What do two year olds play with

Babybug (about $35 for a one-year subscription at the time of publication)

We gave a Babybug magazine subscription as a birthday gift when our friend’s kid turned 2. And since then, they report it’s been a constant source of delight. They appreciate the high quality of the illustrations and that the stories are short enough for a toddler’s attention span but still interesting. They also like that the magazine is made of “destruction-resistant paper,” with rounded corners and no staples. No, it won’t stand up to a truly dedicated attacker, but this magazine is a bit better under the grabby hands of a toddler than a standard one. Cricket Media (which publishes Ladybug and Spider magazines, among others, for older kids) also offers printable gift announcement cards. So you can give something on the day to let people know a new subscription is on the way. One caveat: It took around three months for the subscription to actually start after we bought it.

—Tim Barribeau

A cooperative board game

My Very First Games—First Orchard is a cooperative board game, so players work together rather than compete. It’s designed to teach the youngest players the fundamentals of board games: how to set up a board, roll a die, make choices, and take turns. (It’s a favorite in our guide to the best board games for kids.) To play, you match different-colored apples, pears, and plums to their respective trees, and then roll a die to try to gather all the fruits in a basket before a pesky crow reaches them. I started playing First Orchard with my daughters when they were 4 and 2, and I was always amused to see how the race to beat the crow created just the right amount of dramatic tension to hold their interest (and, at times, provided an opportunity to navigate the disappointment of “losing”). And even if your 2-year-old doesn’t yet have the patience or interest for the game structure, they can simply play imaginatively with the brightly hued wooden fruits.

—Courtney Schley

An in-tune music maker

For banging and making noise, just about any xylophone for kids will do. But many of them (which are actually glockenspiels, since they have metal and not wooden bars) are out of tune and terrible for learning about music. Most are toys, not tuned instruments. Our toddler played this set of eight resonator bells in a music class, and we got a set for home. They’re durable, sound good, and allow for all kinds of musical (and other) exploration. Kids can get a hands-on feel for the sequence of a diatonic octave by ordering the blocks by size or note (each bell is marked with its letter on the scale) or by grouping two or more blocks together to experiment with intervals or chords. The bells come in a sturdy carrying case and are made to last: The ones at the music school have taken a beating from who knows how many kids, and they’re all still in good shape.

—Winnie Yang

Some gooey, clean fun

For more than a year now, the only way I’ve been able to get my daughter into the bath is to promise the inclusion of this colorful, sensory goo. Less of an actual slime than a fragrant jelly—it comes in scents like Wacky Watermelon and Gallopin Grape—this bath slime provides all the fun of its viscous namesake, with the welcome bonus of being easy to clean (not just because it’s contained within the tub, but also because it’s literally soap). My kiddo likes to squish it through her hands and swirl the little floating pieces around to the farthest reaches of the bath. Then we grab a couple of strainers and try to rescue and return all the squiggles back to the jar before it’s time to get out.

—Caitlin Giddings

An endlessly versatile thingamajig

MOLUK Bilibo ($30 for a large or $20 for a 6-pack of minis at the time of publication)

It might not be immediately clear what a child is supposed to do with a Bilibo, and that’s precisely the point: All ideas are valid when it comes to this sturdy plastic, shell-shaped object. (Is it a helmet? A seat? A spinner? Yep. ) Research shows that open-ended play fosters creativity and resilience in children, especially toddlers who are not yet accustomed to more-programmed activities with a “right” and “wrong” way. My daughter started occupational therapy when she was 15 months old. The Bilibo—which measures 15 inches across and comes in a range of bright colors—was hands-down her favorite prop. At the beginning of each session, the therapist plopped my daughter’s butt into the cupped seat and slowly twirled her around in circles (if a kid is younger than 2, they will likely need adult help to keep them from toppling). She’d giggle uncontrollably, all the while developing the core and neck strength needed to balance and sit up on her own. Now that my daughter is 4, we use the Bilibo as a container for sensory play materials—rice, dough, and foam. And for my 8 year-old son, it’s the perfect addition to a mini-golf course … in our living room. The Bilibo also comes in a miniature (4.7 inch) size, sold in a set of six, that’s perfect for shoveling, scooping, and serving tea to stuffed animals.

