During this stage of development, children are rapidly expanding their language skills. Language plays an important role in the development of executive function and self-regulation as it helps children identify their thoughts and actions, reflect on them, and make plans that they hold in mind and use. Language also helps children understand and follow increasingly complex rules—both those that regulate behavior and those that apply to simple games. Additionally, bilingualism is associated with better EF/SR, so parents who are fluent in more than one language should use those languages with their children.Active gamesAt this age, toddlers are actively developing many important physical skills, and they love physical challenges. The following activities require toddlers to focus and sustain their attention on a goal, inhibit unnecessary and ineffective actions, and try things in new ways if a first attempt fails. They may not always succeed, but the practice is very important. This is a learning process. Many of these activities will require frequent reminders from adult organizers, and they may not last very long!Provide many materials and opportunities to try new skills, such as throwing and catching balls, walking a balance beam, running up and down an incline, jumping, etc. Set up simple rules to follow for added working memory and inhibition challenges for example, take turns running to a “finish line” and back.Older toddlers can enjoy simple imitation games, such as Follow the Leader, or song games like Punchinella or These are great tests of working memory as well as attention and inhibition.Games that require active inhibition can be fun, too, like freeze dance (musical statues), although don’t expect children to “freeze” without a few reminders. Also effective are song games that require children to start and stop, or slow down and speed up, such as Jack in the Box; Popcorn; Ring Around the Rosie; or Motorboat, Motorboat.Song games with many movements are also fun.Examples include The Hokey Pokey; Teddy Bear; I’m a Little Teapot; or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. These require children to attend to the song’s words and hold them in working memory, using the song to guide their actions.Fingerplays, or songs and rhymes with hand gestures to match, continue to be popular with children this age, similarly challenging children’s attention, working memory, and inhibitory control.
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