Your Child at 19-24 Months

Gross Motor/Large Muscle Development
She will walk down stairs with one hand held.  She will play in a squatting position and move in and out of a squat to a standing position while she is playing.  She may begin to jump in place.  She gets into and out of standing in a variety of ways (pushing into squatting, half-kneels up to her feet).  She will easily climb into an adult chair, turn to sit down and then climb off the chair.  She can run without falling, but running is still a bit awkward.  She can kick a ball forward a few feet.  She may begin to "jump" off a bottom step or a curb, but will land first on one foot, then the other.

Fine Motor/Small Muscle Development
She can independently work a few mechanical toys that take some strength (wind-up music boxes, see-and-say, jack-in-the-box).  She can take apart and put together simple toys (bristle blocks, Duplo Legos, stacking rings, Mr. Potato Head).  She can help put on a few items of clothing, such as pulling shirts over her head, pulling on socks and hats. She can take off things such as unfastened shoes, socks and coats.  She may be curious and interested in fasteners, and attempts to manipulate things such as zippers and snaps.

Cognitive/Social and Language Development
She may begin to make-believe play with toys and objects (cuddling, carrying and tucking in a baby doll).  She will enjoy and engage in some messy explorative activities (finger-paints, Playdough).  She uses foresight in solving problems. If she see a toy on a high shelf out of reach, she will intentionally go get a stool, box, pillow or something to climb on and make herself taller so she can reach the toy.  She will explore new toys independently and is now able to make them work without first being shown.  She remembers where to find specific toys, books, objects and people.  She will claim her own belongings by saying "mine" or clutching them. She refers to herself by names and loves routine in her day.  She plays side by side with her peers (parallel play).  She enjoys rhymes and fingerplays.  She understands and responds appropriately to two simple related requests spoken to her, such as "get your blanket and meet me in your room."  She will "parrot" or repeat words in response to a question, such as "Do you want a cookie?" with "want cookie."  She uses at least 30 words on her own and combines them in two-word sentences--"me go."

Activities for You and Your Toddler

• Give her opportunities to color, scribble and explore. Since there are no right or wrong ways to scribble, she can always feel successful with coloring. Give her crayons, washable markers or chalk, tape a piece of paper on the table or high-chair tray and let her go at it. Hang her pictures up on the refrigerator or a special bulletin board.

• Let her practice using her hands together in coordinated ways to accomplish a task. Let her hold a banana with one hand and peel it with the other. Let her scoop, stir and pour sand with one hand while holding the container with the other. Let her remove paper wrappers from juice jars, Popsicles or granola bars.

• Give her a few "beads" and a string to explore how to thread a needle, and let her practice through trial and error. If she needs help, put the bead on the tip of the string and let her move it down the string. Make a necklace out of the beads she has strung for her to wear and show off.