Downloadable Files

DEVELOPMENT

Daily Activities:

Constant motion and tires easily
Runs and climbs
Walks up and down stairs alone
Begins to tiptoe
Builds a tower of 3-5 blocks
Progresses from random scribbling to somewhat more controlled movements
Begins to button and unbutton
Greater independence in toilet needs
Difficulty settling down for bedtime

Emotional:

Easily gets upset and impatient
Shows anger by crying or striking out
Becomes frustrated when not understood
Wants own way
Asserts self by saying ‘no’ to everything
Reverts to baby behavior at times
Gets upset when daily routine changes
Shows sharp mood changes

Social:

Imitates considerable realism
Becomes more interested in siblings
Knows gender
May have an imaginary playmate
Plays among, not with, other children
Does not share
Claims everything is ‘mine’
May scratch, hit, bite and push others

Mental:

Dramatically increases interest in language
Begins using 3-5 word phrases
Is in the ‘do-it-myself’ stage
Cannot be reasoned with much of the time
Cannot choose between alternatives

FEEDING

Family meals are important for your child. Letting your child eat with you makes him feel like part of the family. Don’t make mealtime a battle. Let your child feed themselves. Your toddler will continue to improve using the spoon, with fewer and fewer spills. It is good to let your child choose what foods to eat. Be sure to give him/her only nutritious foods to choose from. Now is the time to switch from whole milk to 2% milk, unless having trouble with gaining weight. Your child should be completely off of a bottle.

TOLIET TRAINING

When your child starts reporting that they are wet or soiled diapers to you, this is a sign that your child prefers to be dry. Praise your child for telling you. Toddlers are naturally curious about other people using the bathroom. If your child seems curious, let him go to the bathroom with you. It is important not to put too many demands on the child or shame the child about toilet training. When your child does use the toilet, let him/her know how proud you are.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Childproof your home. Go through every room in your house and remove anything that is valuable, dangerous or messy. Preventative childproofing will stop many possible discipline problems. Don’t expect a child not to get into things just because you say no.

Divert and substitute. If a child is playing with something you don’t want him/her to have, replace it with another object or toy that he enjoys.

Teach and lead. Have as few rules as necessary and enforce them. These rules should be rules important for the child’s safety. If a rule is broken, after a short and clear explanation, punish immediately by having the child sit alone for 2 minutes.

Be consistent with discipline. Don’t make threats that you cannot carry out. If you say you are going to do it, do it.

Books recommended: 1-2-3 Magic

Brushing teeth 2x daily

SAFETY TIPS

Avoid Burns and Fires

Practice your fire escape plan.
Check your smoke detectors. Replace batteries if necessary.
Check food temperatures carefully.
Never allow smoke near your baby.
Keep hot appliances and cords out of reach.
Keep all electrical appliances out of the bathroom.
Keep matches and lighters out of reach.
Don’t let your child use the stove, microwave, hot curlers or the iron.
Turn the water heater down to 120°F (50°C)

Car Safety

Use an approved toddler car seat correctly.
Sometimes toddlers may not want to be placed in car seats. Gently, but consistently, put your child into the car seat every time you ride in the car.
Never leave your child alone in the car.
Parents should always wear seat belts.

Pedestrian Safety

Hold onto your child when you are around traffic.
Provide a play area where balls and riding toys cannot roll into the street.
Continuously watch your child around any water.
Teach your child not to climb on furniture or cabinets.
Lock doors to dangerous areas like the basement.

NO WORRIES

Each child is unique. It is therefore difficult to describe exactly what should be expected at each stage of a child’s development. While certain behaviors and physical milestones tend to occur at certain ages, a wide spectrum of growth and behavior for each is normal. These guidelines are offered as a way of showing a general progression through the developmental stages rather than as fixed requirements for normal development at specific ages. It is perfectly natural for a child to attain some milestones earlier and others later than the general trend. Keep this in mind as you review these milestones.

SCREENINGS