Your child at 18 to 24 months

What should my child be learning?

Gross Motor Skills: Big body movements

• Run well.
• Walk on stairs, putting both feet on each step.  Use a wall or railing for help.
• Scoot on a riding toy with no pedals.
• Jump.
• Throw a ball. 
• Climb onto an adult size chair or couch, then turn around and sit down.
• Squat while playing for a long time without losing balance.
• Kick a large ball forward.

Fine Motor Skills: Hands and fingers

• Build a tower with 3 to 5 blocks.
• Turn individual pages of a book. 
• Put three simple shapes in a shape sorter or puzzle board.
• Pick up tiny objects using the tips of fingers and thumb.
• Put small items, like cereal or raisins, in a container that gets narrow at the top.
• Use fingers and thumb to hold crayons.
• Scribble with a crayon. Try to copy circles and lines drawn by an adult.
• String 1 to 3 one-inch beads.
• Cut a piece of paper using scissors.

Language and social development

• Use single words.
• Copy new words.
• Play alone for longer periods of time.
• Point to 2 to 6 body parts when asked.
• Follow 1 to 2 step verbal instructions.  For example, “Get your shoes and bring them to me.”
• Grab, push, or pull others to communicate.
• Pretend play using toys that looks like real objects. For example, use a play telephone or play food.
• Test limits and want to control others.
• Remember where items belong. They know what is theirs and say “mine.”
• Chew thoroughly with rotary jaw movements.
• Hold a cup with one hand. No longer use a bottle.
• Play with food.

Sensory processing: Understanding sights, sounds, tastes, touch, smell and body movement

• Enjoy rough and tumble play.
• Become easily frustrated.
• Can be jealous of attention given to others.
• Have many different emotional expressions.
• Like getting messy while playing with food, paints, play dough, and sand.

How can I help my child?

Gross motor skills

• Spend time outdoors at parks and playgrounds. 
• Let your child roll and tumble in the grass. Pretend to be different animals. Help your child swing, slide, climb and jump.
• Give your child a riding toy without pedals.
• Play with balls. Have your child practice throwing, catching, and kicking.
• Use beanbags and a target. Have your child throw the beanbags overhand and underhand at the target.
• Jump over a chalk or tape line on the ground.

Fine motor skills

• Have your child sit in the sandbox with shovels and pails. Show how to pour sand into a pail. Have your child do it.
• Have your child sit on the floor or at a low table with their feet touching the floor. Give your child paper and crayon. Your child should pick up the crayon and scribble without being told. After 1 to 2 minutes, get your child’s attention. Make lines and circles. Have your child make these same strokes.  
• Put small plastic shapes and a bowl in front of your child. Show your child how to put the objects into the bowl using your fingertips and thumb. Then have your child do it.
• Help your child put Cheerios® onto a straw.
• Play together with small toy animals, trucks and pretend play sets.
• Use a child’s scissors to show your child how to cut a piece of paper. Put their hands around the scissors and cut the paper. Repeat. Let your child practice without help.
• String blocks and play with shape sorters.

Language

• Talk to your child. Explain what you are doing. Ask a question and wait for an answer.
• Play simple matching games. Match an object to a picture or to a group of similar objects.
• Read books with your child. Ask your child to point to pictures or actions in the book.
• Sing songs that include actions, such as “Itsy, bitsy spider”.
• Ask your child to name items or people they know. When games and play are over, have your child help put toys away. Sing a song to make it fun. Praise your child for cleaning up. 

Sensory skills

• Offer toys with different textures. Try squishy toys or toys that can be molded, like Play-doh™. Have your child poke, smash, twist, and pull the play dough. Be near so your child will not eat it. 
• Put your child on a rocking horse or swing. Stay with your child to keep them safe.
• Have your child run, jump and climb. Make a mountain of pillows or bean bags to climb.

Toys for Children from 18 to 24 months of age

• Picture and simple story books
• Shape sorters
• Balls
• Pop-up toys
• Blocks
• Ride on toys with no pedals
• Crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk
• Carts or wagons to push and pull
• Toy versions of real-life items such as phones, tools, dolls, and kitchen play sets
• Simple puzzles
• Musical toys