—Julie Kim

Over $50

A first bike

A balance bike can help kids learn to steer, brake, and keep themselves upright on a two-wheeler from a very young age. Many families find that balance-bike riders graduate to pedal bikes earlier and without the training-wheels phase (training wheels don’t really teach a kid to balance, which is, of course, exactly what a balance bike does). The Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike is easy to assemble, durable, and offers a range of adjustability for kids of different sizes and ages, including 2-year-olds. (It’s the top pick in our guide to the best balance bikes.) Our son started riding the Strider when he was 2½ years old, and within a week of daily use he was zooming confidently around our local park with his feet off the ground. When he eventually graduated to a pedal bike, the transition from striding to pedaling took about five minutes.

—Erica Ogg

A doll that delights

First released in 1995 to help children acclimate before the arrival of a baby sibling, this American Girl classic has evolved over the years. Today’s Bitty Baby comes in different combinations of skin tone, hair color, eye color, and outfit color; you can even customize a set of Bitty Baby twins. The doll is a hard-to-find hybrid; its soft fabric torso and brushed knit outfit offer some of the cuddliness of a plushie, while the molded face and operable eyelids provide the interactivity of a doll. We learned through our research into doll manufacturing that it takes great skill to design a face (like Bitty Baby’s) that’s realistic without being creepy—many cross the line. And although every Bitty Baby comes packaged in American Girl’s signature bright pink boxes, the dolls themselves aren’t assigned a gender, or traditionally gendered names, and you can choose between pink, blue, and gray sleepers. (Note that the doll is $60 but comes with an optional board book and knit stuffed lamb for an additional $20.)

—Julie Kim

A desk of one's own

Little ones who want a grown-up space of their own will be eager to get to “work” with the ECR4Kids Bentwood Multipurpose Kids Wooden Table and Chair Set. The three-piece station—it comes with a table and two chairs—is compact and convertible. And it’s made of an attractive birch plywood that won’t scream “kids table” if you choose to keep it in one of the common areas of your home (something I have especially appreciated as I’ve spent a lot of time looking at it in our family’s New York City apartment). The table serves as a shallow desk with a wraparound backboard; when flipped over, it becomes a high-backed bench. The chairs can also be flipped for different seat heights as kids grow, and when they’re not in use, they can be tucked neatly under the table to save space. My now-4-year-old son has been using this set for almost three years, and it has survived plenty of messy art projects and snack times with minimal wear and tear. ECR4Kids also makes a “premium” edition, which, according to a company rep, is thicker and about 10 pounds heavier, due to added layers of wood. But otherwise it is the same (price included). Neither set requires any assembly.

—Barbara Kimberly Seigel

A classic hopper

Gymnic Rody ($65 at the time of publication)

Rody is a rounded, inflatable vinyl pony that’s perfect for a toddler who’s bouncing off the walls. My little kids loved to hop, scoot, and bump around the house on it. And because Rody is soft and springy, I loved not having to worry about them scuffing the floor or banging into walls. It’s hard not to smile at the pony’s cuddly shape, poppy colors, and cartoony cuteness (it kind of looks like a Jeff Koons sculpture). Rody comes deflated, so you’ll need a bicycle or hand pump to start bouncing.

—Courtney Schley

Slumber-party snuggles

Over the years, my mom has given each of her grandkids one of these Pottery Barn personalized sleeping bags as a crafty enticement to stay over at her house. More of a slumber-party sleeper than the kind you’d take camping, the soft zip-up rolls easily and has two straps for carrying and storage. My daughter loves its fuzzy, bear-headed pillow and cotton shell—ideal for cozying up on the floor to play games or watch a movie. She also adores that her name is on the bag, but be warned: The monogram font is a bit cramped and hard to read compared with her cousins’ earlier editions. If you decide to personalize, I’d recommend one of the blockier fonts.

—Caitlin Giddings

A ride for the snow

Babies and toddlers don’t need to tear down hills at breakneck speeds to have a blast in the snow—they’re mostly content with being pulled around in a comfy, well-constructed sled like this classic wooden one from L.L.Bean. I’ve had this sled for nine years and through four kids, and it’s still in great shape (it’s a top pick in our guide to the best sleds). With its smooth-gliding wooden runners (which are reinforced with metal bars for durability), supportive side rails (which keep tots from tumbling out and make this an accessible option for kids working on their trunk strength), and classic red cushion, this sled is like a snow stroller. It’s expensive, but it will last through many winters—or even generations.

