My almost 16 month old daughter is an only child and loves spending time with other children but there are not a lot of children in my area or other mothers that I know. Because of this I want to play some games and work with her on some activities that will help her social skills as well as her knowledge. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
I second the play/story time at the libraries around town. They are excellent. And free! There wasn't a moms group in my area, so I started one. If that's an option for you, you might be surprised at the moms in your area you never knew existed!
Kids are just sponges. My kids loved the placemats we have with the states. We put a raisin on a few states and say "this is Florida where alligators live", then go to a different state and say "horses live in Kentucky", etc. then she eats the raisins/craisins from the states we've gone over. After a while, quiz her on a few to see if she knows them. By 3, our daughter knew all her states and we moved on to countries. This is great for the alphabet or other things like that too. Make sure you read to her a lot too. Your local library branch most likely has story time. Kids enjoy it and they get to be around other kids. Even bookstores have a storytime too.
My son is 16 months as well and it can be difficult to find activities because most games and toys are geared for 3 years and up. If you are looking for socialization you can take her to storytimes at the library or I know Barnes and Noble has two storytimes a week. You can also sign her up for classes at The Little Gym or Gymboree which is a lot of fun but can get expensive. I met a mom at The Little Gym with a son the same age as mine and we now get together for playdates all the time. As for activities, my son likes to play in the sand (you can buy playsand at Lowes or Home Depot) or go to your local park. He loves musical instruments, books, stacking blocks, magnetic letters on the fridge, balls, interactive songs (Wheels on the Bus,Pat-a-Cake, etc.), painting the wall or sidewalk with water, and fingerpainting with pudding. He is starting to be able to do very simple puzzles. Coloring is not easy for him yet but as long as you are supervising and helping her it could be fun. I hope this helps a little.
I recommend your local MOMS club! Just google it and find your chapter by location. I'm really enjoying mine.
Also, if you go to church, Sunday School is a great social opportunity - our child has always loved it. Ditto for midweek women's Bible studies in churches that offer childcare.
