Toddler
Mastering new skills such as how to walk, talk, run are developmental milestones. It is exciting to watch your toddler learn new skills. The normal development of children aged 1-3 includes several areas:
- Gross motor - walking, running, climbing
- Fine motor - feeding themselves, drawing
- Sensory - seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling
- Language - saying single words, then sentences
- Social - playing with others, taking turns, doing fantasy play
Toddlers do not develop at the same rate. There is a wide range of what is considered "normal." Your child may be ahead in some areas and slightly behind in others. If you are worried about possible delays, talk to your child's health care provider.
Your child is advancing from infancy toward and into the preschool years. During this time, his or her physical growth and motor development will slow, but you can expect to see some tremendous intellectual, social, and emotional changes.
Communication and Language Skills
- says "mama" and "dada" (specific to parents), plus one or two other words
- waves goodbye
- points to objects
- babbles with inflections that mimic normal speech
Movement and Physical Development
- bangs together cubes or blocks held in both hands
- stands alone
- walks with one hand held and possibly even walks alone
- places objects in and out of containers
- precisely picks up objects with thumb and forefinger
- during mealtime, uses hands to bring small pieces of food to the mouth
Social and Emotional Development
- enjoys peekaboo, pat-a-cake, and other social games
- likes being read to and looking at picture books
- cries when you leave the room
- feels proud when gaining a new skill like standing, walking, etc.
Cognitive Skills (Thinking and Learning)
- follows one-step commands (such as, "Please give me the ball.")
- watches and imitates older kids and adults
- repeat behaviors that produce a desired effect, such as dropping a toy over a ledge so that you can pick it up
- will look at a book and turn the pages
When Should I Call the Doctor?
Every child develops at their own pace. But some signs could indicate a delay in development. Talk to your doctor if your child:
- walks with a limp or uneven stride
- when falling, falls forward instead of backward
- can't pick up a small object (like a raisin) and does not feed himself or herself
- does not point at objects
- does not babble with consonant sounds ("ba, da, ga")
Also, if you ever notice that your child has lost skills or shows weakness on one side of the body, tell your doctor.
