16-36 Months

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s growth or development, use this guide to talk with your child’s caregiver, pediatrician, or a teacher at your child’s school.

Toddlers are busy and eager explorers with small bodies and big feelings! Toddlers are trying to do things for themselves but still need to be reassured by the adults in their lives. They are experiencing the world and trying to make sense of it all at the same time. Here is what you can expect to see in the toddler years:

Vocabulary takes off. Toddlers are learning many new words and putting them together.

• 15–18 Months: Uses several single words, such as “bye” or “nite–nite”
• 18–24 Months: Points to several body parts when you name them
• 24–32 Months: Puts several words together, such as “More cookie” or “Go out now”
• 24–32 Months: Uses personal pronouns such as “we,” “they,” and “us”
• 30–36 Months: Uses sentences that are three or four words long
• 30–36 Months: Answers questions such as “What’s this?” when looking at books

Toddlers start using words to interact with parents and other people in their lives. This stage is marked by the frequent use of favorite toddler words: “No,” “Mine,” and “I do it!”

• 18–24 Months: Points to appropriate pictures in a book when asked, “Where’s the ___?”
• 24–32 Months: Starts asking questions about the story you are reading or the things she sees as you go on walks together
• 30–42 Months: Talks about something that happened and waits for your response

On the move! Crawling, dancing, rolling, and running all contribute to a toddler’s growth.

• 12–18 Months: Walks upright more often than he crawls
• 18–24 Months: Can squat down and stand up again with little difficulty
• 24–30 Months: Enjoys climbing on furniture or small climbing structures
• 24–36 Months: Throws a ball or rolls it back and forth with a partner
• 24–36 Months: Runs with ease, and can stop and start easily

Although they often get frustrated, this is a temporary stage. As toddlers develop more language, and an understanding of how things work, their frustrations melt away rather than lead to a melt down.

• 12–18 Months: Cries when another child takes a toy from her
• 18–24 Months: Stacks a set of cardboard boxes, knocks them down, and then stacks them up again
• 18–24 Months: Runs to get her favorite book for you to read at predictable times such as naptime or bedtime
• 24–36 Months: Knows that the rectangle shape belongs in the rectangle–shaped hole in the box and turns it until it fits
• 30–36 Months: Calls for help, instead of hitting, after another child grabs a toy away from him

Toddlers are straightforward, concrete thinkers who truly believe a kiss and hug can make things all better!

• 18–24 Months: Looks worried or sad when another child is crying
• 24–36 Months: Pats another child on the back and says, “It’s all right,” when the other child cries because his mommy just left

Activities

Turn a walk into learning time: Talk about things such as the colors of the leaves or cars, or count the number of dogs you see. Talk and listen. Here’s how: Ask questions about what you see, wait for her reply, and then respond with more information. Your enthusiasm will encourage her to ask her own questions, while introducing her to new words.

• Repeat his words and add to them. If he says, “Bird,” you can say, “Yes, that is a little bird in the tree.”
• Visit your local public library: Check out new books to take home and look at together. Children’s librarians can help you find books and they often host special story times for toddlers. Library cards are free for everyone!

Sing a song!

• Sing songs that help your child learn his body parts, such as “Head, shoulders, knees and toes.” Touch your own head, shoulders, knees, and toes and have your child follow your lead.
• Sing your way through routines: Take a familiar tune, such as “Row, row, row your boat,” and change the words to match your activities, such as “Brush, brush, brush your teeth.”
• Sing to get through boredom or frustration. Waiting for a bus or getting bundled up goes more quickly if you’re singing a favorite tune or making up a silly song. Try, “This is the way we put on our coats, put on our coats, put on our coats, this is the way we put on our coats early in the morning.” You can use it for “brush our teeth, put on our hats, wait for the bus, climb the stairs,” etc. Your child loves repetition, so it’s okay if you only know a few songs and sing them again and again!

Help your child learn new ways to move her body

• Hold her under the arms and “jump” her off the bottom step. Then hold her hand as she tries to do it. In the beginning she may just step off, but eventually she will really jump.
• You can play “catch” with your toddler! Both of you sit on the ground facing each other with your legs apart and toes touching. Roll a ball back and forth to each other.
• Toddlers love to climb! On a walk, stop at a playground and help your child climb safely on the toddler structure.
• Let him finish: Encourage your child to finish tasks you start for him. For example, start to wash his hands, but let him finish rinsing. He can finish zipping his coat, putting a few toys away and so on.

Parenting Tips

• Be patient with your little explorer: Toddlers need to repeat activities many, many times.
• Acknowledge feelings: Give your child words for what he is feeling. “I know you are sad.” He has to know you understand before he can listen to you. Help your child understand how others feel: “Edney feels sad when you take his blocks. Let’s use these ones instead so you can both play.”
• Redirect: Head off a tantrum by offering another activity when you see your child is getting frustrated.
• Choose your words: Your toddler will repeat everything you say. In her presence, use only words you want her to learn and say only things that you don’t mind being repeated to others.
• Get her ready: Before you start a new routine, tell your child what will happen so that she can prepare herself. Use simple words, such as, “Tomorrow we’re going to visit the library for story time.” Keep it simple and be ready to answer her questions.

Can your child share yet?

One year-olds are not ready to “share,” but you can help your child learn to wait and take turns, which will help him prepare for tre sharing when he’s older. Help your child learn how to ask for a turn and wait for his turn. Encourage him to say, “May I have a turn?” and then offer to help him pass the time while he waits, by suggesting another toy or offering to read a short book.