
Milestone Moments: OT Tips for 12-18 Months
- Sing songs and do hand motions for songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Wheels on the Bus”
- Build blocks together
- Focus on stacking items like large cups, containers, shapes
- Practice dumping and filling containers
- Read books together, encouraging your child to help turn pages
- Make your own tactile boxes to allow your child to explore various textures; fill boxes with bowls, spoons, cups to allow for dumping, filling, and stirring
- Play dress up with play costumes to allow child to work on helping with dressing activities
- Go outside and allow child to explore. They can fill dirt into containers, work on picking flowers/weeds, help with watering plants.
- Most of the time the child will find fine motor opportunities by exploring their environment.
- Allow your child to color with crayons. You can even use color soap on walls of bath tub to “paint”.
- Practice simple puzzles like shape sorters or pieces that fit into boards.
- Pretend play with baby dolls and stuffed animals, such as feeding them and patting them
- Pretend play with play cooking and food items to encourage using both hands, placing items into container, stirring