Toddlers, like babies, love to explore and learn; their
favorite object happens to be their own body. They also
love to explore body parts like their genitals much
to your disapproval! Your baby's skills and play interests
in other areas grow as well along with her vocabulary
skills once she starts to talk. Language experts opine
that the words they choose fall into well established
categories which reflect their interest. Although skills
growth spirals upwards, physical growth slows down after
the end of the first year - many toddlers show a marked
decrease in appetite.
Intellectual
& Emotional Development
In the early part of the second year, your toddler
is a keen explorer; picking up, studying, testing,
manipulating, maybe still putting things in her mouth.
Cause and effect is her major focus. Toddlers live
in the present and have very little imagination or
abstract thinking as yet. Emotionally your toddler's
world has opened up a long way from the eat-cry-sleep
days; they have more moods, feelings and behaviors.
These changes are part of growing up. The gamut of
emotions includes affection, independence, frustration,
fear, anger, stubbornness, protest, anxiety and puzzlement.
Things your toddler can
do AT THIS STAGE
• pull up to standing position
• get into a sitting position
• cruise
• clap hands
• indicate wants in ways other than crying
Things your toddler will
probably be able to do AT THIS STAGE
• place an object into a container
• imitate activities
• stand alone
• use 1 recognizable word
Things your toddler
may possibly do AT THIS STAGE
• drink from a cup
• use 2 recognizable words
• point to a desired object
• walk well
• scribble
Things your toddler may
even be able to do AT THIS STAGE
• use a fork/spoon (but not exclusively)
• point to 1 body part when asked
• dump an object in imitation
