Toddler: Everything you need to know about development

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: March 24, 2023

Raising a child is quite a challenge. It is even more difficult to raise a child who cannot yet speak. A toddler is not yet able to communicate independently.

In this guide we discuss the developments that a toddler makes and how you as a parent can help to stimulate these developments.

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What is a toddler?

A toddler is a child between the ages of 1 and 2 years. Officially, a child is called a toddler from the moment they can walk until the moment they enter toddlerhood.

Motor development of a toddler

In this phase, a toddler learns a lot in the motor area. For example, it learns to sit, crawl, stand and walk. The child also learns to grab and grab things. This all happens in conjunction with the development of fine motor skills, such as grasping small objects and pushing buttons.

Key points to remember

• A toddler is a child between the ages of 1 and 2 who develops rapidly in motor and social areas.
• A toddler learns a lot in the motor area, such as sitting, crawling, standing and walking.
• As a parent or supervisor, it is important to pay attention to the development of a toddler and to offer the right guidance.
• Not all children reach the same milestones at the same time, so it is important to monitor and respond to the child's development.
• The period of a toddler lasts on average from the age of 1 year to the age of 2 years.

How can you help a toddler learn?

As a parent, you are the first person who can help your child develop skills. It is important to encourage and help your child develop his or her own side. This means that you should give your child the space to explore and learn things in his or her own way. Try not to direct your child too much, but do provide the right support and guidance.

Read books together

Reading is a great way to develop your child's cognitive skills. It's also a fun way to spend time together. Read books together and let your child point to the colors and pictures. This will stimulate your child's language development and help him or her learn new words.

Play games together

Play is an important part of your child's development. It's a way to learn new skills and get along with other kids. Play games together that are accessible to your child and that stimulate his or her skills. This can range from playing with blocks to doing puzzles.

Provide a safe environment

A safe environment is important for your child's development. Make sure your home is safe and there are no dangerous objects or situations for your child to reach. This will help your child feel safe and loved, which is important for his or her development.

Give comfort and support

Toddlers can sometimes be anxious and not feel well. It is important to comfort and support your child if he or she is feeling this way. Let your child know that it is normal to feel more anxious at times and that you will always be there for them. This will help your child feel safe and loved.

Let your child try things for themselves

It's important to give your child the opportunity to try things for themselves. This will help him or her develop new skills and build confidence. For example, let your child eat or dress himself. It may take longer and it may be messy at times, but it will help your child develop important skills.

Search knowledge and information

There are many interesting books and websites that provide information about toddler development. Find this information and use it to help your child develop. It is important to have the right information so that you can support your child in the right way.

Keep playing and practicing

It is important to keep playing and practicing with your child. This will help him or her to develop new skills and to grow. It can sometimes take your child a long time to master a certain skill, but be patient and keep practicing. You will see your child getting better and better at the things he or she does.

Your toddler will learn to talk better

When your child is about a year old, it starts babbling and making sounds. As time passes, you will notice that your toddler will say more and more words. It can sometimes take a while for your child to pronounce a word correctly, but don't give up. It is important to keep stimulating your child to talk and learn new words.

The role of the parents

As a parent, you play an important role in the development of your child's language skills. Therefore, try to talk to your child as much as possible and to name what is happening around you. This can be done, for example, while playing, eating or dressing. You can also help your child by asking questions and telling about the properties of objects and animals.

Games and exercises

There are various games and exercises that you can do to stimulate the language development of your toddler. This way you can read books together and point to and name pictures. You can also have your child point to objects and name them. In addition, you can let your child help with simple daily tasks, such as giving clothes or food.

Recognition and encouragement

If your toddler pronounces a word correctly, it is important to recognize and encourage this. This can be done, for example, by saying “well done!” or “how handsome!”. This makes your child feel safe and loved and it will be easier to say new words.

Fear and uncertainty

Sometimes your toddler may be afraid or insecure about saying new words. This is normal and part of your child's development. Therefore, always provide a safe and reassuring environment and try to comfort your child if it is anxious.

The course of development

The development of your toddler's language skills is slow and step-by-step. It can sometimes take a while for your child to pronounce or understand a word correctly. Therefore, be patient and keep encouraging your child to talk and learn new words. With the help of the right exercises and games, your toddler will learn to talk better and express himself better.

Just say 'no': the importance of rules and boundaries for toddlers

Clear rules and boundaries are important for a child's development. It helps a child to learn what is and is not allowed and what the consequences are of certain behavior. It gives a child a sense of security and structure. It is therefore important as a parent to be active in setting rules and boundaries.

The development of motor skills

A toddler is fully engaged in the development of his motor skills. It is therefore important to also take into account the rules and boundaries. For example, it can be dangerous if a toddler walks around freely in the kitchen while hot pans are on the fire. It is therefore important as a parent to be extra alert to the safety of your child.

The development of language and communication

A toddler also starts to learn more and more about language and communication. It is therefore important as a parent to be clear about what you want your child to do or not do. Use simple words and sentences so that your child understands. It is also important to let your child know what you expect of him. For example, you can say: “No, you are not allowed to put your foot on the table. That is dangerous and not good for the table.”

Dealing with frustrations and tantrums

Setting rules and boundaries can sometimes lead to frustrations and tantrums in a toddler. This is completely normal and part of the development of a child. It is important as a parent to understand your child's feelings and to help him express these feelings. For example, you can say: “I understand that you are angry because you are not allowed to eat your sandwich in the living room. But it is important that we use the table to eat.”

