![]() He's begun to realize that every toy, every animal, every person, and everything has a name. With increasing frequency, you'll hear clear words amid all the chattering. Your 18-month-old probably still does a lot of babbling, imitating adult conversations she hears, but her vocabulary will grow by leaps and bounds over the coming months. It may be another year before she's ready to get down to business. Keep your expectations in check, however. If your toddler has a favorite doll or stuffed animal, you can pretend that it's going the bathroom too, a tactic that may entice your child to try it out for herself. ![]() Let her sit fully clothed on an adult or toddler toilet seat so she can get used to the idea of sitting on the potty. Toddlers learn by imitation, so start by letting your child copy what you do in the bathroom. And the concept that everything has its place – including pee and poop – and the desire for orderliness usually begins around age 2 (though some children don't potty train until much later).Īt this age, a low-key approach is best. The sensory awareness that allows a toddler to recognize the need to empty his bladder and bowels and then "hold it" until he gets to the bathroom is sophisticated. But before you start trying to make this enormous transition, look for some signs of readiness. ![]() Many experts say that 18 months is too young to start toilet training many grandparents say, "We potty trained you at 1!" Who's right? Of course it depends on the child, and some are in fact ready to begin the process now. ![]() They attempt to, but they don't have the coordination to do it and end up sort of walking into the ball.) Your toddler may also have the skills to push or pull a small wagon or similar toy, and to pedal a tricycle or "big wheel." If it's winter, channel some of his energy by stomping in puddles or having a snowball fight, throwing the snowballs at trees or telephone poles instead of each other. (At this stage, toddlers can't quite kick balls. An extra-large beach ball (or an ever bigger ball, like those used in exercise classes) is fun to roll across grass and to roll on. Keep a few toys handy in the back of your car to make trips to the park even more fun. One sign of increasing dexterity is the ability to hold a cup and drink from it without spilling. Shape sorters, nesting boxes, and even some simple wooden puzzles ( puzzles in which a whole object fits inside a matching slot – not jigsaw puzzles) will absorb him. He may also enjoy trying to slide large wooden beads onto a length of string.Īn 18-month-old is very interested in fitting things inside of other things. There are, however, a few things that will hold her interest: scribbling with crayons or finger-painting, stacking blocks, turning knobs on doors and cupboards, and pushing buttons on telephones, televisions, and stereo equipment. ![]() Now, after he clears out your kitchen cabinets, your toddler will probably try to put everything back to see how it fits (though it won't look like it did before).įor now, gross motor development outpaces fine-motor development, but that's only because a typical 18-month-old doesn't want to sit still long enough to do many activities that require significant dexterity. But unlike a few months ago, he doesn't want to just empty closets and cupboards of their contents. Your toddler wants to know what is behind, under, and inside of everything. For other ideas, see our list of toddler activities. Rather than fight it – after all, you can't change it – turn on some music, grab your little one, and invent some new dance steps together. There may be days when all that physical energy is more than you can handle. ![]()
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