Using objects the right way: how the skill grows from 12 to 24 months
Using objects the right way means using things for what they are for: a cup to drink, a brush on hair, a phone held to the ear, a car pushed along. It shows a child has noticed what objects do and how people use them.
Updated
Using objects the right way: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: One real use. Lifts an empty cup to the lips.
Activities that fit this step
- Real-Things Basket · 12–18 months · 4–10 min
- Teddy's Snack Time · 12–20 months · 3–8 min
- Two of a Kind Kitchen Match · 14–24 months · 5–8 min
Next step: Many real uses. Brushes their hair, pushes a car along the floor, holds a phone to the ear.
Activities that fit this step
- Teddy's Snack Time · 12–20 months · 3–8 min
- Two of a Kind Kitchen Match · 14–24 months · 5–8 min
- Stir the Pot Like Me · 16–24 months · 5–15 min
Next step: Uses objects on others. Brushes your hair or offers a teddy a drink from a cup.
Activities that fit this step
- Stir the Pot Like Me · 16–24 months · 5–15 min
- Unpack the Shopping Tote · 20–28 months · 5–12 min
- Spoon Rake Rescue · 24–32 months · 4–10 min
Next step: Combines two objects. Puts a spoon in a bowl and stirs, or a lid on a pot.
Activities that fit this step
- Unpack the Shopping Tote · 20–28 months · 5–12 min
- Spoon Rake Rescue · 24–32 months · 4–10 min
- Things That Go Together · 25–33 months · 5–10 min
Top of the ladder (combines two objects). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Spoon Rake Rescue · 24–32 months · 4–10 min
- Things That Go Together · 25–33 months · 5–10 min
- Spoon, Sponge or Colander? · 28–36 months · 8–15 min
The using objects the right way ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 24 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Explores everything the same way
Mouths, bangs and drops a brush, a cup and a block alike.
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One real use
Lifts an empty cup to the lips.
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Many real uses
Brushes their hair, pushes a car along the floor, holds a phone to the ear.
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Uses objects on others
Brushes your hair or offers a teddy a drink from a cup.
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Combines two objects
Puts a spoon in a bowl and stirs, or a lid on a pot.
When using objects the right way usually shows up
Trying to use things the right way, such as a phone, cup or book, is a CDC 15-month milestone; playing with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car, is a CDC 18-month milestone.
This page follows using objects the right way from 12 to 24 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month and 24-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 8 activities practise using objects the right way (4 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 36 months. One of them needs no prep and takes 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 15 months and 18 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve using objects the right way. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 15 months | Tries to use everyday things the way they are meant to be used, such as a cup, a phone or a book. |
| 18 months | Plays with toys in a simple, purposeful way, like pushing a toy car along. |
Activities that practise using objects the right way
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 6 cognitive, 1 creativity & pretend and 1 early concepts. Quickest to start: Teddy's Snack Time (3–8 minutes).
Step 2: One real use
Step 3: Many real uses
Step 4: Uses objects on others
Skills practised alongside
The activities for using objects the right way most often also work on imitating actions (3), naming things (3), matching (2), problem solving (2) and simple pretend play (2). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Let your child handle real, safe household things: cups, spoons, a hairbrush, a washcloth.
- Show the use once in a natural moment, then hand the object over.
- Fill a low basket with everyday objects and swap a few each week.
What to avoid
- Correcting creative uses; a bowl can be a hat in play as well as a bowl at lunch.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by about 18 months your child is still not using everyday objects such as a cup or spoon the expected way, mention it at the checkup.
Worried about using objects the right way between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start using objects the right way?
Trying to use things the right way, such as a phone, cup or book, is a CDC 15-month milestone; playing with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car, is a CDC 18-month milestone. The first step to look for: mouths, bangs and drops a brush, a cup and a block alike.
How can I help my toddler with using objects the right way?
Let your child handle real, safe household things: cups, spoons, a hairbrush, a washcloth. Show the use once in a natural moment, then hand the object over. A good first activity is Real-Things Basket (12–18 months).
What should I avoid when practising using objects the right way?
Correcting creative uses; a bowl can be a hat in play as well as a bowl at lunch.
When should I mention using objects the right way to the pediatrician?
If by about 18 months your child is still not using everyday objects such as a cup or spoon the expected way, mention it at the checkup. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.