Dust off your sneakers – life’s about to get even more exciting! Your 18-month-old toddler will be keeping you on your toes as they race around, before having a temper tantrum at the grocery store. This period can be testing, but on the plus side, communication will start to feel like a two-way street. At this age, expect new and complex emotions, pretend play, independence, walking and a lot of new words.
Be mindful that your child is an individual and will develop at their own pace but if you have any concerns about your child’s progress, get them checked out early. Here are some 18-month toddler developmental milestones your child may be working on.
Month 18: Encourage Appropriate Communication
Your 18-month-old toddler will be growing in independence as they wander off without you in the park, but your little explorer is still a baby at heart. Big emotions will be hard for them to handle, so expect laughter closely followed by tears!
Listen to show them their feelings are valid and respond appropriately to encourage communication skills. Here are some other toddler development milestones:
- Delight in showing you things.
- Recognising themselves in a mirror.
- Walking up steps one at a time with help.
- Building a tower using a few blocks.
Month 19: Develop Their Language Skills
At 19 months, your kiddo will be happily chattering away in gobbledygook as they practice speaking. They’ll also be able to say a few words. Help them reach their toddler language milestones by naming objects, describing your actions and giving positive feedback. At this age, they’ll also be interested in:
- Turning the pages of a cardboard book and ‘reading’.
- Looking at you when something happens to see how you react.
- Having the odd tantrum.
- Running away from you!
Month 20: Help Them Learn Through Play
Found your toddler filling the toilet with paper? That’ll be them cunningly combining their physical ability with curiosity. Feed that fizzing mind with lots of play. Set aside some time to play with them each day, while also encouraging them to play independently – this Skip Hop Zoo 3-in-1 Ride On is just the job to keep them entertained!
Your 20-month-old will probably also be able to:
- Remove clothing with support from you.
- Understand simple instructions.
- Be obsessed with steps and climbing up and down them (and of course, you’ll need to help!)
Encouraging motor skills, balance and coordination
Month 21: Encourage Big Kid Skills
Your little one will love copying all the things they see you doing around the house, from vacuuming to doing the dishes. It might seem easier to do everything for your child, but support their development and foster independence by letting them help you ‘cook dinner’. Right now, your 21-month-old will also be:
- Interested in other children and what they are doing.
- Asking for a favorite toy.
- Playing dress up.
Month 22: Nurture Their Creativity
Your toddler will be exploring the world with their newfound sense of curiosity but they’re still far too little to understand danger. Be aware of what they’re up to (what do you mean you don’t have eyes in the back of your head?!).
Keep them out of trouble with some arts and crafts – they’ll love painting, drawing and sticking, which will nurture their creativity, imagination and fine motor skills. This month, your toddler also be:
- Walking and running easily.
- Naming people they know well from pictures.
- Able to put together a simple puzzle.
- Putting items, such as toys, back where they belong.
Month 23: Cultivate A Passion For Reading
Your child’s vocabulary will be exploding. The best way to help them reach their toddler speech milestones is by reading to them. Your toddler will love listening to a familiar story, enjoy looking at the pictures and hearing you do the voices.
Encourage them to pick up a book and ‘read’ independently, fostering a love for reading for years to come. At nearly two years old, you toddler may also be able to:
- Kick a ball.
- Pedal a tricycle.
- Answer simple questions (‘what’s that animal?’).
- Deliberately make you laugh!
Month 24: Keep Them Active
Congratulations, your baby is now two! Well done for keeping up: your 24-month-old will be walking, running and jumping with agility and confidence. Give them plenty of opportunity to race about outside in the yard, at the park, on the beach or in the woods.
Make getting out and about with your toddler a cinch with Liki, the world’s most compact folding trike. Meanwhile, here are some other development milestones to watch out for:
- Manipulating smaller objects.
- Speaking fluently.
- Problem solving.
- Playing in parallel with other kids.
