18month old - FTM advice please

[Tashanatx]

I just wondered about these things I’m a ftm and my son is 18months this month

• I feel like he doesn’t sit and play with a toy he’ll flit between a lot and just mainly run around see what he can do
• tantrums! Assuming this is because he can only say certain. words
• he walked properly at 15/16 mo , needs to work on some balance

But yeah at this age do I just let him help me with day to day stuff? As he isn’t sitting and playing for ages ! Just so he’s less frustrated if I go and try to do a chore while he’s got something as he likes to be close to me a lot (normal)

what’s best for his entertainment and development :)

At that sort of age with mine they would want to be with me, so I would find things for them to do alongside me where possible. It's the interaction with you and the engagement in an activity that's good for their development. Not whether what they're playing with is a toy or a real life object. In some child development theories, like Montessori, real life objects and play are preferred.

I would still find time to dedicate to sitting with him and playing with him and his toys in a way he chooses to direct or engage with.

@RoseslnTheHospital thank you! I do with the few favourites he has but he has abojt 4/5? Favourites then after 10 mins each he moves on!

we do read some books he likes too but all of these together isn’t a full day!

so just wondered like yes is it best he is just by my side doing activities learning that way

That all sounds totally fine. 10 minutes engagement with a specific toy or activity is normal for that age.

One thing I used to do at that sort of age, is sometimes overnight change up the available toys and swap out the familiar ones for a completely different set of other toys that were either new or not been seen for a while. Or set up a totally new activity, baby sensory type stuff and see what particularly got them interested. And I would always try to leave the house for a decent chunk of the day! Just pottering round a local park in the summer time, chatting about what you can see is a wonderful developmental opportunity.