Year 2

• Starts walking independently

• Attempts to run, or runs with stiff posture

• Squats down to pick something up

• Crawls up stairs and creep back down

• Seats self on small chair

• Pulls a toy behind themselves while walking

• Throws underhand when sitting

• Points to pictures in books

• Builds a tower using 2 blocks

• Uses hands together to hold a toy at the middle of their body

• Scribbles with a crayon

• Points with their pointer finger

• Holds their own cup and drink, with some spilling

• Feeds themselves using a spoon, with some spilling

• Removes their own socks

• Puts her hat on their head

• Points to pictures in books

• Builds a tower using 2 blocks

• Uses their hands together to hold a toy at the middle of their body

• Scribbles with a crayon

• Points with their pointer finger

• Holds their own cup and drink, with some spilling

• Feeds themselves using a spoon, with some spilling

• Removes their own socks

• Puts their hat on their head

• Recognizes their name

• Understands “no”

• Understands simple instructions

• Points and gestures to call attention to an event or to show what they want

• Imitates (copies) familiar words

• Waves goodbye and plays Pat-a-Cake

• Uses “mama” and “dada” and several other words, usually names of objects or people

• Attempts to communicate by mixing jargon with real words (e.g. babbling that sounds like real words)

• Vocalizes for enjoyment

• Points to show you something

• Points to a few body parts when asked, ie: “Where’s your mouth?”

• Imitates animal sounds

• Begins to show sense of humor

• Plays best on their own; doesn’t want to share toys with others

• Eats ground, mashed, or chopped table foods (including soft pieces of meat) by 15 months

• Uses their tongue well to move food from side to side in the mouth

• Loses a bit of food or saliva out of the mouth while chewing

• Bites foods well

• Eats coarsely chopped table foods, including meats and raw vegetables by 18 months

• Sometimes chew with lips closed

• Drinks from a cup well without losing liquid out of her mouth by 18 months

• Feeds themselves using a spoon, dropping some food off the spoon

• Starts to refuse some foods

• Recognizes themselves in the mirror or photograph and smile or make faces at herself

• Begins to say ‘no’ to bedtime and other requests

• Imitates adults’ actions and words (e.g. chores)

• Understands words and commands, and responds to them

• Hugs and kiss parents, familiar people, and pets

• Brings things to “show” other people

• Begins to be helpful around the house

• Begins to feel jealousy when she is not the center of attention

• Shows frustration easily

• May play next to another child, but will not really share until 3 or 4 years of age

• Be able to play alone for a few minutes

• Reacts to changes in daily routines

• Shares a piece of food

• Develops a range of emotions (may have tantrums, show aggression by biting, etc)

• Starts to assert independence by preferring to try to do things “by myself”, without help

• Recognizes themselves in the mirror

• Begins to say ‘no’ to bedtime and other requests

• Enjoys dancing to music

• Imitates adults’ actions and words (e.g. chores)

• Understands words and commands, and respond to them

• Begins to match similar objects

• Recognizes and find familiar objects in storybooks with some help

• Understands the difference between “you” and “me”

• Feels proud when doing things independently

• Helps with getting dressed/undressed

• Has a regular sleep schedule

• Eats an increasing variety of foods

• Walks up and down the stairs while holding your hand

• Runs fairly well

• Jumps with feet together, clearing the floor

• Jumps down and forwards

• Squats to play

• Stands on tiptoe with support

• Starts to use ride-on toys

• Throws a ball into a box

• Kicks a ball forwards

• Builds a tower with 4-6 blocks

• Puts 4 rings on a stick

• Puts large pegs in a pegboard

• Turns pages of a book, 2 or 3 at a time

• Scribble

• Turns knobs

• Throws a small ball

• Paints on paper using her whole arm to move the paintbrush

• Imitates you drawing a vertical line and a circle (it may not be accurate)

• Begins to string large beads

• Feeds themselves using a fork and spoon

• Pulls up a large zipper

• Starts to hold a crayon with her fingers, usually with her hand at the top of the crayon

• Puts large shapes into a shape sorter

• Uses 10 - 20 different words

• Starts to combine 2 words (e.g. baby sleep)

• Uses words to make needs and wants known, like "more", "up", "juice"

• Imitates sounds and words more clearly

• Points to objects and/or uses gestures to show or direct attention to something

• Points to own toes, eyes and nose

• Brings an object from another room when asked (follows 1-part directions)

• Sings simple songs

• Mixes real words and jargon

• Practices words over and over on their own (e.g. while playing in their bed etc.)

