18-36 mos Learning Environment

18-36 month olds have some of the same learning needs as their younger counterparts, however there are distinct differences as well. The average three year old's attention span has increased from 6-8 minutes to at least 8-10 minutes without being easily distracted by sounds or others around him. This increase is precisely the reason why we can expand our mode of delivery and expectations of our children at this age. They will have the ability to stay with activities longer, so it is imperative to provide engaging aesthetically pleasing materials that offer just the amount of challenge for new learning to occur. In addition to the types of materials that engaged your child in earlier toddlerhood, your child not only needs sensory motor activities but also  opportunities to voluntarily push, pull, manipulate, take apart, throw, group, rearrange, and explore in an environment where they are free to try, fail, succeed and try again without lecture, cajoling or imposition from their caregivers.  

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To this end, provide a variety of activities in your child's learning area,  including but not limited to: Blocks and building toys such as Lincoln logs, Magnaformers, Magnatiles, Tegu Blocks, Duplo, Legos, Play Mobil, etc. Toys to imitate adult life---dollhouses, toolboxes, tools, trains, trucks, farms and zoo animals, cash registers, community worker costumes, playhouse, play money, play food, doll carriage and equipment, etc Musical Equipment--CD player, Mp3 player, tape recorder, tambourine, hand bells, piano, drum, cymbals, etc Games/Manipulatives that teach mathematical concepts- oversize dice, counting puzzles, measuring tools, number rods, time telling games, clocks Gross Motor Equipment--swings, trampolines, balance bikes, scooters, slides, balance boards, climbing apparatus, ride-ons, roller skates, bouncing balls Toys/activities to encourage sensory learning--inlaid puzzles, peg boards, geometric insets, 3D geometric figures Thematic Units to increase vocabulary  Language/Reading-letters, books, first readers, pictures of simple cvc words 

If you discover that your child's attention span is significantly less at this age. Set a goal and work towards reaching it. This will require that you spend spans of special time with him without interfering unless invited to play along. Your task is to observe, focus entirely on your child and connect. Sit with the child as they play with a toy that holds their attention. Initially, there is a possibility you will find your child may frequently alternate his focus from the activity to you. Simply sit the entire time, calmly interact and try to do nothing to overstimulate or excite him.  Gradually, comment less and silently observe more. Over time you will see he will attend to the activity more. Reserve this time strictly for the purpose of lengthening the attention span and observation. ​Reserve teaching, lecturing or correcting for another time. Allow this time to let your child take the lead and take risks.