The explanation behind the 'no'

Sometimes it seems as if a toddler only hears 'no' from his parents. This can lead to frustration for both the child and the parent. It is therefore important as a parent to explain why you say 'no'. This way your child understands better why certain things are not allowed. This also makes it easier for your child to follow the rules.

How does the social behavior of a toddler develop?

Social behavior includes all the things a toddler does to interact with others. This can range from recognizing and expressing emotions to dealing with rules and playing with others. It lies between the development of the cognitive and motor skills of a child. It is important to understand that a toddler's social behavior cannot be separated from his or her environment. It is a phase in which the child learns to deal with others and the world around them.

How parents can help their toddler develop social behavior

Parents can help their toddler develop social behavior by paying attention to the following:

• Provides a healthy environment in which the child feels safe and can be themselves.
• Give the child the opportunity to play with other children of the same age.
• Provide toys that help the child develop social skills, such as board games and dolls.
• Explain why certain rules apply and what is expected of the child.
• Show the child how to interact with others by leading by example.
• Notice when the child interacts well with others and pay extra attention to it.
• Make sure there is a good balance between home and school, so that the child can practice social behavior in both environments.

It is important to remember that every child is different and develops in their own way. Some toddlers need more time to learn how to interact with others, while others do this quite naturally. If parents notice problems in their child's social behavior, it is important to pay attention to this and seek help if necessary.

The development of gross motor skills in a toddler

When a child is about a year old, it starts taking its first steps. Although some children start walking earlier, it can also develop later. It is important to remember that every child has their own pace and there is no right age to learn to walk. It is a huge achievement for a toddler to learn to walk, as it requires a lot of practice and muscle development. Most children start out holding furniture or toys to help them keep their balance. Later they will walk back and forth between two places and eventually be able to run free.

Jump and run

When a child is about two years old, they will probably start jumping. It may be that the child only gets off the ground with his feet at first, but later he will really be able to jump. It's important to remember that it's normal for a toddler to learn how to jump anywhere between 18 months and 3 years old. Run after your child and let it run. It is good for muscle development and endurance.

Other activities

In addition to walking, jumping and running, there are many more activities that can improve a toddler's gross motor skills. Think, for example, of building a tower of blocks, drawing lines on paper or playing with water and sand. It is important to give your child space to practice and learn. Just make sure the area is safe and there are no dangerous objects around.

The development of fine motor skills in infants and toddlers

Fine motor skills refer to the skills needed to make small movements with the hands and fingers. This includes activities such as drawing, writing, cutting, stringing beads and holding small objects. Developing fine motor skills is an important part of a child's development and can help improve overall coordination and ability to complete daily tasks.

Development of fine motor skills in toddlers

In the first few months of a child's life, hand movements are still uncontrolled and unfocused. As the baby gets older, he or she will begin to experiment with grasping things and exploring the environment with the hands and mouth. Around four months of age, a baby can grasp objects and transfer them from hand to hand.

By the time a child is one year old, he or she can pick up small objects with the thumb and forefinger. This is known as the tweezer grip and is an important milestone in the development of fine motor skills. Kids this age can also start building towers with blocks and drawing with crayons.

How can you help develop your child's fine motor skills?

As a parent, you can help your child develop his or her fine motor skills through exercises and activities. Here are some examples:

• Let your child draw and color with different materials such as crayons, pencils and paint.
• Give your child small objects to hold and explore, such as beads, buttons, and blocks.
• Encourage your child to help with daily tasks such as dressing and taking care of pets.
• Play games that require fine motor skills, such as sorting small objects or building towers with blocks.
• Let your child play with sand and water to improve hand-eye coordination.

It is important to remember that every child develops at their own pace and some children need more time than others. Continue to encourage your child and offer help when needed. Also, make sure the environment is safe and that your child feels loved and safe while practicing and developing his or her fine motor skills.

How a toddler learns cognitively

As a child you learn more and more about the world around you from birth. In the first phase of a toddler's development, it is mainly about discovering the world. The toddler adds more and more information to his or her brain and learns new skills. In this phase it is important to help the child discover new things. This can be done, for example, by playing together with toys, such as a ball or shapes to put in a shape sorter.

Second stage: learning from rules

As the toddler gets older, he or she learns more and more rules and gains a better understanding of the world around them. This means that the child learns to better understand what is and is not allowed and how things work. It is important to help the child learn these rules, for example by playing games that require rules to be followed.

Third stage: develop cognitive skills

As the toddler gets older, he or she develops more and more cognitive skills. This means that the child learns to think better, process information and remember things. For example, the child learns to count, recognize objects and name shapes and colors. It is important to continue to help the child develop these skills, for example by counting together or naming shapes.

Fourth stage: learning to write and read

As the toddler gets older and goes to school, he or she learns more and more about writing and reading. The child learns to recognize letters and form words. It is important to help the child learn these skills, for example by reading together and practicing writing.

Explanation for cognitive development

Researchers say that the cognitive development of a toddler is mainly caused by the active development of the brain. A toddler's brain is quite open and can absorb a lot of information. The feeling that the child gets from discovering new things and learning new skills gives the child a good feeling. This ensures that the child remains motivated to learn and develop further.

How can you help as a parent?

As a parent, you can help your child cognitive learning by stimulating the child to discover and learn new things. You can do this, for example, by playing with toys, reading books and playing games. It is important to praise and encourage the child as they learn new skills. This gives the child a good feeling and ensures that the child remains motivated to learn.

Conclusion

It is important to recognize your child's development and know how best to support them. It is important to find the right information and to give your child the space to discover things in their own way. If you recognize your child's development and know how best to support them, you will see them increasingly finding their own way of doing things.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.