Your 20 month old baby is growing and developing in new ways each day, testing his new knowledge and skills without abandon. As a parent, you're likely eager to see new skills exhibited and milestones reached. While every toddler is an individual and may not develop as quickly or as slowly as other 20 month olds, your toddler should be learning some basic skills each day. You can foster that learning with games, rhymes and demonstrations.
Speech
Your 20 month old should have a vocabulary of 20 to 50 words, according to NewParentsGuide.com. Usually these words are those that she uses on a daily basis, like "mama," "milk" or "cookie." Your toddler will begin to learn around 10 new words a day, which you can encourage by naming things around the house. Take a walk through your home and point out items, clearly saying the name, pointing and encouraging your 20 month old to copy you. She'll also learn to be more assertive with her words, like saying "no!" when she doesn't want to do something.
Receptive Language
Receptive language encompasses the skill to extract language and information from the spoken word and react to it. Your 20 month old should be learning how to follow short and concise directions, like "Pick up your cup," or "Turn on the light," according to the Library of the National Medical Society. He learns what information is necessary in a sentence and learns how to find the instructions. Longer, two or more part instructions, can be confusing to him so help him by breaking up instructions into short, step-by-step sentences.
Physical
Your 20 month old is exploring all of the things that her body can do. By 20 months she'll likely have mastered walking and running, but still runs unsteadily. She should be learning how to play games like throwing or kicking a ball. Her fine motor skills are developing in a way that she can learn to undress herself. She may also engage in undesirable physical behavior like kicking and biting, says BabyCenter.com. It's a good time to teach your toddler about using her body properly and respecting others.
Cognitive
Your 20 month old asks a lot of questions. In fact, his most often-used word may be "Why," because he is trying to learn about the world around him. He works hard at understanding how people, places and things work. It can be exasperating at times, but making the effort to explain things in understandable terms can help your toddler learn. He may not understand the principles of safety, notes the University of Delaware Extension Service, but he'll learn with experience. Playtime can be a valuable time to teach your 20 month old new things through rhymes, games and imaginative play.