—Doug Mahoney

A speedy slider

If, like me, you live much farther south—where snow is just a mythical ground cover kids see only in holiday books—the PlasmaCar is the ultimate toddler toy for gliding around. The brightly colored ride moves almost as quickly as a sled across flat surfaces, without any batteries, pedals, or gears. The wheels work much like in-line skates or cross-country skis, so when the handlebar is wiggled rapidly, the car moves forward through lateral friction force. Toddlers can achieve exhilarating speeds with just the occasional push and steady cranking of the handlebar. The PlasmaCar is sturdy enough to hold up to 220 pounds, so adults may be able to tear around the house a few times too—strictly to conduct safety checks, of course.

—Caitlin Giddings

Clattering cars

Sometimes it seems like the simpler the toy, the more engrossing it is for babies and toddlers (a theory supported by my child’s love of playing with a bookmark above all else). Of all the toys in our pediatric audiologist’s waiting room, this basic tower made of beech and birch plywoods is the one that draws the biggest and most competitive crowd of little ones. Kids can place the three-part “millipede” car at the top and watch as it works its way down to the base of the wooden tower, with a satisfying clicking sound at every turn.

—Caitlin Giddings

An indoor trampoline

Our pediatrician recommended a mini trampoline like this one as a tool to combat toddler constipation. I can’t say definitively that it was effective for that purpose, but it worked great for bouncing out a lot of pent-up energy. And it was generally a big hit with our own kids as well as with any visiting friends. The trampoline obviously takes up some space, but our two kids used it just about every day from the ages (roughly) of 2 to 5.

—Dan Koeppel

A family membership to a children’s museum

For me and my wife, the gift of an annual membership to the Thinkery children’s museum in Austin, Texas, was an immense relief from cabin fever when the summer heat made it impossible to be outdoors. Suddenly we now had a bright, educational fortress to escape to with our then-2-year-old daughter. Millie loves the water science room’s cascading series of water tables, the earth science exhibit’s hurricane and tornado simulators, and the Light Lab’s magnets and mini LEDs. She even loves to watch kids scale the giant outdoor climbing structure (though it will be at least another year before she can try it herself). Memberships to children’s museums like the Thinkery make excellent gifts: They offer educational play spaces and workshops for kids, as well as special events that include adults and families, such as Pride nights and parents’ night out.

—Caitlin Giddings

A kid-size kitchen

The compact, white-and-birch-colored IKEA Duktig Play Kitchen is enduringly popular for good reason. It’s inexpensive, sleek, relatively durable, and neutral enough to blend seamlessly into nearly any decor, like a sneaky Scandinavian chameleon. If you’re more of a play-kitchen maximalist, the KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen Set comes in both white and dark wood finishes, and it has a faux-subway-tile backsplash; the sink detaches for easy cleanup. (KidKraft kitchens come in a variety of sizes and configurations.) Whatever play kitchen you choose, your young chef is sure to stock it with all kinds of ingredients, edible and otherwise, soon enough (think stray socks, rotting strawberries, forgotten field-trip permission slips). You can add Learning Resources’ big baskets of colorful fruits and veggies to that treasure trove. Or get your kid’s collection of cookware started early with Melissa & Doug’s Let’s Play House Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Playset, featured in our guide to the best gifts for 3-year-olds.

—Ingela Ratledge Amundson

A chair (and then some)

My toddler’s body needed a more-supportive (read: less flimsy) first chair. And as her parent, I needed the peace of mind to know she wouldn’t tip over while sitting in it. A physical therapist recently introduced us to this Children’s Factory Cube Chair, which is stable without being heavy. It’s made of a lightweight plastic that’s much easier to maneuver than the Montessori-style wooden furniture we’d tried before. But what makes the cube chair a true winner is the 6-inch seat height with cozy “walls” on three sides; when she grows out of the lower height, I’ll flip it over for a higher 9-inch seat with less enclosure. (Note: The manufacturer recommends this for ages 12 months and up, so use your judgment based on what’s best for your kid.) Available in bright primary colors as well as more muted “woodland” tones, the cube chair can also double as a side table or stool—versatility that helps take the edge off the price tag.

—Julie Kim

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.

—Additional reporting by Julie Kim

This article was edited by Ellen Lee, Ingela Ratledge Amundson, and Kalee Thompson.

About your guides

Caitlin Giddings

Caitlin Giddings is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Her work has appeared in Bicycling, Runner’s World, Lonely Planet, Outside magazine, and more.

Wirecutter Staff

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  Houseplant Starter Kit 

• We spent more than 40 hours researching and testing pool noodles, water guns, snorkel sets, and more to find the best beach and pool toys for most people.

