10 Simple Learning Activities For Your 20-Month-Old Baby

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Children reach their developmental milestones at their own pace. But if you are looking for the best activities for a 20-month-old-baby, you are at the right place. At 20 months old, toddlers usually begin communicating and exploring the world around them. You can support their physical and cognitive development with creative, age-appropriate activities. If you need help figuring out where to start or have run out of ideas to help them have a fun learning experience, this post can help. Read on to learn about some of the best toddler activities you can try to support their growth.

Ten Activities For Your 20-Month-Old

Children learn best through active play. At 20 months, engaging in hands-on activities and interactive play can help your child explore and understand their world and develop new skills (1). Here are some fun activities for 20-month-olds to support their cognitive and developmental growth. Choose the best ones to help your child develop key skills while having fun.

1. Smear it on

You will need:

• Finger paints.
• Wax paper
• Plain paper
• Tape

How to:

1. Place the wax paper on a solid surface and tape it up to avoid slippage. Tape the plain paper over this.

2. Drop a small amount of paint onto the paper. Dip your finger in it and show your toddler how she can smear it. Let her listen and try.

3. Once she knows what to do, pour more colors to make it interesting. Gradually teach her about the colors she is using so she can better identify them.

4. The activity will help develop your toddler’s motor skills. It is a great way to introduce her to colors with which she can draw later.

Quick tip

Along with finger paints, your child can also use play dough, clay, and acrylics with paint brushes or sponges.

2. Look for it

You will need:

• A small toy or object that will fit easily in your palm

How to:

1. Show your toddler the object.

2. Now place it in your palm and make sure your toddler is watching. Slowly close your fingers around the object to hide it from view. Now put your hands behind your back.

3. Ask your toddler ‘where is the toy’ and slowly bring your hands to the front.

4. Ask her to point at the hand in which she thinks the object is. Open the fist slowly to show her whether the object is there or if your hand is empty. Once she finds the object, express surprise and happiness.

5. The activity will teach your toddler about object permanence and observation. It is also so much fun for a 20-month-old.

Once your toddler gets a hang of this game, you can increase its scope to an entire room. Nicole Duggan, mother of two boys, does exactly this and discusses how these learning activities keep her toddler happily occupied while promoting valuable experiences. She shares, “Puzzles are one of my child’s favorite toys right now! G (her 20-month-old younger son) is so much more into puzzles than M (5.5 years old) ever was.

“Sometimes we hide the pieces around the room (in easy spots) and he finds them and completes the puzzle. It’s a creative way to make the puzzle more exciting (i).”

3. Helping hand

You will need:

• A small clean broom
• A clean cloth

How to:

1. Start by wiping a safe place using a clean cloth. Try choosing a surface that your toddler can easily access. It should not have anything potentially harmful.

2. Make sure your toddler is watching you as you do this so they can mimic your actions.

3. Give the cloth to your toddler and ask her to clean up the place. You can also sprinkle a few drops of water on the surface to give your toddler more things to clean.

4. The activity will help your 20-month-old toddler develop her gross motor skills.

4. See the world

You will need:

• Any safe place where you can spend free time with your toddler

How to:

1. Make sure you have plenty of time at hand. Choose the time of the day when your toddler is happy, energetic, well-fed, and rested.

2. Take your toddler to a nearby park or garden, or even the nearest mall or shopping complex.

3. Let your toddler show you the path. Follow your toddler and see all those things that seem fascinating to her.

4. Do not rush her to move on, even if it seems she is doing nothing but standing and staring.

5. The activity will give your toddler a chance to learn about the world at their own pace. Research shows that children who play and spend time outdoors stay happy, focused, and less anxious. Simple activities like exploring nature or playing with sand can boost attention and well-being (2).

Point to consider

Take your toddler to a less crowded place, so they don’t feel overwhelmed. If you have multiple small kids, use a stroller to make walking more manageable.

5. Match it

You will need:

• Any object that your toddler also has a copy of – socks, a hair clip, a book

How to:

1. Make sure you do this activity in a place where your toddler has easy access to her things.

2. Hold up an object from your stash and show her. Name the object.

3. Now ask her to find the same. For example, if you are holding out a sock, tell her ‘it’s mamma’s sock, can you show me your sock?’

4. Applaud her when she manages to seek a similar object.

5. The activity will teach your toddler about various objects, sort them, and help them grasp basic matching. According to Dr. Maria Montessori, “Intelligence is built upon a wealth of experience followed by the vocabulary to classify and express experience (3).” Thus, it is important you let your child experience real objects before introducing them to pictures.

6. Stamp it out!

You will need:

• Potatoes
• Knife
• Paper or cardstock paper
• Paint

How to:

1. Cut the potatoes in half and form simple shapes like hearts, stars, or circles.
2. Lay the paper or cardstock on a flat surface and pour small amounts of colored paint onto a palette or plate.
3. Show your toddler how to dip the potato stamp into the paint, ensuring the carved shape is well-coated.
4. Allow the toddler to explore and create their own designs. They can stamp multiple shapes, mix colors, or overlap stamps.
5. This activity is best for sensory exploration and creative expression.

Note: Make sure to keep your toddler away from sharp tools like knives.

Did you know?

Matching and sorting activities like these can help develop a toddler’s early numeracy skills (4).

7. Tickle it!

You will need:

• Wipes with lid/flip-top (attached to a board)
• A feather
• Optional: Small flat animal toys or magnets
• Hot glue (for durability)

How to:

1. Hide a feather under one of the flip lids.
2. Encourage your toddler to open the lids and find the feather.
3. Once found, use the feather to gently tickle them for added fun.
4. You can leave other lids empty or place small surprises for discovery.

Note: Hot glue helps secure the lids, but they can still be sticky if used immediately after removing them from a wipes pack.

8. Peekaboo with family

You will need:

• Small boxes (decorated differently)
• Printed photos of family members
• Tape or glue to secure photos inside boxes

How to:

1. Arrange family member photos inside different boxes.
2. For a memory game: Mix up the boxes and have the child remember where each person “lives.”
3. For a discovery game: Let the child open each box to find familiar faces.

Note: This game is great for helping kids recognize and remember distant family members. It also adds a fun surprise element, especially when they find their own photo!

9. Stick the letters

You will need:

• Foam letters
• A spray bottle or small bowl of water
• A window or mirror

How to:

1. Lightly spray or dip the foam letters in water.
2. Give the letters to your child and let them stick them onto the window or mirror.
3. Encourage them to take the letters off and rearrange them.
4. Talk about the letters and their sounds for a fun learning experience.

Note: This simple activity keeps little ones engaged while giving you a few minutes of free time!

10. Roll the balls

You will need:

• Colored ping pong balls
• Small boxes or toy garages
• Toy cars (optional)

How to:

1. Set up small boxes or toy garages as “houses” on the floor.
2. Take turns rolling ping pong balls toward the houses, aiming to get them inside.
3. After a few rounds, switch to sending toy cars into the houses for added fun.

Note: This is a great family activity that encourages coordination and creativity. Let your child explore different ways to play using their own toys!

Infographic: Simple And Fun Activities For 20 Months Old Baby

As babies move toward the toddler stage, they become curious and want to explore. Teaching them skills in a fun and interactive way will encourage them to learn. Check out this infographic, for we bring some exciting activities to have fun with your little ones while they learn from you.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Simple Learning Activities For Your 20-Month-Old Baby

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Learn how to play with your 20 month old toddler! Discover developmental milestones and activities to help your baby grow. Get tips and tricks to make playtime fun and educational.

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