Typical Toddler Development

Each of the stages of a child's life has its own unique characteristics and developmental milestones. Though every child is different, learning about the characteristics and milestones can help a person to know what to expect from his own children or those with whom he works. Knowledge of toddler development can be particularly important not only for parents but also for those who work in early childhood education.

Identification

• A toddler is a child who has learned to walk or is in the process of learning to walk. The word "toddler" is typically used to describe a child who is 13 months to 2 years old. However, the toddler period is mostly defined as a stage of growth and development rather than a specific age.

Mood

• Mood swings are a normal part of toddler development. A child may seem completely content one moment and then become angry, negative or sad with little provocation. Many children at this stage of development have temper tantrums. This can be very frustrating for parents. However, parents may feel better knowing that such behavior is often merely the result of the toddler's desire to become more independent. Often, they become frustrated because they want to do things on their own, but lack the skills to do so at this age. This includes both physical things and language skills necessary for self-expression.

Play

• Children at this age may find it difficult to share with other children. By nature, toddlers tend to be self-focused and interested in what they need and want most. At this age, children typically do not engage in interactive play with other children. Though, they may appear to play with other children, they are often simply playing alongside them. This is referred to as parallel play.

Physical

• Children experience rapid growth in infancy, and that may slow down some in the toddler stage. Toddlers tend to consume less food, though they eat frequently. Many toddlers are able to walk on their own, without someone supporting them, by the time they are about 14 months old. They often develop increased prowess with eating by themselves and are able to drink from a cup--with some assistance. However, spilling drinks and dropping food is still normal and expected. At this age, children are able to scribble on paper and stack a few blocks. Before 2 years old, many toddlers learn to walk backward and walk up stairs.

Intellect

• Toddlers are typically very curious. They are usually able to point to things they want and name things and people with who they are most familiar. During the toddler stage, many children learn to name parts of the body. They say "no" frequently, and can often say "me" and "mine." They develop increasing vocabularies and begin to make small sentences. They enjoy pretending and are typically very active. Children at this age also have short attention spans.