Pregnancy
18-24 Months: Toddlers in Motion -- Milestones
1. Shows increasing coordination and balance, and combines actions to participate in play activities.
Toddlers' energy is incredible. They become totally involved in using their large muscles to walk, run, bend over, squat, and climb the steps to the slide and then slide down. They love to dance, push things around, follow the leader, dig in the sand, and ride on their riding toys. They stack big blocks and play with balls, often throwing other objects as well as balls as they explore the power of being able to hurl things with growing force and some direction. They can be found wherever there is a space to run, jump, and practice their newfound freedom of motion. For example:
Developing as expected, they might:
- walk as a primary means of locomotion
- push or pull a toy that makes a noise as they walk around
- get on a kiddie car and try to push it using both feet at the same time
- back into a chair to sit themselves down
- squat to pick up something and return to standing with ease
- walk backward to pull a toy on wheels
- walk up a few steps on the stairs, holding the railing, not yet alternating feet
- climb up on sofas and other furniture, just for the fun of climbing
- play follow the leader around a very simple course
- play ring around the rosy, loving the falling down part because that is one of the things they do best
Needing development, they might:
- continue to crawl as their fastest way to move about
- try to get on a riding toy, but give up when it becomes too difficult
- try to climb up on the sofa or chair, but not be successful
- not participate in group activities such as dancing to music or following the leader
2. Uses hands and eyes to accomplish a variety of activities.
Toddlers use their fingers and hands with increasing skill as they turn the pages of books, string large beads, put things together, and take things apart. Their activity shows more purposefulness as they explore and try various ways of doing things. Their play involves using their hands and fingers to put puzzles together, experiment with crayons, dress dolls, and build with blocks. For example:
Developing as expected, they might:
- pour and dump water from container to container, through a funnel, and then through a sieve or colander in the bathtub or sink
- hit the pegs on the pounding board with more accuracy, using the head of the hammer
- work at turning the key on the windup toy
- put several large, round pegs into the round holes in the pegboard
- string large beads, using one hand to slide the bead on while the other hand holds the string
- pull apart large pop-it beads and then try to push them together again
- hold a book in one hand while turning the pages with the other hand
- hold their crayon with a steady grip as they make scribbles on their paper
- imitate the motions of finger plays such as "Where Is Thumbkin?"
- answer by pointing to the correct picture when you ask, "Can you find the boy who is hiding?" or "Where is the girl who is running?"
Needing development, they might:
- use both hands trying to push a puzzle piece into the wrong space in the puzzle board
- turn the puzzle board this way and that to make the puzzle piece fit, rather than twisting the puzzle piece, which would require using a wrist motion
- continue to repeat the same actions rather than try new ways to make things move or go together
- use the side of the hammer to pound the pegs into the pounding board
- not be able to make the string go through the hole in the beads
3. Participates in self-help activities.
Toddlers are becoming very interested in managing their own self-care, especially feeding. They also are interested in helping to dress themselves, especially if they can help to choose which clothes to wear. They like routines and know the order of how things happen, which makes this a good time to start establishing health routines like washing hands before meals and after toileting, brushing teeth on a regular schedule, eating healthy foods, and so on. For example:
Developing as expected, they might:
- insist on washing their own hands and drying them before lunch
- use a spoon expertly when feeding themselves
- drink from a cup with hardly any spilling
- try to put on their own shirt (frontward or backward) or their socks
- drink by themselves as they hold a small glass in one hand
- help to put spoons or napkins on the table
- help in dressing by handing you the matching sock when you are ready
- stick out their arm for the shirt or their leg for the pants
- pull their clothes off at bedtime or naptime
- show little interest in helping to put on socks, shoes, or boots
- show no preference when asked to choose a shirt to wear
- not participate in dressing by putting out an arm for the shirt or jacket, or lifting a leg to help in putting on their pants
- show little interest in using a spoon or in feeding themselves
- show no desire to help with things such as peeling their own banana or helping to set the table when you ask them to put a spoon at each place
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