The toddler years are exciting times.
The toddler stage in childhood, from ages one to three, can be one of the most fun and at times one of the most trying stages for both the child and the parents. Learning what you should expect during this stage in your child's life can help you prepare for the road ahead and look forward to the important skills your child will be learning during this time.
At twelve months, children are now developing out of infancy and learning important social, physical, and behavioral skills. At this age, most children can stand alone. While many toddlers have learned to walk steadily at this age, for some children it may be a few more months before they are able to fine-tune the skill of walking. The more they practice walking, the more they want to develop this talent. Once a toddler is walking well, they may try to master further skills such as walking backwards and walking up and down stairs. Children also learn to stoop down and pick up a specific object at this time.
When they are about one year old, many children have a vocabulary of a few small words, but it is still common for them to use more baby talk than words you can understand. Reading and talking to your child will help them develop language skills.
As the months go by, your toddler will learn to scribble in coloring books and stack blocks. At this age, they also learn that small objects can fit into larger objects, like a small ball fitting into their cup.
Around eighteen months, your toddler will probably be able to kick a ball forward. Play a soccer game with your toddler in the front lawn to help them hone this skill. At this age, toddlers begin to put two words together. Their vocabulary is expanding rapidly as they learn new words every day. This is a good time to teach your toddler how to say "please" and "thank you."
By the age of twenty-four months, many toddlers can now throw a ball overhand. Now you can extend your ball play to include throwing as well as kicking. Jumping in place is another skill your toddler can be proud of developing around this time. At his point, most toddlers can name different body parts and point out different animals. When going through the store, point out different items to your toddler and let them repeat what you say. Games like this will help improve your toddler's vocabulary. Around this age is when your toddler will learn to say his or her name.
Behavioral issues are common during the toddler years. Tantrums and stubborn behavior are normal for most toddlers. Being consistent with household boundaries and how you expect your toddler to behave will help them learn beneficial behavioral and social skills.
While it may seem that your toddler is becoming a grown child, it is important to remember that they need just as much supervision as when they were infants, if not more. A toddler's natural curious nature can get them into messy and dangerous situations. Child-proofing your home completely is a must at this point.