  The Best Beach and Pool Toys for Kids and Adults 

• We spent 20 hours researching nearly 50 board games for kids. Read on to find out our favorite games for preschoolers, elementary-school kids, and families.

  Board Games We Love for Kids and Families 

• We subjected 13 balance bikes to a cadre of 2- to 8-year-olds and found that the adjustable Strider 12 Sport is the best balance bike for most kids.

  The Best Balance Bike 

• From an ultrafast snow tube to a sleek saucer to a classic wooden pull sled, we’ve identified the standout sleds for snow-day fun.

  The Best Sleds 

Further reading

• The 28 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

  by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

  Many of the best gifts for 3-year-olds encourage role-play and make-believe—or help teach cooperative play.

• The 29 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

  by Ingrid Skjong and Wirecutter Staff

  Whether Santa’s idea of the perfect stocking stuffers is traditional, practical, or whimsical, the little gifts on this list were chosen to delight.

• The 24 Best Gifts for 7-Year-Olds

  by Kelly Glass, Ellen Lee, and Wirecutter Staff

  Some of the best gifts for 7-year-olds foster a sense of accomplishment and challenge them to think strategically.

• The 28 Best Gifts for 5-Year-Olds

  by Kelly Glass, Caitlin Giddings, and Wirecutter Staff

  Many of the best gifts for 5-year-olds are projects or kits to help them explore their newly developing interests, whether they’re in art, music, science, or nature.

Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time).

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Educational games for 2-year-olds with parents at home

A game for a 2-year-old kid is not just fun. Through this type of activity, the child learns the world. He learns, remembers information, gets acquainted with new things. The task of parents at this stage is to choose games for harmonious physical and intellectual development.

Article content:

• Outdoor games
• Educational games
• Educational games
• Tips for parents
• Terminals

Outdoor games

The best place for active games is the street, but what to do in bad weather? It is not at all necessary to leave a two-year-old without movement. You can organize games in a city apartment. Take advantage of our advice. And the child will be happy, and the furniture in the house will not suffer.

2 years is the optimal age for outdoor games. The child already coordinates the body well, easily orients in space. He controls actions, likes to imitate adults and learns to be independent. The task of parents is to be an example for the baby and show all the movements.

✅ Who walks how

The game will help strengthen the body, and also give a good mood to both the child and adults. There are no hard rules. Just name different animals and try to draw them. Copy the walk and sounds. And let the two-year-old repeat after you. Or make it a little more difficult. Let the child try to guess the animals that you show.

✅ Hide-and-seek with a toy

Ordinary hide-and-seek is difficult to organize in an apartment, especially if there is not enough space. But the 2-year-old kid will definitely like the option with a toy. Take a plush animal or doll. Explain to the child that his task is to find a toy. Hide it first in a conspicuous place, then complicate the task. Be active. Clap your hands, count loudly while the baby is waiting with your eyes closed, comment on his actions, rejoice at the found toy together.

✅ Who is the first

What to do with a child whose energy is over the edge? If the walk is canceled, you can organize active entertainment at home. A great idea is to arrange mini-competitions. Come up with tasks: run to the opposite wall, jump to the closet, crawl to the door on all fours. The victory will be doubly pleasant if you prepare small prizes in advance.

Educational games

Active games are not the only way to entertain a two year old. There are many interesting quiet activities. Master them, and you will learn how to spend time at home with benefit.

Develop motor skills

✅Repeat after me

The easiest option for kids. You can play for up to two years, and as you develop, complicate the tasks. The essence of the game is to show the child various physical actions so that he can repeat. Squat, bend over, raise your hands, clap your hands. Combine two or even three actions at once. This is useful for both coordination and memory.

✅ Bead sorting

The development of fine motor skills is necessary to stimulate speech, so do not neglect finger exercises. Offer your child a fishing line and three types of beads of different sizes. Let him string small ones first, then medium ones, and then large ones. Remember safety. Do not leave the baby unattended when he plays with small parts.

✅ Creativity

Playing with plasticine, modeling dough, kinetic sand helps to develop motor skills. Guide the child. Show him how to make shapes correctly. Don't be upset if it doesn't work the first time. Praise for effort.

Developing logic

✅ Mother - baby

Prepare cards with animals and birds, divided according to the principle "mother and her baby". For example: a cat is a kitten. Let the child collect pairs. Do not forget to comment on the actions during the game. Talk about animals, describe them, demonstrate the sounds they make. So you not only develop logic, but also introduce the child to the outside world.

