Try these strategies to support your toddler’s cognitive development

• Show four objects on a tray. Cover the tray and remove one object. Uncover the tray and ask what is missing.
• Set up choice and decision-making scenarios for your child. Encourage your child to use gestures (or language in the future) to express their decision.
• Use concept words (big, little, heavy, soft) often in daily conversation.
• Play games by naming opposites (hot–cold, up–down, empty–full).
• Compare objects to show opposites (fast–slow, wet–dry).
• Practice sorting shapes and objects by size, colour, or other properties.
• Compare objects for length (short-long or long-longer-longest).
• Discuss objects by use (shovel–outside).
• Discuss objects by where they may be found (land, sea, sky or library, home, school, store).
• Encourage your child to complete puzzles.

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