about separation anxiety.
Shared storytelling can boost your toddler’s memory skills
Research shows that children as young as 13 months are already creating memories. Talking about shared experiences is one way to support your child's early learning.
When to set a boundary with your toddler—and when to let it go
Ask yourself these six questions to decide if a limit is worth setting.
Are they testing limits or just exploring?
Many toddlers are drawn to “destructive play." Read our tips on how to prepare for this behavior and how to react when your toddler tests limits.
How to ease your toddler’s fears
Your toddler may be comforted by one (or more) of these six strategies.
Daytime up-close screen time disrupts nighttime sleep in toddlers
TV screens have long been known to disrupt sleep in children, and now researchers are learning that handheld devices are an even bigger issue.
Help your toddler develop an important early reasoning skill
Adults use process of elimination to solve problems all the time—and even as early as 14 months, you can help your toddler develop this cognitive skill, too.
Is your 1-year-old ready for logical consequences?
Logical consequences are about helping your toddler regulate their emotions and their body. They're meant as a reset—not punishment.
6 ways to build your toddler’s attention span
Giving your child opportunities to focus on a task uninterrupted and get into a “zone of concentration'' is an important part of the Montessori approach.
Why your toddler may need space instead of a hug
Some toddlers are less soothed by close physical contact than they were as babies. Learn what to do when a hug won't work.
When it’s time to leave and your toddler won’t go
When children are enjoying an activity, they just want to keep doing it. Read our 6 steps to help your toddler transition.
Best travel toys, according to Lovevery families
Traveling can present opportunities for learning and bonding through stretches of focused playtime together. Help make your vacation a little easier (and brainier) with these toys and activities for traveling with children.
What are play schemas and how do they help your toddler learn?
When your toddler repeats certain actions and behaviors, they're doing something called "schema" play. Learn about the eight different kinds of play schemas.
How to ease your separation anxiety
Separation anxiety doesn't happen only to children—it affects parents, too. Read 4 tips to help you deal with your separation anxiety.
Toddler tantrums: why they happen and how to handle them
All toddlers have temper tantrums. Learn the dos and don'ts to help you and your child through public and private meltdowns.
Making the most of your toddler’s fascination with cause and effect
Toddlers understand that they can make things happen with simple actions. Here are 4 ways to deepen their understanding of cause and effect.
5 co-regulation tips to help your toddler manage their feelings
Co-regulation is the process of showing your toddler how to manage emotions by doing it together. Try these expert tips the next time your child gets upset.
5 easy play tunnel games for toddlers
Learn why crawling is so important for toddlers and how to encourage it with simple play tunnel games.
Wish your toddler would focus? Try playing together first
Are you eager for your toddler to play longer with a toy? Learn what you can do to help them get the most out of their playthings.
Why it’s important to allow your toddler’s big emotions
Big feelings are a sign of your toddler's healthy social-emotional development. Learn three ways to help you and your child manage them.
Learning to walk is surprisingly emotional for toddlers
Learning to walk can be surprisingly emotional for a child. Try this game to build connection and walking confidence.
6 phrases to say to your toddler instead of ‘Be careful!’
The occasional “Be careful!” isn’t harmful, but it’s better to give your child clear, explicit directions. Here are 6 phrases to try.
When (and how) to transition your toddler from 2 naps to 1
Knowing when your toddler is ready to drop their morning nap can be tricky. Understand the signs to look for and the best ways to drop to one nap.
Secrets to building your toddler’s self-esteem
As your toddler becomes more independent, you have an opportunity to help them cultivate healthy self-esteem. Here are 4 ways to help your toddler develop it.
Why does my toddler hate certain clothes?
If your toddler dislikes certain clothes, it may be a sensory issue. Learn five simple adjustments from a pediatric occupational therapist.
Why early pretend play matters—and how to encourage it
Now that your child is a toddler, they may start to experiment with pretend play. Learn three ways to support them.
What to look for when buying toddler shoes
Once your toddler is walking, they need protective yet flexible footwear. Learn what to look for and how to pick out toddler shoes.
Why timeouts don’t work for toddlers—and what to do instead
Timeouts are a controversial topic. Learn if timeouts are bad and how to help your toddler reset themselves.
Toddler won’t sit still? Try these tips
Is your toddler constantly on the move—too busy to try a puzzle or sit through a whole book? Learn how to support your toddler’s need to move.
6 pro tips to get your toddler to sleep
Going to bed can be hard for your toddler—and when they cry, cling, or continue to call your name night after night, it can be hard on you, too.
