Baby development (21st to 24th months)

Your baby at 21 to 24 months is able to walk, talk, eat, run and climb with ease and is quite independent. She is able to use zippers, spoons, string beads, and can open doors with doorknobs. She has a stunningly questioning mind, but no knowledge of good or bad, correct or incorrect circumstances.

Let's understand the various aspects of her development at this stage.

Physical Development

• Tries to kick a ball but merely walks onto it.
• Loves to pull along toys on string.
• Picks up tiny objects using a fine hold or grip
• Walks well, goes up and down steps alone, runs, seats self on chair

How can you help?

• Give toys and freedom of space for her to run around and play.
• Take her out to a park to learn about the environment.
• Give her the confidence to play on the swing, the Jungle Gym, climbing frames and in the sandbox.
• Encourage her to play games like throw and catch with soft balls, to increase her co-ordination skills.
• Help her with dressing activities like wearing socks, T-shirts and shorts. These activities will increase her synchronization.

Emotional and Social Development:

• Very curious, but with limited sense of danger.
• Demands a lot of attention.
• Throws tantrums.
• Loves to do household chores.
• Highly possessive, especially with toys.

How can you help?

• Encourage good behavior, be patient, clear and consistent with your rules.
• Praise good behavior, teach through positive reinforcement.
• Make her an active learner by participating in group activities.

Intellectual Development

• Can handle things with care.
• Can recognize people in photographs.
• Can turn pages of a book carefully and can see finer details in a picture.
• Understands the consequences of her actions and behavior.

How can you help?

• Put things in and out of the toy-bin several times in a day. Take the opportunity to teach your child about different colors and shapes when it’s time to tidy things up.
• Bath time can be the perfect time to teach about different body parts.
• Encourage her to participate in your everyday even though it may slow you down.
• Allowing her to scribble on paper with crayons or pencil. You may help her out in coloring a simple pattern on a coloring book.
• Always praise her work, and provide reassurance whenever she is frustrated.
• Providing her with age-appropriate toys are essential for her reasoning, thinking and memory skills. Providing the right toy at the right age is essential because if the toy is too advanced, it may frustrate a child. Ideal toys include building blocks, sorting and pounding toys, thick-paged picture books, and art materials like crayons.

Language Development

• Listens and is able to follow simple instructions as 'Go and see who's outside'.
• Is able to name her surroundings. Always full of questions!
• Can Forms sensible sentences.

How can you help?

• Talk to her. The more you speak to your toddler about what you are doing and what is around you, the more you build her vocabulary.
• Expand your child’s language by adding to what she says. If she says “cat”, you may say “yes, the cat is tiny and soft”.
• Select books that deal with your child’s interests like animals, vehicles or nature.
• Encourage her to answer by asking questions.
• Add songs and rhymes to many of your routines, at bedtime or at bath time.

And above all this, start your child's day with love and encouragement and end it in the same way.

Take care.