Development at 15 Months
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Activity 1
Age Appropriate Gross Motor Development
Walks While Pulling Toy Behind
Get me into the standing position and let me hold the string of a pull-along toy. Observe if I am able to pull a toy behind me as I am walking. I love toys that make noises when I pull them along! I usually develop this ability between 15 and 18 months.
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Steps
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Get your child into the standing position.
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Let him hold the string of a pull-along toy.
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Observe if your child is able to pull a toy behind him as he walks.
Feedback
Your child is developing his body coordination and motor planning in this activity. To pull an object along while walking will challenge your child's walking balancing further! You may look at the suggested activities for more ideas on this task.
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Continue to challenge your child by getting him to pull his toy around obstacles, a narrow path, uneven ground such as grass, or even up slopes.
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Pushing a toy is easier then pulling it along. So, let your child push toys or objects, such as a lightweight chair, stroller or a toy cart with a handlebar, when he is walking. This will help him develop planning skills for pulling a toy along.
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If your child has difficulty holding onto the string, make a loop and loop it over his hand so that it is easier for him. Alternatively, you may attach a large ring to the end of the string.
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Activity 2
Age Appropriate Cognitive Development
Matches Objects
Now that I am 15 to 19 months old, I am becoming aware that objects can be kind of the same because they look the same or because they are associated with each other frequently in everyday life. Give me a pair of same color socks, a cup and a block. Observe if I can match the identical socks together. If I succeed in matching identical items, you can further challenge me to match related items, such as a shirt and the pants. Play with me and watch me group identical and then related objects together. |
Steps
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Give your child a pair of same color socks, a cup, a block and a basket for keeping.
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Can he match the identical items?
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Now give your child a second set of items, shirt and pants, a cup, a block and a basket for keeping.
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Can he match the related objects?
Feedback
Your child has reached an important stage in his cognitive development in this activity. He is realizing the similarities and differences in the appearance of physical objects around him. That is why he is able to find amongst a group of objects the ones that are the same. Your child is also learning that ordinary objects around him have a link in one way or another to each other. That is why he is able to relate things like a shoe and sock together. These are wonderful realizations for his age.
You will notice that your child is now growing interested in the details and functions of things around him; their exact shapes, colors, smell, uses, etc. Be amazed at the details that he is able to pick up just by interacting with things in his environment. Use play and a fun environment to point out the details of interesting objects to him.
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Encourage your child's focus on the interesting details of favorite objects and toys that he has. E.g. point out to him that his toy car has 4 same wheels or his teddy bear has 2 same hands.
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As your child is trying to figure out in his mind "What does this object do?", take your time to explain and show him the various purposes and functions of the objects around him.
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Have fun playing matching body parts. E.g. have your child match his two hands/feet while sitting in front of a mirror. Ask him where is the other hand/feet and give him lots of tickles when he responds appropriately to the idea of what is the "same".
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Use pretend play (dressing a doll or cooking) and ask your child to find the same or related object that you are looking for. E.g. when pretending to feed a doll, ask your child to find another same spoon.
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Use everyday situations like bath time, eating time and play time to point out that two objects can be related because of how we USE them.
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