Supporting your child’s development (1 to 4 years)

These ideas support your toddler’s development through everyday play.

Communication

How your child understands and shares information using sounds, words, gestures, or other ways to communicate.

Point to pictures in books and name what you see

Objects, body parts, animals

Play naming games at home

“Where’s your cup?” “Show me your shoes.”

Sing action songs

Head, shoulders, knees and toes.

Offer a choice

“Do you want the ball or the spoon?” Then wait for a reply.

Gross motor skills

How your child uses the big muscles in their body to move, play, and get around.

Make a safe obstacle course

Use cushions or boxes to climb over or go around.

Help early walking

Have your toddler walk between two people.

Go to the park

Try small slides, rockers, or swings.

Roll or kick a soft ball back and forth together.

Fine motor skills

How your child uses their hands and fingers to hold, pick up, and handle small objects.

Let your toddler eat by themselves

Offer soft finger foods to practise picking up small pieces.

Do some drawing

Tape paper to the table and offer chunky crayons for scribbling.

Try posting or pouring  games

Cards into a box slot, items into a pot.

Offer spoons, cups, funnels, and scoops for pouring and filling.

Problem‑solving skills

How your child learns, explores, and works things out during play and daily activities.

Play hiding games with toys

Under a cup or cloth and ask, “Where did it go?”

Sort laundry or toys into simple groups

Socks, cars, blocks.

Build towers

Use boxes or plastic containers.

Let your toddler open safe tubs or boxes to find a small surprise inside.

Personal and social skills

How your child manages simple self‑care and joins in with others at home, nursery, or in play.

Let your toddler help with small jobs

Find shoes, bring a spoon, tidy toys.

Offer two toys and let your toddler choose.

Play turn‑taking games

Rolling a ball or passing items back and forth.

Join local play sessions

So your toddler can play alongside other children.

Visit the Leeds Children’s centres page to find local sessions in your area

Want more ideas? See our useful links section below.

Simple ideas you can try at home to support your child’s development.

Communication

How your child understands and shares information using sounds, words, gestures, or other ways to communicate.

• Sing action rhymes and do the moves together (for example, ring around the rosy, London Bridge).
• Tell a short story and pause so your child can finish an easy word or line.
• Talk about body parts, colours, shapes, and simple describing words during daily routines.
• Use pretend play with dolls or toy animals and say the actions as you play.

Gross motor skills

How your child uses the big muscles in their body to move, play, and get around.

• Play Follow the Leader: tiptoe, walk backward, take big steps, then small steps.
• Make a safe obstacle course with pillows or boxes to climb over or crawl under.
• Try animal walks like bear walk, rabbit hops, or elephant steps.
• At the park, practise jumping, climbing, and sliding.

Fine motor skills

How your child uses their hands and fingers to hold, pick up, and handle small objects.

• Draw together: Make large shapes and let your child colour them in.
• Play with playdough: Roll, press, and cut simple shapes.
• Try simple printing or painting (potato prints or blowing thin paint with a straw).
• Trace around cups, blocks, or hands to make easy outlines.

Problem‑solving skills

How your child learns, explores, and works things out during play and daily activities.

• Sort things into big and little, or into groups like food, animals, toys.
• Build with boxes or blocks.
• Play hide‑and‑seek with toys under cups or cloths.
• Make easy puzzles by cutting a picture into two or three pieces.

Personal and social skills

How your child manages simple self‑care and joins in with others at home, nursery or in play.

• Offer simple choices (two shirts, two snacks, two drinks).
• Let your child help: Wash toy dishes, dolls, or clothes.
• Play pretend together (pets, shop, camping, a small grocery store).
• Help your child set the table or tidy toys to build early independence.

When and how to move on from bottles

It is recommended to stop using bottles and teats from 12 months old and move to an open cup or free‑flow cup.

Why this matters

• Bottles can cause tooth decay, especially if used for milk or sugary drinks.
• Long‑term bottle use can affect mouth development and speech.
• Learning to sip from a cup is better for teeth and helps your child develop new skills.

Tips to help your child move to a cup

• Start offering sips of water from a cup from around 6 months, especially with meals.
• Choose an open cup or free‑flow cup (with no valve).
• Expect some mess at first, this is normal and part of learning.
• Use bottles for milk only, and try to move on from them by around 12 months.
• Give lots of praise for trying the cup.

When and how to move on from dummies

The NHS recommends starting to reduce dummy use from around 6 months, with the aim to stop between 6 to 12 months.

This helps reduce long‑term issues with teeth and speech.

Why this matters

• Dummies can change how children’s teeth grow.
• They can stop the tongue from moving freely.
• When a child has a dummy in their mouth, it is harder to babble, chat and practise new sounds.
• Helping them give it up gives them more chances to talk and build language skills.

Top tips for reducing dummy use

• Keep the dummy for sleep times only.
• Offer other comfort items, a teddy, blanket, or extra cuddles.
• Take the dummy out when your child is making noises or trying to chat.
• Wait until your child asks for the dummy instead of giving it automatically.
• Be consistent and give lots of praise.
• Try a sticker chart or reward system for older toddlers.

Visit the BBC Tiny Happy People Dummies and weaning: How and when to stop dummy use page for more information.

