Coloring

• The 3-year-old child is beginning to draw faces and people while the eighteen month old is excited to know her hand movements yield results. Allow the children to color together, either on blank pages or in coloring books. Remember that the 18-month-old engages in parallel play more than any other type of play, which means she will not play directly with the 3-year-old, but rather by his side, mimicking his actions or engaging in her own activity near him.
  
  

Ball Play

• The 3-year-old child is learning to throw and kick a ball, while the 18-month-old child is proud to carry the ball and throw it a short distance. Bring more than one ball out for this activity as the 18-month-old child may have a difficult time sharing her ball. Encourage the children to throw the ball back and forth, and help them play a short game of catch, allowing the 3-year-old to gently kick the ball to the baby.
  
  

Bubbles

• Children of many different ages love bubbles. Arrange a bubble machine on a high shelf or blow bubbles for the children. Make sure the bubbles are plentiful, however, because the 3-year-old may become overbearing in his natural excitement. While the 18-month-old child loves to watch and catch the bubbles, she may also find amusement in watching the 3-year-old jump around the room.
  
  

Books

• Read books to the children together. The 3-year-old has a longer attention span and will be able to listen to a book longer than the baby, so provide board books so the baby can play, while the 3-year-old finishes hearing a book. Turn books into a game by using puppets to accompany the story. Use other props as well, such as fake food and stuffed animals, to make the interaction with the book a game for both children.