Month 14: “Throw the ball to Mama”—what’s up with the third person, anyway?
Have you ever caught yourself speaking in the third person, as if you’re referring to yourself as someone else? There’s a name for that—“illeism”—and it tends to come naturally to the parents of young children.
Why?
We likely do it because we sense, intuitively, that young children don’t understand the pronouns “me” or “I” as well as they know our names. Pronouns are tricky: “throw the ball to me” isn’t as specific as “throw the ball to Mama.”
Mama, Auntie, Daddy, Grandpa, and other names are stable nouns—they always refer to the same people in your toddler’s orbit. Pronouns, on the other hand, change according to context, which can be confusing to a little person still learning the language.
Stripping pronouns away can make for simpler, more understandable speech. This is part of the progression of language development. Your toddler’s first true sentences will likely include their name rather than “I” or “me.”
Most parents naturally stop using the third person as their children begin to understand pronouns. Understanding will come before expression—your toddler will begin to use “I” or “me” consistently instead of their name sometime between 27 and 40 months, but they will understand the meaning well before that.
Keep reading
12 - 48 Months
13 - 15 Months
0 - 12 Months
Celebrating Black History Month with babies and young children
Children of all races are never too young to take part in Black History Month. Here are ideas on how celebrate with your child, along with a list of books that center Black people and culture.
0 - 12 Weeks
3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
25 - 27 Months
28 - 30 Months
31 - 33 Months
34 - 36 Months
Why wooden toys make the best playthings
Wooden toys are a staple of Montessori learning. They're durable, beautiful, and inspire wonder for a child's budding imagination.
3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
18 - 48 Months+
Why children are so attached to their loveys (and what to do if your child loses theirs)
Loveys, also known as "transitional objects," help babies and toddlers through transitions. Learn why these blankies, stuffies, and more are important and what to do if one goes missing.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Updated Lovevery Play Kits featuring larger, more complex developmental Playthings—plus, a new subscriber-only shop
After play studies, weeks of in-home testing, and thousands of customer surveys, we are excited to announce our updated Play Kits for one-year-olds.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
DIY Popsicle Stick Color Pockets
DIY popsicle stick color pockets | Lovevery
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Toddler Balloon Play
Sometimes all it takes to keep your toddler busy is a balloon. If you happen to have a balloon in your house, use these ideas to make the magic happen.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Painting with Nature
Bring home stick and leaf collections from your neighborhood walks and turn them into paint brushes with this DIY.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Vegetable Painting for Babies and Toddlers
Use this taste-safe paint recipe made of veggie scraps for a great new way to connect with your toddler through art.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Pom poms and tubes
Dropping a pom pom into an opening requires a variety of skills from a child, from lining up their hand with the opening to knowing when and how to open their fingers to release. Try it with this activity.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Pom pom and pitcher sensory bin
Sensory bins of all kinds allow young children to explore different materials with their hands. In this case, you'll use pom poms that can be squeezed, rolled, bunched, tossed, and poured with a pitcher.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
DIY ball chute box
In this activity, which repurposes a cardboard box, your child’s evolving understanding of object permanence is combined with a fun DIY ball-rolling activity.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Painting with An Egg
Use eggs, balls, or marbles in place of a paint brush in this fun activity that's a fit for young children.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
Easter rock painting and rock hunt
Short on eggs? Painted rocks are a great substitute for your annual Easter egg hunts.
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
13 - 15 Months
Sing along with Lovevery on Spotify
From developing neural pathways to encouraging language development, music is almost magical in its impact on your baby's brain development. Listen to Lovevery's playlists for everything from bedtime to dance parties.
13 - 15 Months
Welcome to The Babbler Play Kit for months 13-15
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph introduce the Babbler Play Kit for months 13 to 15 of your toddler's life.
13 - 15 Months
Month 14: 5 ways for your toddler to (safely) play with small objects
With a few simple supplies, you can create fun DIY activities that help your toddler safely enjoy the benefits of playing with small objects.
13 - 15 Months
Month 13: Your toddler’s on top of the world when they make you laugh
A toddler's budding sense of humor is a sign of their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Learn five ways to help nurture your child's funny bone.
13 - 15 Months
Month 13: There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing
Research shows that children benefit from playing outside, regardless of the season. Learn how to keep playing outdoors even when the weather is cold or rainy.
13 - 15 Months
Month 13: Stacking, nesting, and matching—when do they happen?
Stacking, nesting, and matching are three foundational toddler skills. Learn when to expect your toddler to begin doing each.
13 - 15 Months
Month 14: Squirming and grabbing pages: what reading looks like at this age
Reading with your toddler probably doesn't feel much like "reading." Don't give up—here's why even a minute of reading is still worth it.
13 - 15 Months
Month 15: Rotating toys the Montessori way = better, deeper play
Learn how the minimalist Montessori approach to toy rotation—just a few objects at a time, rotated every few weeks—benefits your toddler.
13 - 15 Months
Month 15: Pull toys are classic for a reason
Pull toys may seem old-fashioned, but they promote many aspects of toddler development: problem-solving, whole-body coordination, and fine motor strength.
13 - 15 Months
Month 15: The do’s and don’ts of saying “no” 😉
Describing for your child the behavior you do want to see avoids reinforcing what you don't want them to do. Here's how to say "no" less frequently.
13 - 15 Months
Month 15: 4 early gravity lessons
They drop it, you pick it up, they drop it again. There is nothing toddlers love more than playing with gravity. Here are four experiments to try.
13 - 15 Months
Month 15: Embrace this mindset and time with your toddler gets 100 times better, by Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph
The key to cutting down on frustration for both you and your toddler is to redefine what it means to get things done. These five mantras will help you do that.
13 - 15 Months
Month 12: Abracadabra! The magic behind Montessori toy introduction
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph and Montessori expert Jody Malterre introduce the Flexible Wooden Stacker and show the developmental concepts it supports.
13 - 15 Months
Month 14: “Where’s your belly?” When toddlers start to identify parts of their body
Your toddler's self-awareness is growing, and they may soon recognize their own face in the mirror. Here's how to help them begin to learn the parts of their body.
13 - 15 Months
Month 14: “Throw the ball to Mama”—what’s up with the third person, anyway?
Do you speak to your toddler in the third person? "Illeism" may help your toddler develop their language skills until they understand pronouns.
13 - 15 Months
Month 13: Art, science, and fine motor: water play checks all the boxes
Water play helps toddlers create art, learn science, and develop fine motor skills. Here are 10 water play activities you can do with your toddler.
