How you can support your toddlers developmental milestones.

Stages Of Developmental

Physical Development (12-36 months)

• Physical development during the toddler years involves gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills include large movements like walking, running, and climbing, while fine motor skills involve more precise movements, such as stacking blocks or holding a spoon.

• 12-18 months: Toddlers begin to walk, stand alone, and may start to climb furniture. Fine motor skills like scribbling with a crayon and grasping small objects also develop.

• 18-24 months: Toddlers run more confidently, walk up stairs, and begin to kick a ball. Their fine motor skills allow them to turn pages of a book or build small towers.

• 24-36 months: They can now ride tricycles, jump, and throw a ball overhand. Fine motor skills become more refined as they learn to copy circles, use utensils more effectively, and dress themselves with help.

How Parents Can Support Physical Development:

• Encourage Movement: Provide safe environments for your toddler to explore movement. Let them walk, run, and climb at the playground.

• Fine Motor Play: Offer toys like blocks, crayons, and simple puzzles that promote fine motor skills.

• Model and Teach: Show your child how to kick a ball or hold a spoon properly, and give them ample opportunity to practice.

• Cognitive Development (12-36 months)

  Cognitive development refers to how children think, explore, and figure things out. During the toddler years, they begin to develop problem-solving skills, memory, and the ability to understand cause and effect.

• 12-18 months: Toddlers begin to understand object permanence (knowing that things continue to exist even when not seen). They start to imitate adults' actions, such as pretending to cook or talk on the phone.

• 18-24 months: They develop the ability to follow simple instructions and begin problem-solving (e.g., figuring out how to fit shapes into matching holes).

• 24-36 months: At this stage, toddlers can engage in more complex pretend play, understand basic concepts like size and colour, and have a growing memory of routines and experiences.

How Parents Can Support Cognitive Development:

• Play and Pretend: Engage in pretend play with your child, such as role-playing as different characters. It boosts creativity and cognitive growth.

• Simple Puzzles and Sorting: Provide toys that encourage sorting by size, shape, and colour. Shape sorters, stacking rings, and simple jigsaw puzzles are great options.

• Reading Time: Read books daily. Even if toddlers don’t understand all the words, they learn language patterns and begin associating pictures with ideas.

Language Development (12-36 months)

Language development involves both understanding (receptive language) and speaking (expressive language). Toddlers typically go from babbling to forming simple sentences during this period.

• 12-18 months: They may say a few words like “mama” and “dada” and understand many more. Gestures, like pointing, are common to communicate their needs.

• 18-24 months: Vocabulary grows significantly, and they start putting two words together (e.g., “more milk”). They can follow simple directions and recognize names of familiar people and objects.

• 24-36 months: Toddlers can form 3-4 word sentences and ask simple questions like “What’s that?” Their vocabulary might explode to 200 words or more, and they begin to understand concepts like “in” and “on.”

How Parents Can Support Language Development:

• Talk and Narrate: Speak to your child regularly about what you’re doing. Name objects, actions, and feelings to help build their vocabulary.

• Read Together: Reading books is one of the best ways to expose your toddler to new words. Let them point to objects in the book and name them.

• Respond to Communication: Whether they use words, gestures, or sounds, respond enthusiastically. This encourages them to keep communicating.

Social and Emotional Development (12-36 months)

Social and emotional development focuses on how toddlers begin to form relationships, express emotions, and develop a sense of independence.

• 12-18 months: Toddlers start showing a wide range of emotions, from excitement to frustration. They may experience separation anxiety and seek comfort from their primary caregivers.

• 18-24 months: Toddlers begin to assert their independence and may say “no” frequently. They enjoy playing alongside other children (parallel play) but may not yet engage in cooperative play.

• 24-36 months: They begin to recognise and respond to others’ emotions and may start playing with other children. Sharing and taking turns are still developing but improve with practice.

How Parents Can Support Social and Emotional Development:

• Provide Consistency and Comfort: Offer consistent routines, which help toddlers feel safe and secure. Respond to their emotions with empathy and understanding.

• Encourage Play with Peers: Arrange playdates or social opportunities with other toddlers to help them practice sharing and interacting with others.

• Model Appropriate Behaviour: Show your toddler how to express emotions, resolve conflicts, and be kind. They learn a lot from watching how you interact with others.

Helping Your Toddler Thrive

Supporting your toddler’s development isn’t just about teaching skills; it’s about providing an environment that encourages exploration, learning, and growth. Here are a few more general tips:

• Be Patient and Positive: Developmental milestones are guidelines, not strict deadlines. Celebrate small successes, and don’t worry if your toddler doesn’t hit every milestone at the exact expected time.

• Offer Choices: Give your toddler simple choices, like choosing between two snacks or which toy to play with. This fosters independence and decision-making skills.

• Limit Screen Time: Engage your toddler in hands-on activities rather than too much screen time.

• Encourage Curiosity: Answer your toddler’s endless “why” questions with patience and enthusiasm. This curiosity is essential for cognitive development.

Every child’s developmental journey is unique, but with your support, patience, and encouragement, your toddler can reach important milestones in their own time. By understanding these stages and providing age-appropriate activities and guidance, you help build a strong foundation for their growth and future learning.