Baby Development 18-24 Months

Many exciting changes will take place during the 18-24 month stage. Your toddler’s balance has improved so that she’s now able to run, climb, play ball and negotiate stairs. Your toddler’s play skills will mature to being able to color, complete simple puzzles and build a multiple block tower. She will start stringing large beads and turning the pages of a book one at a time. Your toddler's pretend play skills are growing. Your toddler is now able to solve simple problems and communicate her needs to you. She can do things like remember where an item belongs and turn the handle of a doorknob to open the door. She has begun to express emotions and understands emotions in others. Language skills and social interaction are increasing at a rapid pace. With practice self feeding and dressing skills will continue to grow .

During this stage offer ride on toys, tunnel games, and encourage jumping. Your toddler should be enjoying the slide and other playground equipment. Continue to offer toys such as Lego, puzzles, and pegboards.  Your toddler will want to play pretend play games with you.  Encourage her interest in shopping, fixing things around the house, or taking care of her baby. Keep up the conversation and sing song games. Encourage labeling of items in the environment. Read to your toddler. Provide sensory play opportunities with bath toys, and varied textures like cookie doughs and containers filled with rice and similar tactile items.  Keep on encouraging the development of independent skills such as feeding and dressing.