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.
16 - 18 Months
Starting at 16 months, toddlers can learn two new words a day. By 18 months, they may be able to say around 10 to 15 (partial) words. Research consistently shows that back-and-forth conversation matters just as much, if not more, than the number of words your toddler hears. So even if you don’t understand what they’re saying, participate when you hear them trying to vocalize. Sign up for Lovevery emails to learn the art of conversation with your toddler and get more expert insights and tips in your inbox each week.
16 - 18 Months
Starting at 16 months, toddlers can learn two new words a day. By 18 months, they may be able to say around 10 to 15 (partial) words. Research consistently shows that back-and-forth conversation matters just as much, if not more, than the number of words your toddler hears. So even if you don’t understand what they’re saying, participate when you hear them trying to vocalize. Sign up for Lovevery emails to learn the art of conversation with your toddler and get more expert insights and tips in your inbox each week.
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- 12 - 48 Months
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- 13 - 15 Months
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- 18 - 48 Months+
- 0 - 12 Months
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—plus, a new subscriber-only shop
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.
Month 17: 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.
DIY Popsicle Stick Color Pockets
DIY popsicle stick color pockets | Lovevery
Toddler Balloon Play
Sometimes all it takes to keep your toddler busy is a balloon. If you happen to have a balloon in your house, use these ideas to make the magic happen.
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.
Easter rock painting and rock hunt
Short on eggs? Painted rocks are a great substitute for your annual Easter egg hunts.
Welcome to The Pioneer Play Kit for months 16-18
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph introduce the Pioneer Play Kit for months 16 to 18 of your toddler's life.
Month 18: 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.
Month 16: 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.
Month 16: 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.
Month 18: 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.
Month 18: 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.
Month 17: 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.
Month 18: It’s okay to cry—letting our children 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.
Month 16: Collecting and transporting
Walking while carrying or pushing an object requires significant coordination and motor skills. Learn how pushing and transporting benefit your toddler.
Month 16: 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.
Month 17: 16 ideas for screen-free play, by Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph
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.
Month 18: 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 individal senses to give them meaningful information about the world, they need to be linked in the brain—this is the case for getting messy.
