Babies and Toddlers
Developmental Milestones
An infant between 12
months and 36 months old exhibits a number
of changes that form part of its process of development. The following
series
of observations focuses on that particular time span, and highlights
those
changes that may be classified as a “milestone.” It will consider what
may be
defined as an average child covering specific time periods within this
development phase.
Age - 24 to 36 Months
Physical
Climbing onto a
chair and walking up stairs will now have progressed into a more
advanced form
of mobility, including the development of climbing skills over and
above
domestic challenges.
The ability to
hold a spoon and feed itself will have now been extended to the
dexterous
handling of small objects, such as the components of a jigsaw puzzle.
By now, the
child’s need for independence and self awareness will be further
displayed in
its requirement to be able to dress itself, no matter the difficulty
posed by
shoe laces and buttons, amongst other things.
Mental
The vocabulary of
spoken words will have now increased from 20-50, a few months ago, to
the
ability to speak coherently in actual sentences.
There will now be
a natural desire and eagerness to learn new words and their meaning,
including
the names of people and places.
The child will
now be aware of everyday actions and will be in a position to
anticipate them,
such as the opening of the curtains.
Recently, the
child was sorting its toys whilst exhibiting a form of methodology
which has
now moved on to an imaginative display and interaction with its toys or
other
precious mementos.
Involvement in
everyday occurrences may now be extended to an interaction with the
immediate
environment, such as trying to sing along with music.
Emotional
Role playing in
games will now have identified the existence of both genders especially
in the
minds of only children.
Self awareness
will now have moved on to the next level in which the child will have
an
opinion and express preferences, such as in the choice of clothes and
forms of
entertainment.
During this
development phase, the child experiences a
growing interaction with its peers. This is particularly noticeable in
respect
of participation in a variety of games in which it will learn the
involvement
of taking its turn in a structured fashion. As a result, such
interactions will
enhance the child’s social standing within the contact groups.
The infant should be fully aware by now that objects
continue to exist even when they are no longer
visible, e.g. putting a toy in a box and closing the lid so the child
can no
longer see it.
This is an example
of object permanence, which is a measure of the development in the
child’s
intelligence.
Babies
and Toddlers – How To Succeed
Peter
Radford writes Articles with Websites on a
wide range of subjects. Babies and Toddlers
Articles cover Care, Infant
Development Milestones During The
Initial 12-36 Months.
His Website contains
over 180 Babies
and Toddlers Articles
View his Website
at: babies-and-toddlers-how-to-succeed.com
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