✅ Guess the object

Take a few things that are familiar to a two-year-old. It can be toys or fruits. Pack them in opaque bags. The task of the child is to determine by touch what is inside. If you can't guess, give hints. For example:

• edible or not;
• what it is used for;
What color is
• .

It is easier to develop logical thinking with toys. Parents of two-year-old children should definitely buy mosaics, cubes, large puzzles, plastic construction sets. Collect the figures according to the schemes, repeat the drawings from the pictures with the children. Restrain yourself if the kid is wrong. You can gently guide him in the right direction, but you should not correct him.

Develop speech

✅ Rhymes

At the age of two, children already begin to actively talk. Passive vocabulary is also expanding. This must be used. Long poems are not yet subject to the baby, and short and sonorous rhymes are remembered well. Read the lines to the baby, repeat aloud with him, accompany with active gestures.

For example:

• The kids came running - ra-ra;
• A leg up, a step bolder - lei-lei.

If you can't remember the line, have the child repeat the last syllable. The louder and clearer the sound, the better.

✅ Yes or no

In this game you will be asking questions. Warn your child in advance that you can make mistakes so that he obviously does not agree with you, but listens carefully. Ask:

• Are chamomile and cornflower flowers?
• Are oak and birch trees?
• fox and hare are birds?
• Is a car and a bus transport?

Have the child answer what the objects really are if you make a mistake. Such a game is useful for the development of not only speech, but also hearing, attention, logical thinking.

✅ Articulation exercises

At two years old, many sounds are still unclear. This is not a problem now, but it may be difficult in the future. Game exercises will help to cope with sound pronunciation. You can start with simple actions - blow out a candle, blow on water, blow into liquid through a straw. Then you can connect other exercises for the articulatory apparatus.

1. Watch. We move the outstretched tongue from side to side.
2. Hide and Seek. Pull out the tongue and hide it back.
3. Delicious jam. We lick our lips as if we are trying to reach the drops of sweetness.
4. Horse. We click, imitating the sound of hooves.
5. Fence. We show closed teeth as wide as possible.

To make the exercises feel like a game, do all the activities together with your child. Compete who does better.

Read also: speech development in children by age

Developing attention

✅ What is missing

All you need is your favorite children's toys. Take 4-5 pieces and lay them out on the table. Let the child look carefully, and then turn away. You remove one item. The task of the baby is to understand what has disappeared. You can complicate the game by adding a number of items, or do not remove the toys, but simply swap them or put new ones.

✅ Thimbles

Feel like a magician. Take three glasses, turn them over, and hide a candy under one. Move the glasses across the table. Let the baby follow where you hid the treat. Guessed the first time - deserved a sweet prize.

✅Clap

This simple game develops attention, reaction speed, coordination and hearing. Discuss the rules ahead of time. Come up with a code word. As soon as it sounds, the child should clap his hands loudly. Make sure he remembers it, and then start listing other words. Name any until you get to the right one.

Read also: how to develop a child's attention

Educational games

Two years is the age when you can connect learning elements to play activities. The child is already ready for basic knowledge. If you take the time to learn now, in the future it will be easier for the baby to cope with large amounts of information.

Learning Numbers

✅ Animal Treats

Use the plush toys you probably have in abundance. Place the animals at a makeshift table by counting them. Call the numbers loudly, clearly, slowly. So it will be easier for the baby to repeat and remember. Next, put a plate in front of each toy. Treat the animals with sweets, not forgetting to count.

✅ One - many

Need balls. Put them in the basket and ask the child how many there are. At two years old, children already operate with the concept of "a lot. " Then distribute the balls one by one to the toys. Take it for yourself, give it to the baby. Ask how many items you currently have in your hands. Return the balls to the basket and ask how many there are. No balls? No problem. Count apples, tangerines, sweets.

✅ Butterflies

It is easier to memorize numbers if there is a good example in front of your eyes. Prepare five cardboard daisies and the same number of butterflies. Place the flowers in front of you and count them with your child. Plant a butterfly on each daisy and count the insects. Come up with different combinations. Plant two or three butterflies per flower. Speak out loud as the numbers change.

Learning colors

✅Ball game

Take colorful balls. Show them one at a time to your child and name the color. Let the two-year-old repeat after you. Sort the balls into groups together. Find other objects of the studied colors in the room. Do not rush to learn the whole spectrum at once. Start with 2-3 shades - the most juicy and brightest.

✅ Find a pair

For this game you need to prepare in advance. Cut out several houses of different colors from colored cardboard. Separately make roofs for them. Lay out the details and invite the child to assemble entire buildings by shades. Another option is to assemble the houses yourself, but with errors. Let the kid correct the inaccuracies.

