Toddler Growth and Development
At this age you can expect him to put on clothing, brush his teeth with help, stack 4-6 blocks, combine words, know over 50 words, use pronouns (I, me, you, mine), follow two step commands, know his body parts, walk up steps, kick a ball, jump up, throw a ball overhead, and his speech should be half understandable.Over the next year his speech will become more understandable, and he will be able to name pictures and colors.
He may begin to play with other children, but it will be 'parallel play.' Children at this age are very self-centered and may play alongside each other, but it will be some time before they actually start playing together. Your child will probably not want to share his things and he may be very possessive. It is important to closely supervise children that are playing together at this age and reassure them that the other child will not keep his toys. Keep a few of his favorite items separate and not available for sharing so that he feels he has some control over things.
This is also a time that your child will begin to explore and try and figure out how things work and will enjoy playtime. It is important to give lots of praise and many opportunities for exploration.
Most toddlers take at least one naps (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1-1 1/2 hours long) during the day at this age and are able to sleep all night (for 11-12 hours). If not, check to make sure that your toddler has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations.
Once your child is able to climb out of his crib (and you have already lowered the mattress and removed the bumper pads), it is time to move him into a toddler bed. If your child is three feet tall, you may want to move him to a toddler bed even if he isn't climbing out of his crib yet. The usual age for moving out of a crib is about eighteen months to two years.
For more information on your toddler's growth and development:
- Temper Tantrums
- Sleep Advice
- Thumb Sucking vs. Pacifiers
- Milestones of Language Development
- Younger Toddlers Child Development
- Speech and Language Development
- Early Signs of Autism
- Developmental Delays and Early Childhood Intervention
- Separation Anxiety
- Toddlers, Naps and Sleep
- Moving to a Toddler Bed
