Month 22: 4 funky ways to make music a part of your toddler’s life
Toddlers love music in all its forms—singing, dancing, humming, clapping, and banging things together (often loudly 🥁). Among other benefits, music inspires creativity, teaches social skills, and stimulates brain development. Also, as parents and caregivers well know, music is a great transitional tool: there are few more effective ways of helping kids with certain tricky tasks (like cleaning up and diaper changes) than singing along.
Still, the prospect of incorporating music into everyday life can be intimidating, and routines can get stale. Never fear: you don’t have to play an instrument, be a trained vocalist, or even be able to carry a tune to incorporate music into your toddler’s life.
FUN WAYS TO INCORPORATE MUSIC INTO YOUR TODDLER’S LIFE:
Listen for environmental sounds
Rhythms and beats are everywhere in your toddler’s life—you just have to listen for them. On car rides, pay attention to the regular sounds made by wheels, turn signals, and sirens. If you point them out and imitate them, all of these can be incorporated into a de facto drum circle. Your toddler may even start to clap and drum along; even if they don’t, they’re reaping the benefits of your concert.
Sing instructions and transitions
Kids at this age are constantly testing limits—it’s all part of the job of being a toddler. Singing (instead of stating) an instruction like “clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere,“ can help encourage them towards the behavior you want to see. You can even make up a song about getting out of the bath, getting into the carseat, diaper changes, brushing teeth, and leaving somewhere fun.
Freeze dance
As your toddler approaches 2 years of age, they may start to understand and follow two-part directions. This is a great opportunity to try freeze dance! Load up a favorite song and explain that when the music plays, you’ll dance, and when it stops, you’ll freeze. Demonstrate what it looks like, then go for it. The freezing likely won’t be perfect—that’s just fine. Try striking a pose and making a funny face when the music stops, varying the length of the music clip, and varying the speed at which you and your toddler dance.
Our mouths as an instrument
Get your toddler humming, singing, and experimenting with all the noises their mouth can make. Have them mimic different types of rhythmic breathing, blow “raspberries” to a beat, stretch your mouth into an oval and gently flick your cheeks, trill, “pop” your cheek from the inside with a curled finger, and make “ch-ch-ch” sounds.
Keep reading
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Dirty vs clean: a quick lesson in contrast
Your toddler’s brain loves to grapple with opposites. A great way to involve your toddler in learning about opposites is by exploring the idea of dirty vs clean
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Mess-Free water painting
This water painting activity boosts gross and fine motor skills and is incredibly simple. All you need are paint brushes and a bucket of water.
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Cap twist-off board
Twisting caps to loosen and tighten them takes concentration and coordination, and can be done over and over again. This activity reuses disposable baby food pouches to allow your child to practice.
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Pipe cleaners and Wiffle Balls
"Posting” is a term used to describe fitting objects into an opening of corresponding size. In this activity, colorful, bendable pipe cleaners fit into Wiffle balls for all kinds of posting fun.
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Velcro dot craft sticks
This DIY craft activity has can be taken on car trips and stored easily for future use—and it supports multiple developmental skills as well.
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Pop-up paper tunnels
In this activity, your child will push toy cars, trains, planes, and other small vehicles through DIY tunnels, creating a world of pretend play to get lost in.
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
DIY Balloon Tennis
This simple DIY is a great source of entertainment and helps develop gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. All it takes is a paper plate, popsicle sticks, and a balloon.
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Some of the best craft materials can be found in the recycling bin. Here are 3 crafts you can do with your toddler using toilet paper rolls.
22 - 24 Months
Welcome to The Companion Play Kit for months 22-24
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph introduce the CompanionPlay Kit for months 22 to 24 of your toddler's life.
22 - 24 Months
25 - 27 Months
3 easy pincer grasp activities for toddlers
The pincer grasp isn't just for babies. Toddlers need to continue strengthening this coordination and dexterity for future tasks.
22 - 24 Months
Month 22: Don’t buy that gorgeous wooden play kitchen just yet, by Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph
Consider these fun and safe ways to include your toddler in your real kitchen before you buy a new toy kitchen.
22 - 24 Months
Month 22: Ice, ice, baby—try these easy science activities
Sensory exploration of colors, shapes, and textures with your child doesn't have to be complicated. Here are a few simple science activities for toddlers.
22 - 24 Months
Month 22: 4 funky ways to make music a part of your toddler’s life
Music is a great way for toddlers to express creativity. Lovevery provides 4 fresh ways to make music a part of your child's life.
22 - 24 Months
Month 22: Is squashing bugs OK? 5 environmental lessons your toddler can learn now
Children react in various ways when they encounter bugs, but what should they do? Here are 5 environmental lessons your toddler can learn now.
22 - 24 Months
Month 23: Make me a match—Understanding your toddler’s matching skills
Matching images, objects, colors, and sound builds a toddler's pattern recognition and visual and short-term memory. Learn how matching skills progress.
22 - 24 Months
The better way to help your toddler learn colors
Lovevery shares the techniques discovered by Stanford University that pinpoint a new, effective way to teach young children about colors.
22 - 24 Months
Month 23: A whole new era of pretend play just started
Learn how to support your todder's pretend play, which is based on their own lived experiences. Imagination play will come later.
22 - 24 Months
Month 23: The pincer grasp is not just for babies
Learn why practicing the pincer grasp can help your child succeed in school and beyond by developing their fine motor skills and hand strength.
22 - 24 Months
Month 24: Why labeling your toddler’s intense feelings can actually help calm them down
Dr. Dan Siegel "name it to tame it" philosophy helps children calm down by acknowleding and labeling their strong emotions.
