Ensuring your child is progressing developmentally is crucial for their overall well-being and future success. Early detection of delays allows for timely intervention, fostering skills in speech, motor functions, and social interactions. By monitoring their growth, you can help your child reach their full potential and navigate each developmental milestone with confidence. We expect to see the following milestones for children ages 18 to 24 months:
Cognitive
- Spontaneously names five or more objects
- Uses a substitute object to represent real one (e.g., uses stick as a brush)
- Can match items to corresponding pictures
- Inserts shapes into matching slots
- Matches animals to sounds each makes
- Stacks six to seven blocks
Communication
- Names familiar characters seen on TV or in movies
- Uses two-word phrases (e.g., more milk)
- Can point to 15 or more pictures of common objects when they are named
- Knows the names of at least two playmates
- Can point to at least six body parts
Social-Emotional
- Shows pride in accomplishments
- Listens quietly to story, music, movie, or TV
- Sings familiar songs
- Uses “please” and “thank you” (may need to be reminded)
- Asks for assistance when having difficulty
Adaptive
- Removes loose clothing such as a jacket or shirt without assistance
- Uses handle or knob to open doors
- Puts on simple clothing independently
- Uses spoon independently
- Puts familiar objects away
Physical Development
- Can walk backward
- Imitates circular, vertical, and horizontal strokes
- Throws a ball overhand with relative accuracy
- Walks up stairs, alternating feet
Notes:
Folio, M.R., & Fewell, R.R. (2000). Peabody developmental motor scales-Second edition. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Kipping, P., Gard, A., Gilman, L., & Gorman, J. (2012). Speech and language development (3rd ed.), Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Linder., T.W. (1993). Transdisciplinary play-based assessment. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.
Voress, J.K., & Maddox, T. (2013). Developmental assessment of young children-Second edition. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
