|
|
|
| |
Subscribe to the free KidsGrowth weekly email newsletter by entering your email address below. |
|
Advertisements:
Advertising links will direct you off of the KidsGrowth Web site. KidsGrowth is neither responsible for nor does it necessarily endorse the privacy practices, content or products of these sites. |
|
|
|
| Quick reference medical handouts used
by Pediatric offices |
|
|
Toddler Developmental Milestones
Toddler Developmental
Milestones
What to Expect..... and when to be concerned!
You are your
child's first and most important teacher. Every day, your child is learning as you talk,
play, and interact together. Development is a combiunation of age, individual growth, and
experiences. Your child will progress at his or her own rate; your involvement will
promote developmental milestones.
How many words does the average 2-year-old know? When do
children first play with other children cooperatively? When do you worry if a child is not
walking? Is separation anxiety normal? When are children usually ready to be toilet
trained? These questions and many more are on the minds of parents as they watch their
youngster grow and develop. The following tabled contain items that are appropriate for
toddlers 12-24 months of age and should not be applied to children under the age of one. |
   
Motor Development
What
to Expect............ |
When
to be concerned.......... |
Fine Motor (12-24 months)
- builds tower of three small blocks
puts four rings on stick
- places five pegs in pegboard
- turns pages two or three at a time
- scribbles
- turns knobs
- throws small ball
- paints with whole arm movement,
shifts hands, makes strokes
- uses a spoon and cup
Gross Motor (12-24 months)
- walks alone
- walks backwards
- picks up toys from floor without falling
- pulls toys, pushes toys
- seats self in child size chair
- walks up and down stairs with hand held
- moves to music
|
By 18 months.....
- Your child's limbs seem stiff
- Your child's muscles seem floppy and loose
- Your child doesn't walk yet
- Your child is walking on her toes
- Your child favors one hand or side of his body
- Your child seems very clumsy
- Your child is constantly moving
- Your child has trouble grasping and manipulating objects
- Your child drools and has difficulty eating
- Your child's motor skills are regressing
By 24 months.....
- By 24 months doesn't walk confidently
- By 24 months shows no interest in climbing
- By 24 months will not push or pull toys
Discuss any suspected developmental delays with your
child's pediatrician. Generally, a parent's instinct that motor development is delayed is
often correct. Remember to correct your child's
age for prematurity. |
Social Development
What
to Expect............ |
When
to be concerned.......... |
| At 12 to 18 months of age,
toddlers begin to become interested in the world around them. Still, they view everything
in terms of themselves. As they start to discover other people, they learn how to elicit
reactions from them. As they continue to grow, they learn to socialize by trial and error Between ages one and two:
- recognizes self in mirror or picture
- refers to self by name
- plays by self; initiates own play
- imitates adult behaviors in play
- helps put things away
- points to some body parts
- uses familiar objects correctly (cup, key, phone, shoe, ec.)
- recognizes pictures of familiar objects or people
- tries to figure out how things work
|
By 24 months.....
- Your child will not play interactive games, such as
"Pat-A-Cake,:"Peek-a-boo," or "This Little Piggie," etc.
- Your child's will not play alone for a short period of time
- Your always seeks you out to play
- Your always demands your attention
- Your child does not show any independence
- Your child does not care if you are in the room or not
- Your child does not display any emotions (fear, shyness,
anger, etc.)
- Your child does not express caring for others with smiles or
hugs
- Your child never tries to comfort you or others
- Your chld never says "no" or "mine"
- Your child does not have temper tantrums
Discuss any suspected problems with your child's
pediatrician. Generally, a parent's instinct is often correct. Remember to correct your child's age for prematurity. |
Separation Anxiety
As toddlers
develop, they become more confident and begin to demonstrate independence. Toddlers 12 to
18 months old exhibit mood swings and volatile behaviors because they are torn between
complete dependency and the desire for independence. With independence, they
learn the limits of their abilities. However, they still have a fear of abandonment, which
presents as separation anxiety. By the age of 2, children are beginning to build the
skills they need to become independent, freethinking persons. They can walk, talk, and
make simple choices for themselves. These new skills help them to establish their own
identity. But without their parents in close view, toddlers find themselves easily
overwhelmed. The trust that has been developed between parent and child allows the
2-year-old to conquer separation anxiety. |
As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as
medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician.
Please read our full disclaimer.
|
