The Second Year
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care – NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 2nd year. In *Developmental milestones: A guide for parents*. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.
By 18 months of age does the child:
Motor Skills
- like to pull, push, and dump things
- pull off hat, socks, and mittens
- turn pages in a book
- stack 2 blocks
- carry a stuffed animal or doll
- scribble with crayons
- walk without help
- run stiffly, with eyes on the ground
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- identify an object in a picture book
- laugh at silly actions (as in wearing a bowl as a hat)
- look for objects that are out of sight
- put a round lid on a round pot
- follow simple 1-step directions
- solve problems by trial and error
Language and Social Skills
- say 8-10 words you can understand
- look at a person who is talking to him
- ask specifically for her mother or father
- use “hi,” “bye,” and “please,” with reminders
- protest when frustrated
- ask for something by pointing or by using one word
- direct another’s attention to an object or action
- become anxious when separated from parent(s)
- seek attention
- bring toys to share with parent
- act out a familiar activity in play (as in pretending to take a bath)
- play alone on the floor with toys
- compete with other children for toys
- recognize herself in the mirror or in pictures
- seem selfish at times
By 2 years of age does the child:
Motor Skills
- drink from a straw
- feed himself with a spoon
- help in washing hands
- put arms in sleeves with help
- build a tower of 3-4 blocks
- toss or roll a large ball
- open cabinets, drawers, boxes
- operate a mechanical toy
- bend over to pick up a toy and not fall
- walk up steps with help
- take steps backward
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- like to take things apart
- explore surroundings
- point to 5-6 parts of a doll when asked
Language and Social Skills
- have a vocabulary of several hundred words
- use 2-3 word sentences
- say names of toys
- ask for information about an object (asks, “Shoe?” while pointing to shoe box)
- hum or try to sing
- listen to short rhymes
- like to imitate parents
- sometimes get angry and have temper tantrums
- act shy around strangers
- comfort a distressed friend or parent
- take turns in play with other children
- treat a doll or stuffed animal as though it were alive
- apply pretend action to others (as in pretending to feed a doll)
- show awareness of parental approval or disapproval for her actions
- refer to self by name and use “me” and “mine”
- verbalize his desires and feelings (“I want cookie”)
- laugh at silly labeling of objects and events (as in calling a nose an ear)
- enjoy looking at one book over and over
- point to eyes, ears, or nose when you ask