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- Spread the toast. Give him the margarine, jam/peanut butter and a slice of toast, and let him have fun.
- Switch on the lights. Lift him up to the light switch and allow him to turn the lights on or off.
- Open the electric garage door. When you're coming home, allow your toddler to press the button on the remote control.
- Button up. Give your little one a big button to undo, and show him how to zip and unzip.
- Brush his teeth. But you're doing this already, aren't you? Give him a toddler-sized toothbrush with a small dab of milk teeth toothpaste (you can start when he has a few teeth). Show him how to brush his own teeth.
- Take his plate back to the kitchen sink. Ask him to bring you his plate and fork/spoon after he has eaten.
- Pack away his toys. There's nothing wrong with toys lying around during the day, but it's a good time to now teach him to pack away toys - either at the end of the day, or after he has played with it (it's easier to have only one box to worry about at a time). Show him how to categorise, for instance, crayons go together, and blocks go in another basket.
- Water the garden. In summer this can be great fun. Give your toddler the water hose and ask him to hold it over the flower bed, or give him a small container and show him how to fill it up from a big pail of water or his mini-pool, and then water the thirsty flowers. (ALWAYS be careful with toddlers around water and don't let him out of your sight for even a second.)
- Wipe it off. Give him a Wet Wipe or damp cloth to wipe his own mouth, hands and the table or tray where he has eaten or painted.
- Choose. Give him a few options (just 2 are great) and ask him what he'd like to play with, eat or watch on DVD. This way he feels in control but you're leading the way.
Read more:
5 activities for toddler development
How to raise a confident toddler
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