18 months +: crafts, crafts, crafts, crafts, and more crafts

Crafts, crafts and more crafts! By now your toddler will get very excited to make something - anything! Even if it's just using crayons and paper, the simple act of creating something is exciting to them! These creative moments will help fine tune their creative and imaginative play, as well as their fine motor skills. If messiness is unappealing, do not fret! There are are many ways to be creating without making (too much of) a mess. Things like play dough, painting with water, or building something out of empty toilet paper rolls are cleaner crafts. Try to allow them some messiness every once in a while.

The messiness leads into another fun activity - clean up! Most toddlers seem born to be our litre helpers. Embrace this! Give them cleaning cloths, allow them to bring their plates to the kitchen, etc. As they reach age 2 and older, show them how to put dishes (carefully) into the dishwasher, clean up small spills, etc. They will the think they are being your best helper, which is a huge self confidence booster. They are learning some life skills, and maybe a little independence. 

Photo credit: med-8316 by aaron gilson via Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26993176@N08/5419299915

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