Between birth and two years old, your baby will develop at an extraordinary rate, and each milestone will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major stages of their development and how to communicate with them to help stimulate their learning.
During his second year, your baby will make giant strides: in just a few months, he will acquire the walk And Language development , fine motor skills improvement, and comprehension will enhance his abilities. These new skills will allow him to share more complex games with you than before, giving him the immense pride of feeling grown-up! Discover with us some activity ideas to support his development and share special moments with him.
From age 1: my own cupboard
For your baby, your everyday world is a fascinating and mysterious place they dream of exploring! They love rummaging through every cupboard, every nook and cranny, every drawer, but you might not always agree to let them unpack all your things. To give them the joy of exploration while minimizing the mess, dedicate a cupboard at their height in your kitchen. Place safe utensils there, such as plastic containers, spoons, colanders, etc., and let them explore and discover things as they please.
From age 1: Oh, the animals!
Most children love to observe and touch animals: if you have a dog or cat at home, you probably already know this. Occasionally, take your baby to the zoo or a pet shop, which will be just as interesting to them. Meet all the animals, naming them and imitating their sounds when you know them, and let your little one observe them at their own pace. They will be delighted by this exotic outing, which will allow them to make many discoveries!
From 15 months: Goodnight friends
Bedtime can sometimes be difficult for toddlers. To make the transition from daytime activities to sleep preparation easier, you can establish a goodnight ritual: take your baby in your arms and walk together through the main rooms of the house, saying "goodnight" to the people present as well as to the most familiar objects: "goodnight daddy", "goodnight big brother", "goodnight teddy bears", "goodnight kitchen"... Repeated every day, this transition will help them move smoothly towards sleep.
From 15 months old: at the swimming pool
If your child loves the bath And for water games, treat him to a trip to the swimming pool. Holding him close, enter the water very gradually so as not to startle him. Then, holding him under his armpits, let him experience the joy of swimming, jumping in the air and landing back in the water, splashing around by waving his little feet... Of course, never let go of him and remember to wash and moisturize him thoroughly afterward to remove any chlorine residue from his delicate skin.
From 18 months: conquering the stairs
If you have stairs in your home, you've probably already secured them with safety gates to prevent your baby from falling. However, remember to give your child opportunities to practice going up and down the stairs: it's a very effective exercise for developing their mobility. Crawling up the stairs probably won't require much practice, but going down is much more difficult: show them that they can go down either on their bottom, sitting down on each step in turn, or by turning around to face the stairs and slowly descending while holding onto the steps above. They'll be so proud of themselves when they succeed!
From 18 months: like a piggy bank
To stimulate your child's fine motor skills, get a large metal box with a flexible plastic lid (for example, a baby formula box) and about ten small jar lids. Using a craft knife, cut a rectangular slit in the box lid, slightly larger than the jar lids. With your child's help, decorate the box with paint, stickers, glued-on wrapping paper, etc. Once it's completely dry, show it to your child along with the jar lids, and demonstrate how to slide them into the slit. When they've all inserted, help them remove the large lid to retrieve the lids.
From 21 months: let's walk in rhythm
Children love discovering their body's motor skills. Take advantage of a moment when your little one is walking calmly to stand beside them and walk at their pace. Then, suddenly start walking very slowly, emphasizing the slowness of your movements. Next, accelerate abruptly, making quick arm movements. Then adopt a comical gait, lifting your knees high with each step. Each time, encourage your child to do the same: they will be very amused to discover all these new ways of walking!
From 21 months: finger painting
Your child is still a little too young to handle paintbrushes, but they can already paint with their fingers. Tape several large sheets of paper to a wall (slightly overlapping them to prevent bleed-through), equip your budding artist with an apron with sleeves, and pour some paint in different bright colors into shallow containers. Invite your child to dip the tip of a finger into their favorite color and make a mark on the paper. You can also show them how to gently press their whole hand into the paint and then onto the paper to create a beautiful print. Let their creativity flow!
From age 2: obstacle course
Your child is now very agile and will be happy to take on small motor challenges. At home or in the garden, create an obstacle course for them: inside, you can use cushions to mark a path, a flexible tunnel to go through, building blocks to jump over, a stool to climb on... Outside, use logs to jump on, large stones to run around, a beam to walk on, etc. The first time, walk the entire course by guiding your little one by the hand, then let them practice on their own: they'll be so proud to complete it!
