Parents with a toddler will likely admit their little one can be a ball full of energy: running, jumping, climbing on everything in sight and asking an endless supply of questions. The good news is, as frustrating and tiring as it may be at times, the boundless energy is also perfectly natural.

Between 18 months and 3 years of age, toddlers' brains develop rapidly. In fact, a toddler's brain is generally twice as active as an adult's brain while language, social and emotional response skills begin to develop during this period, which makes it extremely important for parents to provide their toddlers with mental stimulation that will also aid in the learning process. Playing brain games with toddlers is a great way to get them learning and having fun all at the same time.

"Parents naturally play games with their toddlers," says Jackie Silberg, an adjunct instructor at Emporia State University and author of more than a dozen books on the topic, including 125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos: Simple Games to Promote Early Brain Development (Gryphon House, 2000). "The kind of games that they play can develop the brain in many ways. Listening and language skills, motor skills and many other developmental skills make a difference in the growth of a young child. The more the adult understands child development, the better it is for the child."

The toddler years can be frustrating for both the child and the parents, but there are plenty of ways to ensure a toddler's developmental years are fun and beneficial for the whole family. Games and activities are an essential part of a toddler's life and development, and there are plenty of both that can stimulate your child's mind and the learning process while also allowing him or her to have fun.

When Natalie Cooper, a mother of three from Monsey, N.Y., plays brain games she does it with some old favorites. "We play the Memory game a lot – my kids are better at it than I am!" she says. "Also, when I read my girls their bedtime stories, I often ask them questions as I go about what they think will happen next, whether the character is doing the right thing, etc. We also have a few different kinds of building sets, such as Legos, Gears!Gears!Gears! and Clics, that they use in very imaginative ways."

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