Your toddler’s development: 12 – 24 months

Your toddler’s learning to move in new ways, so they can...

• get around on their own – crawling, shuffling and then walking
• walk backwards
• pull a toy around
• carry a big toy when walking
• bend down to pick something up and stand up again without holding on – though it’s a bit wobbly sometimes
• start to run
• stand on tiptoe
• kick a ball
• walk up and down stairs.

You can help by...

• Understanding that the world is an exciting place when you are growing up – your tot can't wait to find out more about it.
• Making sure surroundings are safe and that you keep an eye out for your toddler as they won't yet have a sense of danger. Our page on making your home safe has lots of tips.
• Realising that going to the shops is a real adventure – your tot may want to climb up steps or stop to climb on a wall. Try to be patient with them and share in the excitement.
• Helping your toddler develop physical skills – for example, by standing a short distance away and letting them walk to you or by helping them come down the stairs safely.
• Giving your wee one toys and other things from around the house that allows them to practise new skills. Our page on choosing toys for one year olds has some suggestions.  

Your toddler’s learning to control their hands and fingers, so they might… 

• pick up tiny things like crumbs between fingers and thumbs
• grasp toys (but find it hard to let go)
• try to put blocks on top of each other
• scribble with a crayon or a marker.

At around 22-24 months they may start to show a preference for using one hand over the other.

You can help by...

• Providing lots of healthy finger foods, so they can feed themselves.
• Giving your little one a spoon to hold during meal times – even though it’ll probably result in a mess.
• Taking your time when you dress them, and letting them put both arms through the sleeves if they want to!
• Offering them paper and crayons so they can experiment, and not getting too upset at your wee one if they scribble on the wallpaper or other places they shouldn’t. If this does happen, calmly explain that paper is for drawing, not the walls, and show them where to find pieces of paper in the future.
• Providing blocks so they can try to build a tower (and playing alongside them).

Visit the NHSGGC website for more ideas and activities to help your wee one develop their hand and finger control.

Your toddler’s figuring out basic concepts, so they might…

• help you while you’re trying to dress them in the morning
• use one thing as something else – so a banana can become an impromptu phone
• recognise themselves in a photo
• start to like being around other people
• want to be like you or a brother or sister
• push, hit or bite in moments of frustration.

You can help by...

• Giving them simple but real jobs to do, like tidying away their toys.
• Giving them lots of praise when they try something new – at this age they love to be the centre of attention!
• Playing games of pretend, but not taking over.
• Letting your child be around you as you do things, like cooking or tidying up.
• Showing your little one family photos and talking about each photo.
• Letting your child have friends around to play – but don’t expect them to understand the concept of sharing. You will need to provide two toy cars! Our page on making friends has some tips that can help.
• Understanding that if your little one lashes out it’s because they have strong feelings. Try showing them better ways to get what they’re after. Our page on coping with parenting has some suggestions.

Between 13 and 18 months your toddler may... 

• start to understand some words, like ‘bye bye’
• start to recognise familiar objects like ball, car or teddy
• say their first words 
• understand many more words than they can say, including the names of everyday objects like furniture, clothing and body parts
• understand some simple questions and instructions like ‘where’s teddy?’ and ‘kiss Mummy’
• use gesture or pointing to show what they want
• copy words and other things adults say or do, like saying ‘hi’, waving bye-bye or clapping
• use a lot of babble and single words while they are playing. They often sound like they are saying little sentences even though you can’t make out what the words are. 

Between 18 and 24 months, your toddler may...

• understand at least 200 words
• understand more simple questions and instructions. For example, ‘where is your shoe?’ and ‘show me your nose’
• understand simple action words (for example, ‘kiss teddy’ or ‘dolly sleep’)
• copy sounds and words a lot
• say 50 or more single words, even though many of these are not very clear yet
• start to put short sentences together with 2-3 words, such as ‘more juice’ or ‘bye nanny’
• ask questions like ‘what’s that?’ or ‘Where going?’  
• make the sounds of familiar animals eg: ‘moo’ for cow. 
• use a more limited number of sounds in their words than adults – often these sounds are p, b, t, d, m, n and w
• still make mistakes with how they say words – families can usually understand their child about half the time at this stage
• sometimes get frustrated if people don’t understand them. 

You can help by...

• getting down to their level
• waiting and watching before joining in
• copying their words and sounds and adding a bit
• talking to them whatever you're doing.

Our page on helping your child with speech and language has more tips.

You can find out more about toddler's speech and language development on the Speech and Language UK website.