Today Tile Triggered Content

Are you the parent that cringes as you see your toddler approach the muddy, boggy puddle? Or are you the one who races past to get in there first? There is a universal truth, however, that many children love a puddle! 

The good news for your toddler puddle plunger is that it: 
• Encourages exploration and experimentation 
• Develops gross motor skills and muscle tone 
• Gives experience of cause and effect 
• Encourages the development of language 
• Supports sensory integration (using all of the senses together) 
• Enhances understanding of the changes in the world around them 
• Lowers stress levels 
• Boosts the immune system 
 
So, get your waterproofs on and find a puddle today! 

You might notice your toddler make ‘scale errors’, for example, they try to sit on a chair that is obviously too small for them or get into a toy car! Not all children do this, but if you notice these types of misjudgements, it’s part of your toddler beginning to understand the world.  

Why does your toddler think they can sit on a doll’s chair?  

Love it or loathe it – your toddler might be starting to have a go at tickling other people now. They might not quite get it right, but they’ll learn a lot as they give you a tickle. 

Tickling is linked to sensory and social development 

Lots of your toddler’s sensory development is linked to understanding signals from different receptors in their body. When it comes to our senses most of us think of 'the five’. But these are just the start – one of the other key senses your toddler is developing is interoception. Here’s more about it. 

Sensory development is about how our brains process information from our senses 

All babies are individuals. Research tells us about averages, but your baby hasn't read the research and will respond in the moment to how they feel! You are learning together what works for your baby and your family. You and your baby are getting to know each other now, but some days and nights might feel harder than others, and that’s ok. 

Your baby’s vision will be developing even more now, and they will be able to see things that are a little further away.  

Bubbles are a great early lesson in cause and effect (that one event makes another event happen).

You might notice that your baby is interested in pushing and pulling, and try to pull a chair, or push larger objects as they move around.

As your baby’s physical skills develop you might notice that they are interested in climbing. Exploring climbing also helps them to develop their body awareness. They receive signals from their joints as they push and pull to climb up or over an object and begin to link what they can see and feel as they position their hands and feet, ready to start their ascent.