Milestones for toddlers
As your baby blossoms into a toddler, you’ll start to see them grow and change into a little individual.
They will start to walk, speak, and develop new, complex, and challenging emotions.
Developmental milestones are a guide, and every child is different in their development. These milestones check how your child is growing and help find possible problems early. The milestones do not consider how disability or impairment can affect the way a toddler learns, moves, speaks, or interacts with others.
Children have sensitive periods for development. Early assessment and intervention is essential to ensure the best outcome for your child.
- If you think your child is not meeting a milestone for their age, share your concerns with your local doctor or family health nurse.
- They will provide opportunities for early assessment and support if there is an area your toddler might need some help with.
- Below are a few milestones to consider.
Movement
Gross motor skills use larger muscles in the body to help your child perform basic movements such as walking, running, and jumping.
Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the wrist, hand, fingers, and even toes. They help your toddler interact with the world in more detail.
Between 12 to 18 months, your toddler will start to:
- take their first steps before walking comfortably with no support
- climb on and off couches or chairs without help
- play with toys that use pushing and pulling motions
- scribble with crayons or pencils
- drink from an open cup with fewer spills.
Between 18 to 24 months, your toddler will start to:
- run
- kick a ball
- walk up steps rather than climbing.
Between 2 to 3 years, your toddler will start to:
- dress themselves, or at least try to
- climb up and down ladders and playground equipment
- string large beads onto things such as shoelaces or pipe cleaners
- start to hold a crayon or pencil correctly, using their thumb and forefinger.
Language and communication
Language skills involve the ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, and needs through spoken words.
Between 12 to 18 months, your toddler will start to:
- say three or more words other than mama or dada
- follow simple directions without supporting gestures, for example, handing a toy over when you say, “Please give that toy to me”
- point to familiar objects or people when named, for example, “Where is the puppy dog?”.
Between 18 to 24 months, your toddler will start to:
- put at least two words together, for example, “More milk”
- point to at least two parts of their body when asked to, for example, “Can you point to your nose?” or “Where are your knees?”
- use gestures such as blowing kisses or nodding for yes.
Between 2 to 3 years, your toddler will start to:
- talk well enough that people outside of the family can understand them, most of the time
- describe still images of movement in a picture book, such as running
- ask the who, what, when, where and why questions, for example, “Where is mummy?”.
Social and emotional
Social and emotional skills refer to your child’s ability to interact positively with others as well as understand and manage emotions appropriately.
Between 12 to 18 months, your toddler will start to:
- explore and move away from their caregivers, but will check to make sure you are still close by
- help you with self-care tasks, such as lifting arms when dressing
- points out something that interests them
- show interest in other children.
Between 18 to 24 months, your toddler will start to:
- notice and respond to emotions, for example, looking sad when someone is hurt or crying
- look at you or other people to figure out how to react in new situations.
Between 2 to 3 years, your toddler will start to:
- notice other children and join them in play that involves turn-taking
- calm down within approximately 10 minutes of being left by a parent or caregiver, like at daycare
- start to mimic day-to-day actions, such as washing or cooking, through imaginative play.