• Swallows well from a cup with good lip closure around cup and no loss of liquid

• Swallows food well with good lip control and no loss of food

• Chews with jaw movements that go round and round, as well as up/down and side to side

• Knows the difference between food and non-food items

• Scoops foods with a spoon, with some spills

• Starts to stab food with a fork and get it to mouth

• Starts to show clear likes and dislikes of some foods

• Recognizes themselves in the mirror or photograph and smile or make faces at herself

• Begins to say ‘no’ to bedtime and other requests

• Imitates adults’ actions and words (e.g. chores)

• Understands words and commands, and responds to them

• Hugs and kisses parents, familiar people and pets

• Brings things to “show” other people

• Begins to be helpful around the house

• Begins to feel jealousy when she is not the center of attention

• Shows frustration easily

• May play next to another child, but will not really share until 3 or 4 years of age

• Be able to play alone for a few minutes

• Reacts to changes in daily routines

• Shares a piece of food

• Develops a range of emotions (may have tantrums, show aggression by biting, etc)

• Starts to assert independence by preferring to try to do things “by myself”, without help

• Recognizes themself in the mirror

• Begins to say ‘no’ to bedtime and other requests

• Enjoys dancing to music

• Imitates adults’ actions and words (e.g. chores)

• Understands words and commands, and responds to them

• Begins to match similar objects

• Recognizes and finds familiar objects in storybooks with some help

• Understands the difference between “you” and “me”

• Feels proud when doing things independently

If you notice or are concerned about some of the following things about your baby, you may want to talk to your physician or another health professional.

• Not meeting developmental milestones

• Walks on their toes all the time

• Excessively clumsy

• Something appears wrong with legs and/or feet

• Complains of persistent pain or fatigue

• Skills are regressing

If you notice some of the following things about your chilg by the time she is 18 months old, you may want to talk to your doctor, or to another health professional such as an occupational therapist.

• Not able to use a pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger) to pick up small objects

• Does not point at things using his pointer finger (e.g. pictures in a book)

• Not able to put things into containers

• Not able to use both hands during play (most children do prefer one hand over the other)

• Movements seem shaky or stiff

• Cannot imitate you drawing a vertical line

If you notice some of the following things about your child by the time she is 24 months old, you may want to talk to your doctor, or to another health professional such as an occupational therapist.

• Still putting lots of toys in his mouth

• Not able to put a simple, large puzzle piece into a wooden puzzle

• Not able to put a simple shape into a shape sorter

• Cannot feed themselves with a spoon

• Cannot stack 2-3 blocks on top of one another

If your 12-18-month-old shows 2 or more of the following, contact a speech-language therapist to ensure your child is not having difficulties with developing communication skills:

• Does not respond consistently to their being called by name

• Does not respond to familiar sounds (phone ringing)

• Does not look at or point to objects and pictures when named

• Does not show or give objects spontaneously

• Does not start a turn-taking game (i.e. lifts up their blanket for peek-a-boo)

• Does not direct others' attention to something by pointing or making eye contact

• Does not use consonant + vowel combinations that others recognize as words, even if they are mispronounced

• Has fewer than 10 words

If your 18-24-month-old shows 2 or more of the following, contact a speech-language therapist to ensure your child is not having difficulties with developing communication skills:

• Does not understand verbal instructions without needing gestures

• Does not copy (imitate) words frequently

• Does not sit for 5 minutes of book reading

• Does not add gestures if their words are not understood by others

• Does not say at least 20 - 50 words

• Does not say a few 2 - word or 3 - word combinations

If your child is showing some of the following signs, it may be helpful to talk to your doctor or another health professional, such as a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist.

•Arching or stiffening of the body during feeding

•Coughing or choking during feeding

•Being very irritable/fussy during or after feeding

•Taking a really long time to feed (more than 30-45 minutes)

•Frequent spitting up

•Getting sick often with pneumonia or chest infections

•Gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice

•Less than normal weight gain or growth

•Lots of leakage of food or liquid from the mouth

•Coughing, gagging or throwing up during or after meals

•Stuffing mouth with food

•Holding food inside pockets in mouth for long periods

•Difficulty accepting new textures of food, avoidance behaviours to specific foods and textures (gagging, vomiting, blocking the spoon with hands or closed lips, crying, pushing food away, etc.)

•Abnormal bowel movements that last longer than a few days (diarrhea, constipation, loose stool)

•Skin reactions to foods (dry patches, hives, rashes) Note: If your child seems to be having a severe allergic reaction to a food (difficulty breathing, turning red, developing hives or rash on the face/chest), you should seek medical help immediately.

If you notice some of the following things by the time your child is 18-24 months old, you may want to talk to your doctor, or to another health professional such as a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or a psychologist.

• Doesn’t imitate other people

• Constantly moves from one activity to another and is not able to stay at an activity for brief periods

• Requires constant attention to stay at an activity

• Doesn’t show any interest in other children

• Doesn’t “show” things to other people

• Extremely “rigid” about routines, becoming extremely upset when they are changed

• Too passive, and doesn’t want to try things other children their age are doing

• Has extreme difficulty waiting for items they wants

If you notice some of the following things by the time your child is 18-24 months old, you may want to talk to your doctor, or to another health professional such as a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or a psychologist.

•Doesn’t understand the function of common objects (e.g. “find something you can eat”, instead of “find a cookie”)

• Doesn’t imitate other people

• Continues to mouth toys, or is only interested in feeling or watching toys instead of playing with them

• Constantly moves from one activity to another and is not able to stay at an activity for brief periods

• Requires constant attention to stay at an activity