Toddler Physical Development – What to look out for

Your child’s physical development begun to slow down after the 12th month but their gross motor skills start to take off as your toddler learns everything under the sun such as running from one place to another, jumping, singing or writing using a pen.

During the first twelve months, your child’s body is still quite soft but as they become more active, the muscle will build up. Their arms and legs are still short compared to their head and trunk, but become more balanced over the next several months. Between nine and twelve months, toddler takes their first shaky steps. At this stage their legs are lacking sturdy muscles. When their legs become more muscular, their walking will become more steady and firm and will allow them to explore anything.

As your toddler grows each month, their gross motor skills will improve. They will learn to crawl up and down the stairs, climbing on their crib or high chair and throwing things. These new activities provide your toddler with lots of fun and entertainment as they watche mum or dad pick up the thrown object from across the room.

Holding a cup or a ball and be able to properly pick up a crayon and still hold it while coloring is another development stage of your toddler’s gross motor skills. Crawling up the stairs will have evolved into walking up those stairs although a little help from you or the banister will still be necessary. Other physical developments are placing and removing objects into or out of containers, feeding self with spoon, throwing ball over their head, solving puzzles, dressing oneself. Between the age of two and three years old, toddlers take an interest in being toilet training.

By letting your child exercise and feeding your child a healthy diet aids their physical development. Also showing that you are excited to your toddlers new talents, in this way, they are encouraged to try even harder. In this case, it is true that “Practice makes Perfect.”

Individuals may vary in their development; some toddlers start to walk as early as 11 months or at 15 months and still be developing normally. Their areas of development range from one year old to three years old for each particular skill. Your child needs a healthy body and strong muscles which are essential for developmental successes.

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