Learn more about 1 and 2 year old milestones and what to expect during the toddler years.
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Amazing changes happen as kids progress from 1 to 2 year old milestones! Your baby’s nerves and muscles learn to work together and motor skills start to take off!
Toddler development happens right before your eyes as your baby gains balance, confidence, and independence. As toddlers’ brains develop, so does their coordination and motor control.
What are developmental milestones? Click the link to find all of our best resources and information!
Developmental Milestones Printable Pack
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1 and 2 year old Gross Motor Milestones
12 month milestones to 18 month Milestones – Gross Motor
At this age, toddlers are able to sit in a variety of positions on the floor and can stand without support. Sometime between 12 and 24 months, your baby will progress from standing all by herself to learning to walk and she may even start to run!
At this age, your child will also begin to explore by climbing and creeping up and down steps and onto furniture and other surfaces. She may enjoy push toys
Emerging gross motor milestones for 12 to 18 months:
- Sitting and standing without support
- Changing positions and getting up and down from the floor to standing
- Creeping and climbing on stairs and furniture
18 month to 24 month milestones – Gross Motor
Older toddlers become even more adventurous with gross motor exploration as they begin to jump in place with two feet and scoot forward on riding toys. At this age, kids begin to throw a ball overhand and can kick a ball forward too. By 18 to 24 months, babies are usually able to run well (and quickly!) and can also climb and descend stairs with two feet on each step using a railing.
Emerging gross motor milestones for 18 to 24 months:
- Jumping in place
- Throwing a ball overhand
- Running
- Kicking a ball
- Going up and down stairs with 2 feet on each stair
Toddler Development Stages: 1 and 2 year old fine Motor Milestones
12 month to 18 month milestones – Fine Motor
The tiny muscles in your baby’s hands start to gain strength and control during this phase. She will start to scribble with a crayon and can put objects into containers. At this age, babies use both hands actively during play activities. They will point at objects to show you what they’re interested in and they begin to feed themselves with their fingers and holding a spoon.
Emerging fine motor milestones for 12 to 18 months:
- Putting objects into containers
- Using both hands together in play
- Pointing at objects
- Scribbling with a crayon
18 month to 24 month milestones – fine motor
Toddlers at this age begin to demonstrate more control over fine motor movements and can build a tower of a few blocks. They can pick up and release small objects with control and can complete fine motor tasks like a shape sorter
Emerging fine motor milestones for 18 to 24 months:
- Picks up and releases objects
- Builds a small tower with blocks
- Turns pages of a board book
- Imitates simple strokes with a crayon
Learn more about developmental milestones for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers here!
Gross Motor Activities for Toddlers
There are tons of fun and simple ways to promote these 1 and 2 year old milestones in your child! These fun gross motor activities for toddlers are great for keeping kids entertained while challenging skills like balance and coordination!
Fine Motor Activities for Toddlers
These fine motor activities for 2 year olds are the perfect way to strengthen fine motor skills, getting little hands and fingers ready for later-developing skills like holding a pencil and completing clothing fasteners.
Sensory Activities for Toddlers
These sensory activities for toddlers are great for helping kids explore the world using all of their senses – the perfect support to the development of toddler milestones!
Check out free checklist for 12, 15, and 18 month old milestones red flags! This is a great resource to help you observe your child and to document any concerns you might have for your pediatrician or therapist.
Learn more about toddler separation anxiety, a common issue that comes up for many children at this stage of development!
[…] kids ages 2 and 3, it’s all about play! After conquering those milestones of toddler development, by ages 2 to3 kids become increasingly independent and are able to engage in play activities […]