Overview
The toddler developmental timeline shows what an average toddler can do at what age. Times vary greatly from child to child. It is common for some toddlers to master certain skills (such as walking) well before other skills (like talking). Even close siblings can vary greatly in the time taken to achieve each key milestone.
| Age |
Physical |
Mental |
Emotional |
| 12–14 months |
- Walk alone well.
- Drink from a cup (poorly).
- Turn pages in a book (a few at a time).
- Play ball by rolling or tossing it.
|
- Uses one or two syllable words such as "ball" or "cookie"
- Can follow a simple command with an associated gesture, such as: bringing a cup to you when you point at it and say "Please bring me the cup".
|
- Use gestures or words to convey objects, such as: Pointing at a book, raising arms to be picked up, or saying "cup".
- Mimic actions such as covering eyes while playing Peekaboo.
|
| 15–18 months |
- Hold a crayon well enough to scribble.
- Lift cup up to mouth for drinking.
- Climb onto furniture.
|
- Uses 10–20 words.
- May be able to follow a command without a gesture.
- Stack two blocks.
|
- Address others with greetings.
- Mimic parental activities such as cleaning up or talking on a telephone.
|
| 19–24 months |
- Feed self with a spoon.
- Run.
- Climb into a small chair.
- Walk up steps.
- Helps with dressing: Likes to dress and undress self.
|
- Speaks 20–50 words; understands many more
- Stack six blocks
- Understands non-physical relationships such as turning on lights or pushing buttons.
- Sorting toys.
- Searching for hidden objects.
- Problem solving through experimentation.
|
- Wants to be independent at times. Will throw a tantrum or possibly say no.
- Mimics social behavior such as hugging a teddy bear or feeding a doll.
- Self recognition.
- Displays attachment.
- Separation anxiety.
- Can play turn-taking games.
- Begins to be ready for toilet learning
|
| 25–36 months |
- Advanced mobility and climbing skills.
- Increased dexterity with small objects, puzzles.
- Able to dress oneself.
|
- Speaking in sentences.
- Ability to be independent to primary care giver.
- Easily learns new words, places and people's names.
- Anticipates routines.
- Toilet learning continues
- Plays with toys in imaginative ways.
- Attempts to sing in-time with songs.
|
- Knows boys from girls.
- Shows preferences, such as clothes and entertainment.
- Knows how to play different games.
|