Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Enrichment for an 18th month old?

I have an 18 month old son. For those of you with older kids, I'm interested in hearing what kinds of enrichment activities you did at home with your kids.

We really didn't do much with our DS7 in terms of enrichment at this age. He basically picked up the alphabets and phonics and writing letters on his own. He learned colors and shapes via iPad apps and educational games. He watched Little Eisenstein and Blue's Clues. We did not introduce him to simple math until he was 3 or 4 years old but sometimes I would use a real life example to teach him simple additions.

Honestly, I didn't have a kid that did those things (early math or reading) in fact my kid had Einstein syndrome. So take my advice with a grain of salt, since I didn't have that going on and had a completely different experience than those with children hitting everything early.

That said, I think the best enrichment is spending time with them, talking to them, showing them what you are doing, explaining what you are doing.. when you are cooking, show them measuring… take them to the grocery store and count apples for them, etc. They will pick up on what is developmentally appropriate for them. But always the best enrichment is time with a parent who is interacting with them.

I would also say, especially at this age, physical development is just as important as mental... encourage free play, running and climbing around on playgrounds along with lots of talking, books (if they are interested - DS was into books and DD was more into art but we really just let them drive what the activities would be).

Our list of enrichment activities:

hug
play
read
outside
explore

We didn't think of anything as enrichment per se. Always had a lot of age-appropriate building materials (MagnaTiles were a lasting favorite); books, music, cars, etc.

One thing that we might have done too much of (because it was fun for us) is always play with him. He didn't spend much alone time playing and we've noticed he, versus our younger child, who got more playing alone time, has some trouble self starting activities. Could just be a personality thing.

Aw! We had the BEST times when my dd10 and ds9 were that age. We went for walks, we cooked together, we went to the zoo, the park, the grocery store, playdates, Music Together, water table, storytime at the library.
Nothing really that was a curriculum but we made sure that every day had something new in it.
Those days are long while you're living them but so short looking back. I wish I had a time machine to go back and enjoy a day like that again!

I would say, don't be afraid to use real and varied words around your child. The vocabulary you use around your child is the vocabulary he will use.

Ex. 1: Instead of always referring to the long eared thing jumping around the backyard as a bunny, sometimes call it a rabbit.

Ex. 2: Be specific - after supper, when cleaning the food mess off the kid, don't say give me your hand, say "Give me your right hand." And if the wrong hand is offered, say "No, that is your left hand. Give me your right one."

That last example can be expanded to help with many concepts: you son doesn't need to get his his shirt - it's his blue shirt; don't give him some cookies, give him three cookies, etc.

Best of luck,
--S.F.

There's no specific tasks you should try and "train" your young toddler with. Lots of reading to them. Read, read, read. Talk to them about the world around them. Talk to them as if they understand much more than you'd assume. Play with them. Let them try new tasks. Have fun.

Moon watching. That was my DD's favorite "enrichment" around that age. She still comments on how beautiful the moon is all the time.