Toddlers Timeline

By eknode

  • Birth

  • 13-15 Months: Physical

    • May stand alone without support for a short time.
    • Takes steps while holding onto parents' hands.
    • Can sit in small chair for a short time.
    • May climb out of crib, high chair, or stroller.
    • Has improved grasping skills.

  • 13-15 Months: Cognitive

    • Notices actions of other children and adults. Loves mimic all actions.
    • Explores different features of objects as if studying them.
    • Has very short memory and almost no forethought.
    • Slowly increases vocabulary to four to six words.
    • May use sounds to indicate specific objects.

  • 16-18 Months: Physical

    • May be able to walk sideways.
    • Stands on either foot with support.
    • Pushes and pulls large toys around the floor.
    • May show hand preference in all activities.
    • Adds hand gestures to spoken language.

  • 16-18 Months: Cognitive

    • Gradually refines concepts.
    • Remembers where objects belong.
    • Begins to figure things out through thought process.
    • Vocabulary increases to six to ten words.
    • Uses words instead of gestures to express some wants, such as "up" or "cookies."

  • 19-21 Months: Physical

    • Walks sideways and backwards.
    • Walks up and down stairs with help.
    • Responds rhythmically to music with whole body.
    • Holds two objects in hand easily.
    -Holds container in one hand, puts small objects into it with other hand, then dumps the objects out.

  • 19-21 Months: Cognitive

    • Processes from simple imitation to imaginative play.
    • Can remember familiar objects without seeing them.
    • Can obtain familiar objects from different room when asked.
    • Has vocabulary of about 20 words.
    • Enjoys labeling objects and parts of body.

  • 22-24 Months: Physical

    • Walks with more coordination and assurance.
    • Bounces and sways in simple dancing movements.
    • Lacks ability to start efficiently or stop quickly while running.
    • Shows increased coordination and smoother hand and finger movements.
    • Can put several blocks together to make a train or stack them to build a tower.

  • 22-24 Months: Cognitive

    • Becomes interested in the outcome of activities rather than just the activities themselves.
    • Becomes interested in the precise placement of objects; enjoys form boards and simple puzzles.
    • Is curious about objects in environment; feels, squeezes, pulls and pushes objects.
    • Has vocabulary of 50 or more words.
    • Is able to ask for things using simple words.

  • 24-30 Months: Physical

    • Improves motor skills as torso lengthens and baby fat begins to disappear.
    • Enjoys running but is unable to measure sudden stops. May collide with other people or obstacles.
    • Climbs everywhere indoors, even in forbidden places.
    • Opens doors by turning knobs.
    • Can remove wrapping from gum and candy.

  • 24-30 Months: Cognitive

    • Becomes increasingly interested in children's TV shows.
    • Understands cause and effect in terms of own behavior.
    • Is better able to plan a play activity and carry it out.
    • Vocabulary starts at 200 words and increases to 500 or more in this period.
    • Refers to self by name; then learns to use pronouns.

  • 30-36 Months: Physical

    • Likes to be in constant motion, running or walking sideways or backward.
    • Enjoys games involving running.
    • Goes up stairs by alternating feet, but goes down one foot at a time.
    • Turns doorknobs with greater strength.
    • Scribbles and draws circles as well as horizontal and vertical lines.

  • 30-36 Months: Cognitive

    • Begins to classify objects into general categories.
    • Uses symbolic representation in make-believe play.
    • Tries new play activities to discover more about how things work.
    • Vocabulary starts at about 500 words and increases to 900 or 1000 in this period.
    • Creates two- to three- word sentences, including verbs.