Stages of Development – 19-24 Months
Play and Social Skills
- Turns head in response to name being called
- Is able to participate in small groups with other children
- Is interested, aware, and able to maintain eye contact with others
- Points to objects of interest
- Is able to locate objects you are pointing to
- Explores varied environments such as a new playground
- Enjoys swinging on playground swings
- Enjoys being swung and gently thrown in air
- Enjoys playing with new toys in varied ways
- Enjoys playing with a variety of toys and textures
- Enjoys playing with musical toys
- Enjoys sitting to look at or listen to a book
Visual Motor Integration
- Starts to stack blocks
- Places shapes into form-board puzzle
- Turns pages of a book
- Imitates vertical stroke
Self-Expression
- Is generally happy when not hungry or tired
- Is able to calm with experiences such as rocking, touch, and soothing sounds
- Has grown accustomed to everyday sounds and is usually not startled by them
- Has an established and reliable sleeping schedule
- Does not require an excessive routine to calm
- Is able to enjoy a wide variety of touch, noise, and smells
- Cries and notices when hurt
- Is able to self soothe when upset
- Enjoys various textures, such as grass or sand after multiple exposures
- Is able to transition to new environment or activity
- Is able to be away from parents when with supportive and familiar people
Motor Coordination
- Is frequently moving in and out of various positions (i.e. crawling, climbing, cruising and walking) to explore and get desirable objects
- Coordinates movements needed to play and explore
- Usually walks with heel toe pattern and not primarily on toes
- Enjoys and seeks out various ways to move and play
- Has adequate endurance and strength to play with peers
- Can maintain balance to catch ball or when gently bumped by peers
- Is able to throw and attempt to catch ball without losing balance
- Uses hands to help move from one position to another
- Uses both hands equally to play with and explore toys
Daily Activities
- Enjoys bath time
- Is not fearful of tipping head back when moving from sitting to back
- Is able to use fingertips to pick up small objects, such as small pieces of food
- Is able to eat an increasing variety of food
- All oral-motor skills needed to eat table foods have been achieved
- Increasing utensil use
- Can usually participate in dressing without becoming upset
- Has an established sleep schedule
- Is usually able to self calm to fall asleep
- Is able to tolerate and wear new and varied textures of clothing
- Removes shoes with laces already undone
- Cooperates with dressing by holding out arms and feet
- Doffs socks and shoes
- Does not use a bottle
- Holds cup in one hand
- Able to grade jaw movement when biting through various thicknesses of foods
- Swallows with no liquid or food loss
- Sit on potty chair with assistance