✅ Hens and Eggs

Cut out chickens in different colors from cardboard. From paper of the same shades, make circles - eggs. The child will match the shades. Start with 3-4 colors. Wait until they are mastered and expand the palette. The more colors, the more difficult and interesting.

Tips for parents

Every child is different and develops at their own pace. Some will like these games even in a year or a year and a half, others will be interested a little later. Keep track of achievements, but do not compare the baby with other children.

Listen to the recommendations of psychologists and teachers on early development:

1. Focus on the response of the child. Do not insist on continuing the game if the baby is already tired. Do not start training if he is not ready, naughty, wants to spend time differently.
2. Remember the time. A two-year-old child holds attention for an average of 15 minutes. Then interest disappears, so it is better to change the type of activity.
3. Do not exercise your baby during illness. Change plans if you feel unwell, wait until you get better. Do not worry. You will be able to make up for everything.
4. Show your imagination. Ready-made templates and game scenarios are convenient. But it is not a fact that the proposed options, without exception, will please your child. Do not be afraid to deviate from the rules, come up with your own "chips". No one knows your baby and his preferences better than you.

Conclusions

Sometimes organizing outdoor or educational games for a child at home is more difficult than it seems. But lack of time or teaching skills should not be a problem. The Baby Club specialists will come to the rescue. Our network of kindergartens and centers is designed for the harmonious all-round development of children from 8 months. Here, each child is perceived as he is, revealing his individuality through classes.

What to do with a 2-3 year old child?

In the second or third year of life, the baby actively develops the physical body - it becomes more mobile and active. This is the age when his independence and a sense of his own “I” first manifest.
During this period, the baby has highly developed cognitive abilities, he seeks contact with the world around him, acquires some cognitive skills.

During this period, the baby is actively developing in the following areas:
1. Knows the objects around him.
2. Learns to speak, memorizes new words.
3. Learns to count.
4. Develops physiologically
5. A social foundation is being laid. The child learns about himself and the world around him. Maintains interaction with the outside world. Who am i? How to behave in a given situation? How to communicate with the outside world?
6. Creative thinking develops.

Several games a day on different topics are enough for the development of the entire mind-body system of the baby. Here the main rule is everything in moderation, it is better not to overdo it with classes so as not to discourage the child from doing something. Indeed, at two or three years of age, the baby is not able to keep his attention on one thing for a long time. It is also desirable that the games are varied and not repeated from day to day.
Do not be afraid to show imagination, because developing the baby, the mother also develops!

Let's explore the world.

Game 1: Learn shapes, colors and sizes :

Two years is the right age to learn shapes, colors and sizes. When showing a child an object of a certain color, you should repeat the name of the object and color several times, and then ask the child what it is? By the way, you can teach a child shape and color at any time, even from birth, naming not only the objects that surround him, but also their colors. For example: “Look, what a white dog!”, Or “Oh, this is a red flower!”, Or “Let's put a yellow cube on a green one”, etc. Or let's build a pyramid. Which ring is bigger? Which one is smaller? In order for the baby to learn to better distinguish shapes, colors and group objects by color and size, involve him in the game.

See here for essential items for learning colors and shapes with your child.

Game 2: We learn objects and phenomena. We learn to think constructively.

Tell your child about the world around you. Going out into the street, tell him about nature and its phenomena. Do you feel the wind? And look how he shakes the trees. Look how strong they are, try to push the tree. It won't fall off because it's very solid. And the wind is not so hard, but also strong. And the leaves on the tree are green. Touch it.

Give your child the opportunity to touch, feel and name things as they are.

It is better not to introduce your attitude - bad - good. After all, what is bad for some is good for others. The best way to describe the world is to rely on facts. Some parents like to put labels on events and things, but this is not entirely correct.

For example, a boy hit someone. Do not rush to define the boy. It's better to say, look, the boy hit the girl, she hurts, she cries. If you hit someone, it will be painful and not pleasant. Therefore, it is better not to do so.

Or the dog growled. It's better to explain what's going on. For example, look, the dog is so protective of its territory, it thinks you want to hurt it. Do not be afraid of the dog, but it is better not to approach it, otherwise it may bite.

Game 3: We leave with the child somewhere outside the district. At least once a week. This will enable the baby to expand the boundaries of his world and understand that he is much more diverse.

