Important milestones for your toddler

The toddler years are busy ones for a child. You will see amazing changes in intellectual, emotional and physical capabilities. You’ll probably also have questions about your toddler’s development. Just what can you expect as your child leaves the infant years behind and moves towards preschool? Northpoint Pediatrics, with offices in Indianapolis and Noblesville has some guidelines for you.

Important toddler milestones

As a child progresses through the ages of 1, 2 and 3 years old, they develop an ever-growing array of skills. Fine and gross motor skills. Social skills. Thinking skills. You will see advances in all of these areas with your toddler. In general, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes the following key milestones for ages 1-3:

Physical Skills

• Walks alone
• Pulls toys behind when walking
• Begins to run
• Stands on tiptoe
• Kicks a ball

Social/Emotional Skills

• Imitates behavior of others
• Aware of herself as separate from others
• Enthusiastic about company of other children

Thinking Skills

• Finds objects even when hidden 2 or 3 levels deep
• Sorts by shape and color
• Plays make-believe

Wondering what else you can expect? We highly recommend the resources found on the AAP’s Healthy Children website. They have articles related to all ages and stages of children. And charts showing common physical, social and sensory milestones. Learn more about toddler development from the AAP.

Developmental delays in toddlers

If you have concerns about your child’s development, raise them with your doctor at your child’s well-child visit. Your doctor can complete a formal developmental screen to look at specific areas of development such as language/communication, problem-solving, social-emotional, and fine and gross motor skills.

You might also like:

• Importance of vision screening in young children
• Healthy snacks for toddlers
• What to look for when hiring a babysitter
  
  

  Check out our app NP PEDS MD for further information and home care advice.

Toddler developmental screening is part of the routine at Northpoint Pediatrics

Our well-child visits are more than just a chance to measure the height and weight of your child. These visits are an important opportunity for your pediatrician to get to know your child and establish their developmental history.

Schedule your well-child visit.