Development 1 - 2 Years

Child Development 1 - 2 Years

Each child is different from every other child. Each child moves at their own pace, usually through the same stages or milestones and in the same order. Children grow and learn continually, but not in a smooth flowing pattern. Sometimes they practice skills for quite a while and seem as if they will never move on. Other times they learn many skills very quickly.
Understanding you child’s developing abilities and what they can and cannot do at each age will help you to;

keep your child safe;
   • help you child develop;
   • understand your child’s behaviour;
   • gain satisfaction and enjoyment from the important role of caring for your child.

Growth and development

From 12 months, most babies will be walking, talking and starting to climb. Every day they discover
different things they are able to do, and they want to explore the world around them.
Children learn from doing. It takes longer for them•to do things, but they need to try. It is important to encourage and praise their efforts.

At this age they are;
   • always active;
   • insistent on doing dome things for themselves
     (e.g. taking off their shoes, feeding themselves);
   • drinking from a cup;
   • throwing things;
   • moving things in and out of container
   • showing signs of independence by not always doing what is asked of them.

From about 18 months, your child will see other children as ‘something interesting’ and will pull, pinch, poke, push and pat them just as they would handle objects. This may sometimes appear aggressive, but it is just their normal energetic, boisterous behaviour.

Language
Speech is one of the most important developments in this second year of life, so you will find that your child:
   • copies phrases and words, and constantly talks to himself while playing;
   • sometimes obeys simple commands (they understand a lot of what is being said);
   • starts to point to objects using sounds or words to show them to you;
   • starts to put words together by the second birthday (e.g. ‘Daddy gone’).

Listening and talking to your child, as well as developing their interest in books is essential to helping your child develop communication skills.

Your child and other people
Children’s dependence on their parents gets less and less I during the second year of life. As they learn more about people and the things around them, they become more i skilful at doing tasks themselves.
Between one and two years of age, children change back sand forward from wanting to do everything by themselves to demanding that their parent’s give full attention. As the year goes by, they are constantly imitating others and learning from them. They will greet friends or strangers in the same joyous way. They love and need to be near people, although they do not yet understand how to play cooperatively with other children their own age. They will, however, play happily beside them.

Learning through play
Children learn about their environment through play. At this busy age, they need the freedom to play, explore and learn, but they also need a safe environment to do this. Give your child the chance to learn while making the environment safe. If you spend time with your child, you can provide both safety and stimulation.
Children of this age will enjoy and learn from the following:
   • playing in sand - make use of old plastic jugs, wooden spoons, buckets, spades;
   • playing with water - use jugs, floating objects splashing;
   • going for walks - feel the grass, dirt, puddles, climb over logs, see birds and animals;
   • looking at and reading books - one picture a page is still a good idea at this age.

These types of toys are ideal for this age group:
   • Toys to handle and fit together - nests or cups or tins, hammer toys, saucepans and lids;
   • Toys for sorting and placing - simple jigsaws, sorting games, building blocks;
   • Toys to push and pull - large balls, box on wheels, strong cardboard boxes (to get in to);
   • Toys to cuddle, hug, and talk to - stuffed animals, rag dolls, hand puppets.

Because there are so many things to do and so much t learn at this age, your child will always seem busy. They can relax, they can be boisterous, they ca be serious, they can have lots of fun, all in a few minutes.

Towards the end of this year, children are likely to be able to wait a little for something they want, and they will gain some understanding of ownership. They will begin to recognise that different things belong to different people. Until children understand this, they cannot learn how to share - either things or other people’s attention.

Safety
Children of this age are so active that they need a high level of protection. Because children are not well coordinated and they cannot understand the idea of danger, parents need to constantly supervise them at this age.

To keep your child safe:
   • always keep your child in an approved child restraint when traveling in a car;
   • keep medicines and household poisons in a locked cupboard;
   • cover power points when they are not in use; I keep electric cords, hot saucepan handles, hot
   food and drinks, and other dangerous items out of reach;
   • supervise outdoor play closely. Because children cannot stop running quickly and have a poorly developed sense of balance at this age, they cannot get themselves out of danger easily;
   • always stay with your child near water of any kind, including pools, baths, and nappy buckets;
   •allow your child only those toys suitable for this age group

For more help and information
If you would like more information on your child’s development or you are worried about your child, contact your local child health nurse.
You could also ask at your local library for books on child development.