For example, we go to the zoo and look at animals (if the time of year allows) or visit an exhibition and an art gallery. You can take a walk in the forest, go to the movies for a cartoon, go to a nearby cafe and have a cup of coffee, go to visit friends, go with your baby to the pool, to a concert and much more interesting things.

Sometimes it seems that there are so many things to do, but believe me, things can wait - they have always been, are and will be!

We develop speech:

At the age of two or three years, the child actively develops speech. During this period, parents need a special approach and properly selected games, the main goal of which is to “talk” the child, to give impetus to the further development of active speech. Teaching kids is possible only when the positive emotions of the child are affected. Such an emotional upsurge can only be achieved in the game. Which adult has not noticed how children love to play with words? The child still does not pronounce the words, suddenly a sound suddenly breaks out, and now he is already repeating it in every way - he is humming. How much joy in the eyes of a child while walking! He plays with sound. Then, playing with the word, children begin to understand their native language, learn its structure, learn colloquial speech. It is no coincidence that almost all folk rhymes are built on dialogues. Kids love rhymed speech, its sound, they experience great pleasure when poetry is read to them.

Here are some recommendations from psychologists for the development of speech for babies 2-3 years old:

Joint examination of objects

An adult, together with a child, is watching something, someone. At the same time, he very expressively describes everything that they see. For example: “Look what a kitty, what paws she has, a tail. Touch the soft gray fur of the kitty. Kitty sits quietly. Let's call her: "Kitty-kitty, come here." At the same time, it is important that children can show their activity - perform simple movements, combining, linking them with familiar and unfamiliar words. And, of course, all manifestations of the child's activity in the subject should be encouraged and supported.

Reading nursery rhymes, poetry

The adult repeats the rhyme or nursery rhyme several times. When the text is well known to the child, the adult makes a pause at the end of the lines (in rhyme), prompting the child to complete the phrase with this. This is how a dialogue in verse arises, which brings joy to the baby and the adult. This is how the speech and memory of the child develops - this is how the baby begins to read by heart.

Our store has a large selection of books with poems and nursery rhymes.

You can get acquainted and possibly pick up something here.

Introduction to a new word

A new word meaning an action is introduced together with familiar words denoting the object or subject of this action, thus increasing interest in the word and reinforcing certain phrases. For example, “Vanya is eating, and the chicken is pecking, and the chickens are pecking ... What is the chicken doing? Show how she pecks ... ”In this case, pictures are considered or actions are performed with toys.

Looking at pictures

An adult and a child look at familiar pictures together. "Who is this? And who is this, - the adult asks, - and what is he doing? Where is the bird? Show me the tree? If the child is silent, you can suggest an answer, but you still need to ensure that later he answers himself, looking at the same picture. In the third year of life, questions can be more complex.

For such a game, special cards with pictures will help you. You can buy cards here.

Orders requiring response-actions

The adult asks the child to find, bring or show something. The complexity of such an assignment depends on the development of the child's speech (passive and active): the assignment should be clear and accessible to him, but require concentration and non-mechanical actions from him. The simplest request is to bring a toy in plain sight when nothing distracts the child's attention. More difficult is to find and bring a toy, selecting it among others: first two, then three ... It is even more difficult to find a toy that is not in sight, a targeted search is required. Subsequent tasks include the search for not one, but two items: "First bring the bear, then the ball." So, gradually complicating the instructions, you can teach the child to regulate his actions with a word - still the word of an adult. You can help him by repeating the word. It is desirable that the child himself repeats what he needs to bring, and having fulfilled the request, he said that he had brought it. If the child does not want to follow your instructions, do not force him - this is a game.

Sound indication of one's actions

Any actions of the child are indicated and accompanied by certain sounds. Knocks - "knock-knock". Draws rain - “drip-drip”. Clap - "clap-clap." The adult teaches the child onomatopoeia, the kid repeats after him, then they together accompany the sounds of the child's actions, and then he himself does both at the same time.

Speech accompaniment of action

The child accompanies his action no longer with sounds, but with extended speech. Round dance games, many children's poems are suitable for this exercise. For example "Bunny". In addition to such games, it is useful to name all the independent actions of the child and ask appropriate questions: “Vanya is washing his face .. What is Vanya doing? What does Vanya want?

A lot of poems, nursery rhymes, as well as stories for children 2-3 years old are offered by the Russian publishing house Azbukvarik. You can view the products by following this link.

Performance

Act out a simple scene with your baby's toys. The bunny is crying, the bear is running, the dog is eating, the cat has lost the ball. The child should feel sorry for the toy or help it in the same way as an adult does. After the performance, you can ask the baby what he saw.

