Although there are developmental markers for toddlers, children develop skills at their own pace. Milestones should be used as a guide, but do not necessarily indicate that a child is behind or ahead developmentally. In order to help children accomplish age-appropriate tasks, take opportunities to let them explore, play and try new things. Speak with your pediatrician if you have concerns about your child's development.
Motor Skills
Toddlers at 18 months of age can typically build structures using two to four blocks, feed themselves with a spoon, scribble and turn several pages in a book at a time, according to Medline Plus. Some children this age may be able to brush their teeth with help from an adult or remove an article of clothing. To encourage developing motor skills, give toddlers opportunities to try new things. For example, offer them crayons and paper on a routine basis.
Physical Development
At age 18 months, toddlers can typically run, climb onto low furniture and walk up stairs when holding the hand of an adult. Frequent falls and a lack of coordination are common, according to Medline Plus, and simply indicate the need to practice physical skills. Children this age might also begin climbing out of cribs and high chairs, according to the New Parents Guide. Toddlers at this stage usually walk well and enjoy dancing to music.
Language and Cognitive Development
Toddlers at 18 months typically have a vocabulary of 10 to 12 words, and often babble in attempts to mimic adult conversation, according to the Baby Center. Other developmental markers include the ability to listen to a story, look at pictures, point to and identify common objects and imitate adults, according to Medline Plus. You can encourage these skills by playing identification games with your toddler, reading short stories and providing words for objects when he points.
Social and Emotional Development
At age 18 months, toddlers are curious about other children. Toddlers enjoy being around other children, but might not be ready to engage in play cooperatively, according to the Baby Center. Parallel play, where your child plays near but not with other children, is typical for children this age. According to the Baby Center, "if your child pushes, pokes, or hits his playmates," this is normal behavior. Redirect a child who poses a threat to another child, but continue to give her future opportunities to interact with other children and her social skills well develop over time.
Activities
Nurture toddler development by providing safe, fun learning opportunities on a daily basis. According to Medline Plus, toddlers need opportunities to build and create, to participate in household chores and to use age-appropriate tools. Medline Plus recommends that you make sure your child has opportunities to run, climb and dance, and that you monitor "the type and amount of television watched."