Should my toddler be playing with friends?
Understand how your toddler may "play" with other kids and how you can help them build their friendship skills.
Pioneer Play Kit renaming—letter from Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph
In the coming months, our Play Kit for ages 16 to 18 months will be renamed The Adventurer. Learn why we're making the change.
Lovevery introduces app for parents
We’re excited to introduce our new Lovevery App, free and available to Play Kit subscribers 🎉
The best Montessori and learning toys for 1 year olds
At 12 months old, your toddler is more mobile and curious than ever. The best toys support mobility, fine motor skills, language, and independence. See our best Montessori toys for 1-year-olds.
Why wooden toys make the best playthings
Wooden toys are a staple of Montessori learning. They're durable, beautiful, and inspire wonder for a child's budding imagination.
Why children are so attached to their loveys (and what to do if your child loses theirs)
Loveys, also known as "transitional objects," help babies and toddlers through transitions. Learn why these blankies, stuffies, and more are important and what to do if one goes missing.
Updated Lovevery Play Kits featuring larger, more complex developmental Playthings
After play studies, weeks of in-home testing, and thousands of customer surveys, we are excited to announce our updated Play Kits for one-year-olds.
DIY Popsicle Stick Color Pockets
DIY popsicle stick color pockets | Lovevery
Painting with nature
Bring home stick and leaf collections from your neighborhood walks and turn them into paint brushes with this DIY.
Vegetable Painting for Babies and Toddlers
Use this taste-safe paint recipe made of veggie scraps for a great new way to connect with your toddler through art.
Pom poms and tubes
Dropping a pom pom into an opening requires a variety of skills from a child, from lining up their hand with the opening to knowing when and how to open their fingers to release. Try it with this activity.
Pom pom and pitcher sensory bin
Sensory bins of all kinds allow young children to explore different materials with their hands. In this case, you'll use pom poms that can be squeezed, rolled, bunched, tossed, and poured with a pitcher.
DIY ball chute box
In this activity, which repurposes a cardboard box, your child’s evolving understanding of object permanence is combined with a fun DIY ball-rolling activity.
Painting with An Egg
Use eggs, balls, or marbles in place of a paint brush in this fun activity that's a fit for young children.
Welcome to The Adventurer Play Kit for months 16-18
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph introduce the Adventurer Play Kit for months 16 to 18 of your toddler's life.
Puzzling over puzzles—what the progression looks like
Puzzles build fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving strategies. Here is the progression of puzzle solving for babies and toddlers.
Introducing the Wooden Stacking Peg Board the Montessori way
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph and Montessori expert Jody Malterre as they show some of the many ways your toddler can use the Wooden Stacking Pegboard.
Rethinking milestones—when to relax and when to talk to your pediatrician
Here are some thoughts to consider if you find yourself battling worries over your toddler’s milestones or suffering the effects of child comparisons.
When should my child be able to stack 6 building blocks?
Research confirms what kids, parents, and teachers have known for centuries: playing with blocks is fun for your toddler and promotes many kinds of learning.
4 concepts your toddler’s brain is ready for now
Heavy and light, loud and quiet, big and small—developing brains love to grapple with opposites. Here are some fun ways to explore opposites with your toddler.
Why ‘You worked so hard’ beats ‘You’re so smart’
A growth mindset leads to resilience, grit, and stamina, and teaches your child that their intelligence, capabilities, and talents can grow the more they learn.
First, next, then—giving your toddler comfort and structure
For toddlers, routines provide comfort, structure, and a way to predict what’s going to happen next. Learn how to establish and maintain toddler routines.
It’s okay to cry—letting your child know they can feel sad
It’s a fact of life: babies and toddlers cry. Here are some ways to help your toddler work through big feelings.
Collecting and transporting
Walking while carrying or pushing an object requires significant coordination and motor skills. Learn how pushing and transporting benefit your toddler.
Throwing and rolling and flinging, oh my! How to support your baby’s love of making balls move
Throwing, rolling, and flinging are all a natural part of how toddlers play and are early lessons in cause and effect. Here are 6 safe ways to practice.
16 ideas for screen-free play on a plane
If you dread toddler travel, the first step toward a less stressful experience might be to reframe how you think about it. Here are 16 ideas to get you started.
When will my toddler learn to sort?
Sorting is the beginning of pattern recognition, a foundational math skill. Here are some ways to practice sorting with your toddler.
The case for messy sensory play: ideas for right now
In order for any of your child's individual senses to give them meaningful information about the world, they need to be linked in the brain—this is the case for getting messy.
