Toddler development: in a nutshell

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Development is a journey, not a race. Your toddler will probably develop in fits and starts. One week, he may proudly learn to kick a ball and name three body parts. Then nothing happens for a while. The development process soon kick-starts again.

What your toddler may be doing

All children develop at different rates. Your toddler may dawdle with some milestones. Don’t worry, they nearly always catch up. You know your toddler best so if you are worried about his development, speak to your GP or baby health nurse.

Below is a guide to some of the milestones for children aged 1-3. For more detailed month-by-month information, see What your toddler may be doing. You will also find advice on when to seek help about a toddler’s late development.

By 12 months, he can:

• pull up to standing position
• get into a sitting position
• cruise (move from place to place, always holding on)
• clap hands (play pat-a-cake)
• indicate wants in ways other than crying

By 18 months, he can:

• use two words (by 16½ months)
• drink from a cup

By 2 years, he can:

• take off an article of clothing
• 'feed’ a doll
• build a tower of four cubes 
• identify two items in a picture by pointing (by 23½ months)

By 2½ years, he can:

• use 50 words or more
• combine words (by about 25 months)
• follow a two-step command without gestures (by 25 months)

By 3 years, he can:

• identify four pictures by naming
• wash and dry hands (just more than three years of age)
• identify a friend by naming
• throw a ball overhand
• speak and be understood half the time
• carry on a conversation of two or three sentences
• use prepositions (by, to, in, on top of)

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  By Raising Children Network

  Toddler development is a gradual journey, not a race. All children develop at different rates.

  General milestones for toddler development

  • 12 months: toddlers can sit and stand by themselves, move around if holding on to a support, clap hands, and communicate without crying.
  • 18 months: they can use two words and drink from a cup.
  • 2 years: they can remove an article of clothing, ‘feed’ a doll, build a tower of four cubes, and identify two items in a picture by pointing.
  • 2½ years: they can use 50 words or more, combine words, and follow a two-step command without gestures.
  • 3 years: they can identify four pictures by naming, wash and dry their hands, identify a friend by name, throw a ball underhand, and have a conversation of two or three sentences.

  This article is an extract only. For more information, visit raisingchildren.net.au/development/toddlers_development.html.

  Sourced from the Raising Children Network's comprehensive and quality-assured Australian parenting website www.raisingchildren.net.au.