Wondering if your toddler’s development is on track? Toddler development can be grouped into four areas: language & communication, physical, cognitive, and social & emotional development.
Toddlers will develop individually but should generally master milestones by certain ages. The charts below give developmental milestones of 18 month olds, 2 year olds, and 3 year olds.
It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the milestones that coincide with your little one’s age. This will help you see if your child is developing at a normal rate and also give you insight into your toddler’s current behavior.
When you look at toddler development by age, you see that what parents may classify as troublesome toddler behavior may actually be developmental milestones.
Read : Tips for dealing with Toddler Crying
Take tantrums for example, which are actually a social & emotional milestone of 18 month olds. Or notice that the defiant behavior seen in the “terrible twos” is another social & emotional milestone for age two.
18 Month Milestones
| Language & Communication | Physical | Social & Emotional | Cognitive |
| Can say several single words | Eats with spoon | May have temper tantrums | Can point to 1 body part |
| Can say “no” and shake head no | Walks | Will Show affection to familiar people | Can follow a 1-step command Ex: Stand up |
| Points at objects to show what he/she wants | Can pull toys while walking | Can play simple pretend:like caring for doll | Knows what ordinary things are like shoes, plate, shirt |
| Can drink from cup | Explores alone, but with a parent near | Can scribble without help |
2 Year Old Milestones
| Language & Communication | Physical | Social & Emotional | Cognitive |
| Can point to objects when they are named | Can climb on/off furniture without help | Copies others (like adults & older children) | Starts to sort colors & shapes |
| Knows names of familiar people and body parts | Begins to run | Shows defiant behavior | Builds towers of 4 or more blocks |
| Can say sentences with 2-4 words | Can throw ball overhanded | Plays by other children, and includes them in some games like “chase” | Plays simple make-believe games |
| Can follow simple instructions | Stands on tiptoes | Shows increasing amount of independence | Can follow 2 step instructions Ex:Pick up ball and put it in bucket |
| Can copy or make straight lines and circles |
3 Year Old Milestones
| Language & Communication | Physical | Social & Emotional | Cognitive |
| Can name most familiar things | Can pedal a tricycle | Shows concern for crying friend | Plays pretend with dolls, animals, people |
| Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of what’s been said | Can run well | May get upset with major routine change | Turns book one page at a time |
| Can name a friend | Climbs well | Separates easy from Mom & Dad | Builds tower of 7+ blocks |
| Can use words like “I”, “you”, “me”, “we” and some plurals | Walks up and down stairs one foot on each step | Shows friends affection without prompting | Turns door knobs or screws & unscrews jar lids |
| Says first name, age, gender | Shows a wide range of emotions | Copies a circle with pencil or crayon | |
| Does 3-4 piece puzzles |