As a toddler transitions from infancy to personhood, she refines her ability to control the muscles involved in daily activities. A toddler's physical skills can develop rapidly: In a matter of a few months to a year, a child may advance from crawling and reaching to running and scribbling. The University of Michigan Health System notes that while most children fall into a broad time line of normal development, each child experiences his own unique pattern of physical development.
Types of Development
During the second and third years of life, toddlers experience advancement in two areas of physical development: fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills, like scribbling and stacking, involve the small groups of muscles found in the hands and fingers. Gross motor skills, which involve the use of the large muscles in the torso, legs and arms, also expand during the toddler years. These skills include key milestones like walking, running and jumping.
Time Frame
Because all children develop differently, no timetable can accurately predict the age at which a child will develop physical skills. Nevertheless, organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Network for Child Care offer guidelines for evaluating physical development in toddlers. NNCC states that most toddlers can walk, remove some articles of clothing, turn pages and stack two blocks by 18 months of age. The AAP additionally notes that a healthy 2-year-old should be able to run, carry a toy and walk up stairs with support.
Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits at several key points during the toddler years. Caregivers should have a toddler's development evaluated at 12 months, 18 months, 24 months and 36 months. If the pediatrician determines that the child's physical development is unusual or delayed, she may refer parents to a child development expert or an early intervention program. Toddlers with delays in gross motor development or fine motor development may benefit from physical therapy or specialized exercises.
Significance
A toddler's physical development may be an indicator of his overall state of neurological and physical health. Many healthy children do not walk until 16 months of age and have no interest in scribbling. However, a delay in physical development may indicate the presence of a medical condition such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Because of this, parents should notify a pediatrician or child development specialist about any concerns relating to a toddler's physical development.
Warning Signs
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes several possible warning signs associated with a toddler's physical development. Healthy toddlers generally walk some time between 9 and 15 months of age; a toddler who does not walk by 18 months of age requires expert evaluation. Children who consistently walk on their toes at any age may have a condition such as cerebral palsy; toddlers should follow a heel-to-toe walking pattern by 2 years of age. A 2-year-old should also be able to push a wheeled toy and throw a ball.
