Save this for the ideas!
I feel like I should have compiled this a long time ago.
The 12-18 range list is far bigger than any other range. I found there is so much development in that range that they suddenly can do SO much more. My children weren’t ready for all these things at 12 months but we introduced all those activities at some point in that age range. When exactly varied between my two kids.
Please remember, my goal here is to share ideas, not to make a checklist of things to do. We love cooking together so you will notice a lot of this is cooking related.
This is when I found my children starting to enjoy these tasks. Everything when first introduced was messy and required me to be very hands-on helping. But they all gave my children ways to be involved and part of things. As they got older they continued with the earlier tasks but added the tasks I have in that age category.
Every child is ready for things at different times. My daughter did a lot of things a bit earlier than my son because she watched him and wanted to do it too. At the same time, my son got more practice with these things since he had more one-on-one time. It’s not a race, simply ideas to try if you’re looking to invite your child into practical life. The ages are meant to be a broad idea, a way to guide if you want ideas, not milestones.
Every child develops at their own pace and has their own interests. My daughter was cracking eggs before she was walking 😅
But first, a reminder that every child is different.
This is when we first introduced many things. It isn’t a milestone chart but ideas to get you going. Expect mess. For us, it is about involvement, not achievement. And if they’re not interested, that’s fine! My daughter loved banana peeling at 6 months but my son wasn’t interested until at least 10. I put it under 6 months to give ideas, not cause panic.
0-6 Months
- Observation from the baby wrap: narrate everything! I love to exaggerate as I narrate
- Smelling spices and herbs
- Feeling textures (for example, let them feel a bumpy lemon)
6-9 Months
- Washing vegetables in a basin of water
- Banana peeling (they peel the sides as you hold the banana)
- Drinking from an open cup
9-12 Months
- Emptying the dishwasher (we start with silverware) Using a rag to wipe spills.
12-18 Months
- Transferring to a bowl or pan
- Watering plants
- Putting toys away
- Putting laundry in a laundry basket
- Carrying groceries and laundry
- Pouring (we start by pouring with assistance then practice with water and then ingredients)
Mixing/whisking - Mashing
- Using a salad spinner
- Chopping (we start with an egg slicer, then a wooden knife, then a crinkle cutter)
- Shaking spices
- Peeling oranges, eggs, onions, and garlic
- Ripping herbs and breaking asparagus
- Throwing out trash
- Bringing plates to the table
- Putting muffin liners into muffin tins Cracking eggs
18-24 Months
- Using a visual recipe
- Chopping with a small children’s knife
- Using a small vacuum
- Sorting silverware into a silverware organizer Using a guided placemat to set the table Putting away clothes after they are washed Using a visual shopping list at a grocery store Helping load the dishwasher
- Using a rolling pin
- Kneading dough
- Using cookie cutters when making cookies
2 Years Old
- Pouring with control (from a container that has more liquid than space in the target container such as a larger pitcher to a glass) Using tongs
- Washing a window with a spray bottle and a rag
- Spreading on toast
- Using a citrus juicer
- Brushing with a pastry brush
- Putting clothes on a hanger
- Arranging flowers (cutting stems, pouring water, arranging)
3 Years Plus
- Using a small low-powered induction burner
- Reading simple recipes
- Leveling a measuring cup
- Folding napkins and then more laundry
- Using a vegetable peeler
- Opening packages with scissors
what practical life does your little one love?