Recommended screen time limits

• Under 1 year: No screen time advised
• 1 to 2 years: Very little screen time, always with an adult
• 2 to 5 years: Up to 1 hour a day maximum, but less is better

How young children learn best

Children aged 5 and under are learning so much about

• how to talk
• move
• play
• understand the world

Their brains grow best when they can explore, play and interact with people around them.

Screens are part of everyday life for many families, and it’s about finding a healthy balance that works for you and your child.

Young children learn most when:

• someone talks with them
• someone shows them things
• they play and explore with other people

These real‑life interactions help your child learn, become curious, and develop communication skills.

Make screen time interactive

If your child does use a screen, sit with them when you can.

Watching together means you can:

• chat about what’s happening
• answer questions
• encourage them to think, join in or relate it to real life

Screens work best as part of, not instead of, everyday play and talking.

Healthy screen time habits

Before bed

• Screens give off blue light, which can stop the sleep hormone melatonin from working.
  • This makes bedtime routines harder.
  • A calm routine, like a bath, cuddle and bedtime story, can help children settle more easily.

At mealtimes

• Eating together as a family also helps children learn healthy habits by watching the adults around them.
  • Screens distract children from eating and stop them noticing when they feel full.

Being a positive role model helps children develop healthy eating habits.

For more information, visit Best Start in Life: Baby and toddler screen time page.

Babies, toddlers and young children communicate their feelings through behaviour.

Children often express big feelings before they have the words to explain them.

Think of it like an iceberg, what you see on the surface, (shouting, crying, saying “no”)  is only the top.

Under the surface are feelings such as tiredness, overwhelm, hunger, worry, excitement, frustration or wanting connection.

Understanding your baby or toddler

• To understand more about bonding, recognising  cues and supporting your child’s emotional development, visit Infant mental health: Understanding your baby page.
• To understand more about toddler feelings, behaviour and early emotional development, visit my toddler and me.

Top tips

1. Think about their developmental stage

• Young children’s brains and bodies are still developing.

They are still learning how to:

• manage their feelings
• wait or share
• explain what they need

What feels “small” to an adult can feel huge to a young child.

2. Think about the “why” behind the behaviour

• Try thinking:
  • “Are they tired?”
  • “Are they hungry?”
  • “Is it too noisy or busy?”
  • “Do they need comfort or connection?”

Watching what happens before, during and after can help you spot patterns

3. Check the basics

• Children feel safer when life feels predictable.
  • Try to keep daily routines consistent.
• Ask yourself:
  • are meals and snacks regular?
  • do they get enough active play?
  • is the bedtime routine calm and consistent?
  • are there big changes happening at home or nursery?

Small changes can make a big difference.

4. Plan ahead for tricky moments

• If you know something may be difficult for your child, you can:
  • prepare them in advance
  • keep tasks short
  • distract with a toy, snack or simple game

Planning helps children feel more secure.

Positive ways to respond to your child

Respond with empathy and gentle boundaries

• You can still hold limits, but with understanding.

“I can see you’re upset because you wanted more time. It’s still time to leave. Let’s do it together.”

Say what to do rather then use negative instructions (for example, don’t run)

• Children learn best when they hear a clear, positive instruction

“We walk indoors.”

“Kind hands.”

“Feet on the floor.”

Praise what you want to see

• Be specific and quick
• Praise effort, not perfection

“You used kind hands, lovely sharing.”

“You came when I called, great listening.”

“You started tidying when I sang the tidy‑up song, great try.”

Specific praise helps children repeat helpful behaviours.

When things feel tricky

Connect first

• Go to your childs level, use a gentle voice and show you understand.

“I can see you’re having fun with your cars. It’s hard to stop when you’re enjoying yourself.”

Ask for the action

• Say what to do.
• Give a clear, simple instruction.

“It’s tidy‑up time now. Can you put the cars in the box, please?”

Limit and offer choice

• Hold the rule but offer two choices your child can manage.

“We need to tidy up now. Would you like to put the cars away first, or the blocks?”

Move on

• Help them follow through, then praise the effort.

“You put the cars in the box, thank you. That was really helpful. Now we can wash hands for snack.”

HENRY

Find out more or sign up to HENRY

The HENRY Parenting Programme offers an 8‑week course to help families build healthy routines, enjoy mealtimes, understand children’s behaviour, and feel more confident in everyday parenting.

Leeds City Council

Find your nearest Leeds Children’s Centre

Local groups, play sessions, and family support for babies and young children. The website helps you find activities and services near you that can support your child’s learning and development.

50 things to do

50 things to do before you’re 5 website gives families simple, low‑cost activity ideas to help young children learn through play.

Baby Buddy App

Download the Baby Buddy App

Free, trusted app and website that gives parents and carers easy‑to‑understand advice about pregnancy, baby care, and child development. It offers daily tips, videos, and guidance to help you feel confident during your baby’s early months.

NHS Best Start in Life

Visit the Best Start in Life website Playtime and bonding with your toddler

BBC Tiny Happy People

Visit the Tiny Happy People

Simple, fun ideas to help you talk, play, and interact with your baby or young child. It offers videos, activities, and tips to support speech, language, and early communication.

Health for Kids

Visit the Health for Kids website

Fun NHS website that helps children learn about their physical and emotional health.