There are many game techniques that activate the baby’s speech, it all depends on your desire to play, communicate and fantasize.

Fundamentals of Mathematics:

Learning figures, their sizes and counting

Game 1. Stock up on various pyramids and sorters. When showing a figure, state its name clearly. It is better if they are of different colors, which will allow repeating color differences. You should start with lighter shapes: a square, a circle, a triangle, then moving on to a rectangle, rhombus, oval, etc. After 2 years, you can unobtrusively begin to teach your child to count during games, from time to time telling him numbers, the number of objects, toys etc.

Game 2. Counting coins in the wallet. You can pour out all the coins from your wallet and learn to count them.

Game 3. Count how many fingers you have. Bending your fingers, help the baby count. Show that you also have the same fingers, invite the baby to count them.

Game 4. There are now many different books in stores that offer a huge variety of methods and practices for learning mathematics. Sit down with the baby and gently involving him in the game, look at the book together.

You can choose books here

Outdoor and outdoor games:

Movement is life! Do not forget about outdoor games that give children sincere pleasure. It is rare that a toddler does not like walking. On a walk, children usually know what to do with themselves - you can dig in the sandbox and ride down the hill and run with the neighbor's kids. It is better if the clothing for walking is such that it is not a pity to get it dirty.

Let the baby manifest as he wants (well, of course, within the framework of reasonable safety for his health). And then sometimes you see on the playgrounds how the baby is buzzing inside, he wants to ride, run and jump, and his mother forbids everything, citing the fact that he can get dirty. This is how energy is blocked and diseases and bad moods appear in children. Therefore, it is better to pick up simpler clothes, if puddles and wet, then rubber boots and waterproof pants and go baby!!!

Sand play is very important for kids. They calm the nervous system, develop fine motor skills, and bring a lot of fun to kids.

By following this link, you can pick up all the necessary products for playing outdoors.

If the weather does not allow you to go for a walk outside, what should you do?

In this case, you can do gymnastics with your child. Turn on the music and stretch all the muscles. By the way, this will be useful, not only for the baby, but also for the mother, because she often forgets about herself for worries.

You can do yoga or Chinese gymnastics together.

Thank God there are a lot of videos on the Internet now that will help you. You can also come up with a lot of water games. Pour a basin of water, put it in the room or in the bathroom, put boats, pouring glasses and rubber toys into it. Babies just love pouring water.

Funny toys for playing with water see here

Creative or story play

Finger theater:
Do you want your child to get into a magical world where you can enjoy and play, and while playing, learn about the world around you?

Then play a finger theater in front of him!

From fairy tales, children draw ideas about time and space, about the connection between man and nature, about good and evil, about courage, stamina, cunning.

Finger theater is a unique opportunity to place a fairy tale on the palm of a child, in which he can take the role of any hero.

The theater is also an excellent speech and sensory-motor simulator, suitable for children over 1 year old.

The dolls develop the mobility of the fingers of both hands, help to master the speech of the characters, and teach how to put on mini home performances.

The game can be used to get acquainted and study the account, to get acquainted with the characters and the plot of a fairy tale, to get acquainted with the concepts of “Right-left”, “next”, for the development of speech and fine motor skills. With the help of this, dexterity is developed, the ability to control one's movements, to concentrate on one type of activity.

And small figurines of the finger theater will keep you company while walking or visiting a clinic, on the road. They will not take up much space in my mother's purse and will help to entertain the baby. With their help, you can revive your favorite poems, fairy tales, nursery rhymes.

A simple toy will develop intonation, performance skills and creativity.

Everything for the finger theater is here:

Draw:
Drawing - develops not only the fine motor skills of the baby, but it is necessary for creative development, perception of color and shape. At this age, meaningful drawings may appear instead of scrawl.

Give the child the opportunity to do what he wants, do not limit him. Although sometimes it is possible, and vice versa, to come up with some kind of task. For example, coloring books. You can invite the baby to color without going beyond the line.
A huge selection of good paints is offered by Amos, Crayola, Fila, Jovi, Ses Creative, as well as the Russian company Gamma

Lepim:
Sculpting as a sensory experience promotes the development of fine motor skills. You can use the mass for modeling or plasticine. At the age of 2 years, many kids are very fond of making various figures with the help of molds in pictures. Thank God that we live in a time when there is a large selection of plasticine with molds, syringes for extrusion and molds on sale.

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