Child Development:
Your Growing Toddler 18-24 months
Going on Two
When your toddler is one-and-a-half-years-old, you may start to notice
that his baby fat is beginning to disappear. He is beginning to look more
like a small child than a big baby. And now that he has mastered the art
of walking, he will probably be running everywhere he can.
As her second birthday looms on the horizon, your toddler will learn
how to balance on one foot and jump. However, she may need some help in
the jumping department; getting both feet off the ground is not as easy
at it seems. A large bouncing ball that she can sit on can help her practice
and get the feel of lifting her feet up at the same time.
By the time your toddler is two years old, he will be able to go up the
stairs by himself but he’ll still require your assistance to get
back down. He will also be able to help when you read together by turning
the pages for you. He may also get a kick of screwing on and off the lids
to jars, so make sure there’s nothing dangerous for him to get his
hands on. Electronics will be especially entertaining for your toddler
by this time. He will just love how the press of a button makes the television
show pictures and make noise while another press of the button will make
the television blank and quiet again.
That Second Year
You may have noticed that your toddler’s appetite has gotten smaller
lately. That’s because her height and weight growth has slowed down
considerably over the last year so she doesn’t need as much fuel
as she once did. And although she is only two years old, her head is almost
at its full adult size.
Thanks to their improved dexterity, your toddler will probably be able
to dress himself by now. To help their finger and hand coordination, you
may want to put a dress-up trunk in his room filled with lots of clothes
he can put on and take off.
Other things he can now do because of his enhanced fine motor skills
include scribbling, feeding himself, brushing his own teeth (with some
help, of course) and other grooming activities like brushing his hair.
And his strong need for independence means he will more often than not
insist he do these activities.
Signs of Trouble
Here are some things that you might want to look out for and book an appointment
with your toddler’s pediatrician if you notice any of these problems
with your toddler. You may also want to read more on developmental
milestones.
- By 18-months your toddler still isn’t walking. Although he could
just be a late bloomer, it may be a good idea to have a chat with your
pediatrician.
- Your toddler is walking but is always walking on his toes. Some toe
walking is normal, but an apparent inability to walk flat-footed is not.
- Your toddler’s limbs seem stiff all the time (i.e. appears to
have troubles moving head) or, alternatively, they seem loose and floppy
(i.e. little resistance when you move her legs; she has troubles with
balance or coordination).
- Marked clumsiness. Although it’s very normal for toddlers to bump
into things and fall down, more serious bumps and falls could signal a
variety of problems.
- Unusual involuntary movement (i.e. a tic or tremor).
- An older toddler who has troubles holding and using objects (i.e. stacking
blocks).
- Consistent rejection of particular types of food or excessive drooling
while eating.
- Regression of motor skills. This is not the same as regressive behavior
in reaction to a new situation, like a new sibling. Rather, this type
of regression refers to a toddler who suddenly loses her ability to do
something. This should be investigated right away.
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