Toddlers Development

Watching a toddler develop is very exciting as the pace of change is very rapid. By the time your child is a toddler, he or she may already be walking and even saying a word or two. Now that your toddler is more mobile, a world of discovery has opened up.

Just as your toddler starts to get more sure footed, manual dexterity also improves rapidly after the first year. The ability to grasp and move objects with the hands becomes much more reliable.

In addition, your toddler's vocabulary will steadily grow. His or her first word was likely something along the lines of "hi", "mama" or "dada". Soon your toddler will be saying words like "cup", "shoe" and "diaper". Reading to your toddler may help with language development.

Your toddler is also better able to communicate through facial experessions, body language and gestures like nodding up and down for yes, back and forth for no, as well as pointing. Gradually, your child will become more self aware and recognize him or herself in the mirror.

Now that the mobility and hand coordination have improved, your toddler will begin to take an interest in toys and games. There are all kinds of games you can play, like sing song games, or just putting objects in containers. The classic toys are blocks, balls, dolls, trains and cars.

Around half a year after your toddler's first birthday, you will probably notice an increase in his or her use of the word "no" and possibly more trantrums. Just remember to stay calm, be patient, and encourage positive behavior. This phase will pass, but for now, you'll just have to cope as best you can. Try to reward good behavior, as a little positive reinforcement can go a long way to teaching your child right from wrong.

Around the age of one and a half, your toddler will drop the second nap and just have one. This will help ensure that your toddler sleeps soundly at night. Around this age, your toddler is also likely to have become attached to a comfort object such as a blanket or stuffed animal.

Soon your toddler will start to pair a few words together, like "me go". Your toddler will also understand most of what you say. Slowly, your toddler will learn new words and begin to use them.

Around 20 months, your child may be able to run, but expect lots of trips and falls. Your toddler may get upset when you or another one leaves, so explain that you will be back soon. Your child may also begin to play with his or her genitals, which is perfectly natural. Just explain that it is not to be done in public. Soon your toddler will become more aware of gender differences.

Around your toddler's second birthday, he or she will likely be ready to move into a big bed. Your toddler may also be singing, and making 3 word sentences. Your toddler will also become more social and take more of an interest in playing with others. When your toddler plays with toys, he should be able to sort things in different categories such as shapes, sizes and colors. Your toddler will also become more curious about things, and ask "why" questions a lot. If your toddler is breaking the rules that you put in place, it may help to explain why you set those rules.

Between the age of 2 and 3, your toddler will need less sleep and have more energy. It's important that your toddler get plenty of opportunity to burn that energy off, preferably outdoors. By now, your toddler should be able to run, kick and throw balls. Your toddler's attention span and interest in play will also increase. Your toddler will also have a growth spurt, where the body gets bigger, make it more proportional with the head. This will make your toddler look less like a baby.  You should try to get your toddler brushing his or her teeth and washing his or her hands before the age of 2 and a half.

As your toddler approaches 36 months, he or she will likely start to draw using crayons. Already, your child is becoming creative! It is important to talk to your toddler often to develop language skills. Your toddler should have a basic understanding of the rules of behavior now. They also become more aware of other people's emotions and how their behavior affects them. Your toddler may even be starting to establish friendships and learning to share.  He or she may also creat an imaginary friend.

By the time your child hits the third birthday and graduates from toddlerhood, he or she may be dressing themselves, jumping, drawing, speaking full sentences and socializing. Your toddler has come a long way from early toddlerhood, and many milestones have been reached. If you feel that your toddler is not keeping up with other toddlers in terms of development, you may want to talk to your doctor about it. The earlier you can spot a developmental delay, the better you will be able to help your child. Just remember that every child develops at his or her own rate, so just because a couple of children are ahead of yours doesn't necessarily mean your child has a disability.