What games are best for babies between 12 and 36 months? The complete guide, based on actual child development
Between 12 and 36 months, a child goes through a period of rapid development. It is a phase where they walk, climb, imitate, talk, tidy up, observe, experiment… and where each experience directly feeds their development.
According to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, a child creates up to one million neural connections per second during the first three years of life. This means one crucial thing: the choice of toys really matters .
Not to “occupy” the baby.
But to nourish what he is building inside.
This article guides you, age by age, to understand what your child is experiencing and what types of games can support this wonderful period of awakening.
12–18 months: hands become his first learning tool
Between one and one and a half years old, a child perfects their walking, but above all their ability to manipulate objects. They insert, remove, open, close, move, and compare. These small gestures, often repeated dozens of times, build their understanding of the world .
At this age, the most suitable games are those that allow a simple, repeated and logical action: a car to title, a token to insert into a box, a piece to fit together, a small lid to lift.
It is these minimalist, but demanding activities for his hands that strengthen his coordination, concentration and early problem-solving skills.
Our 12-18 month Koala Adventurer play kit includes several Montessori toys to stimulate these skills.
18–24 months: the world begins to make sense
Around the age of 18 months, the child begins to connect things together. He recognizes an animal, an action, an object, and he starts to classify them in his mind.
He loves to imitate what he sees: a gesture, an attitude, a sound, a word. This is the age when language explodes and the child takes pleasure in showing what he has understood.
Matching games then become essential: matching an animal to its image, putting a piece back in the right place, recognizing similar colors…
These activities nurture language, memory, and logic.
Imitation games, on the other hand, strengthen autonomy and self-expression.
At this age, a simple game that represents everyday life can become a fantastic learning tool.
24–30 months: logic becomes more refined
At two years old, a child begins to spontaneously organize objects. They group by color, shape, and size. They observe details they hadn't noticed before. They try to understand "how it works."
Matching or sorting games are therefore essential: associating two identical images, creating a pair, spotting a detail, classifying according to a criterion.
These games nurture his logical thinking, strengthen the precision of his movements and naturally prepare him for future skills: understanding numbers, developing visual memory, and prolonged concentration.
It is also at this age that the child begins to better follow instructions or orders in an activity, which opens the door to more structured games.
30–36 months: the imagination opens up, inner reflection appears
At three years old, the child enters a golden age of symbolic play. He tells stories, brings his characters to life, imitates emotions, and imagines situations.
This free play, so precious for his development, is not “mere fun”: it represents his way of exploring the inner world.
Toys that allow a character to be broken down or a sequence to be followed (first this, then that) help a child to structure their thinking and express their emotions.
It is also at this age that puzzles become more complex and fine motor skills reach a maturity that allows for more precise manipulations.
Discover our Koala Ingenious 30-36 month play kit .
Games that are truly adapted: that changes everything
One key point is confirmed in all studies on child development: a game is only beneficial if it corresponds to the child's stage of growth.
A game that's too simple offers nothing.
A game that is too complex is discouraging.
Between 12 and 36 months, a child needs an evolving environment that follows their pace and offers them the right challenges at the right time.
It is to meet this need that we have designed our entire range of Noor & Koala Montessori play kits : Montessori-inspired materials, chosen to support the key skills of each age, with a logic of natural development and a common companion - Miko - that evolves with the child.
If you want to understand what children between 12 and 36 months really experience and how to support them with kindness, you will find more information in our article: The development of baby skills between 0 and 3 years .
And if you are looking to encourage your child's concentration, you can also read: How to help baby play longer with their toys?