Child development (5) - one to two years

During this year, your toddler comes to understand that they are a completely separate person from you. This realisation can make them worry that you might leave them, and it lies behind the much-repeated words “me” and “mine”.

Although they can understand many words, children in their second year cannot grasp abstract concepts. They are strictly concrete thinkers. They often do not respond to spoken commands and need to be moved, lifted down, or distracted. They seem to understand “no”, but cannot yet control their impulses.

Social and emotional development#

Your child is curious but still depends on adults for reassurance. They are very attached and are likely to be afraid of separation.

• They enjoy playing games with adults, especially repetitive ones.
• They show an interest in other children, but usually play alone or alongside them, rather than together.
• There is no concept of sharing yet.
• They imitate others, for example by “chatting” on a toy phone.
• They may be more cooperative with dressing because they want to copy you and “do it myself”.
• They may want to do things “right” and feel unbearable frustration if they are stopped.
• Their ability to feed themselves is improving, and they are likely to be choosy about food.

Developing understanding#

Concepts of time, distance, and speed are beyond your child’s grasp. However, they are working hard on categories, sorting the objects they see into groups they can understand.

They also have no real understanding of size and space. They may, for example, be afraid of slipping down the plughole in the bath.

Your child’s rapidly increasing movement can mean reorganising the house. Move breakable and dangerous items out of reach. It is not good for you, or your toddler, to be saying “no” or “don’t touch” every few minutes.

Physical skills#

• At one year, children can scoot along on a four-wheeled riding toy.
• By 15 months, they can walk alone with feet wide apart and arms held high. At this age they get to their feet using their hands.
• By two years, they can stand up without using their hands.
• By two years, they can run without bumping into things and stop when they need to.
• By two years, most toddlers can go down stairs while holding on, putting both feet on a step before moving to the next.
• By two years, they can push buttons and turn knobs.

Language development#

• Your child averages about 10 spoken words at 15 months.
• Between 18 months and two years, they average 50 words or more.
• By two years, they can tell you most of what they want using words, and their sentences become longer and more accurate.

Their understanding is improving too, so they can remember two things at once, for example, “Get the ball and bring it to Daddy”. They may stammer or hesitate over particular words when excited.

Supporting your child’s development#

Suggested activities include:

• Give them toys with knobs and buttons to press, to spare the television and other appliances.
• Give them simple puzzles, and toys that link together, such as stacking toys and hammer-and-peg sets.
• Look at picture books together, naming the pictures and letting them turn the pages sometimes.
• Provide items for dress-up and role play, as young children love to copy others.
• Play games that give the child plenty of chances to say no, such as “Is Daddy under the bed?”
• Allow your child to play by themselves sometimes, without interference, so they learn to entertain themselves and to ask for help when they need it.

All children are different and develop at their own rate. If your toddler doesn’t do everything listed here, it may simply be because they are working on a different area of learning.

However, if your toddler seems very different from other children, or if you are worried about their development or it seems to go backwards, seek advice from a health professional.

Signs that could suggest a developmental problem include:

• Doesn’t show awareness of different people, or a preference for familiar people.
• Doesn’t show separation anxiety.
• Isn’t yet walking, or is not walking steadily, especially with a limp.
• Isn’t babbling often, or isn’t starting to use some meaningful words.
• Uses signs, grunts, or gestures only when they want something.
• Doesn’t listen or respond when others talk to them, and is still mostly silent when playing.
• Isn’t able to point to objects when they are named.

If you are worried, talk to your child health nurse or doctor.

Where to get help#