Your Toddler ...You Can ...
Loves to learn about herself as a baby. This helps her feel special and important.
  • You're transitioning from toddler activities to preschooler activities. Collect and organize reminders of your child's early years. Gather photos, birthday cards, certificates and other collectables and start a family ideas memory book or box. Add pictures your child draws, a piece of a favorite "lovey," an outline of her handprint -- anything you think your child will enjoy looking at later.
  • Keep a journal of funny, sweet or even annoying things your child does. Write a little each day or just make one entry each year on your child's birthday. Children love to hear these stories all about themselves.
    • Is learning to pay attention and remember more about his world.
  • Play toddler games and games for preschoolers that involve using memory. Put a few toys out on the floor. While your child covers his eyes, take one thing away. Can your child tell you what's missing?
  • Give your child short tasks, like building a four-block tower or sitting down with you to read a nursery rhyme. When he pays attention through the whole task, say, "You did it!" Gradually make tasks longer as his attention span increases.
    • Is already learning about reading and numbers, and practicing the skills she will need later in school.
  • Collect things that are the same, like two toothbrushes, two spoons, two toy cars or even double sets of family photos. Hold up one item and ask your child to pick another just like it.
  • Count everything! When you empty a grocery bag, count the number of apples. Count the number of stairs you are climbing.
  • Help your child put things in order. When you read favorite stories, before you turn the page ask, "What happens next?" Create routines for mealtime, bedtime and clean-up time. Say, "First, we get out the toy basket. Then we find all the stuffed toys. Then we toss them in. Then we put it back on the shelf."
  • Help your child compare. Ask questions like, "Do you want the blue socks or the red socks today?" "Did you use the big ball or the little ball for your game?"
  • Help your child talk about relationships and positions. Use words like in, under, on top of, beside and behind. "Can you put the ball in the basket? Now put it under the basket. Good! Can you put it on top?" Ask your child to put her hat on her head; put her shoes beside the closet; hang her pajamas behind the door and so on.

    • Source: "Parenting the Second and Third Years: 33-34 months," University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative, NCR Publication No. 578.