19-24 months

Find out what milestones your baby should be reaching, and track your baby’s progress, using the helpful guidelines below.

Gross motor

• Loves to climb in and out of items e.g. a box
• Throws a ball underhand
• Can climb up stairs holding onto railing
• Climbs down stairs closer to 24 months
• Kicks or pushes a ball forward when running into the ball
• Takes a few steps backwards
• Rolls a large ball forwards
• Enjoys swinging and constantly wants to be pushed
• Loves to dance and move to music
• Climbs on and off furniture independently

 Fine motor

• Builds a tower of 4 – 6 blocks
• Feeds doll with a plastic spoon while holding a bowl in one hand
• Opens doors, cabinets and drawers
• Able to pick up small items using only 2 fingers
• Scribbles with a crayon on paper
• Can start to thread big beads on a thick string
• Takes off own clothes especially socks and shoes
• Feeds self with a spoon
• Drinks from a cup without help

 Language

• Starts putting words together – up to 3-word sentences
• Constantly ask questions and names of items
• Repeats words that they hear
• Starts to ask for food
• Points to pictures or items in a book when you name them
• Understands almost 200 words
• Sings simple songs
• Uses simple pronouns (me, you, we)
• Able to use “please” and “thank you”, but needs reminding sometimes
• Talks to toys when playing, but some words are made-up words

 Cognitive

• Follows simple 2-step instructions
• Loves cause and effect e.g. build a tower and knocks it over
• Able to set simple goals e.g. decides to put dolls in a row before she/he starts to “feed” them
• Shows preference to certain toys
• Basic problem-solving skills develop e.g. they know if they move the chair next to the table, they would be able to reach on top of the table
• Can remember where they have put everyday objects e.g. shoes, toothbrush

 Social - Emotional

• Struggle to share their toys – very possessive
• Enjoys helping at home
• Talks about themself constantly
• Likes to imitate grown-ups, especially caregivers
• Says “no” for everything they are being asked to do
• Struggles to wait
• Shy towards unfamiliar people
• Starts to express their likes and dislikes
• Knows if what they are doing is right or wrong

Sensory and Perceptual

• Starts to point to parts of the body
• By the age of 24 months they can name at least 6 body parts
• Able to complete 2 – 4-piece puzzles
• Starts to sort items e.g. put all the teddy bears together and all the cars together
• Enjoys sensory play e.g. plays in various textures such as sand, grass, mud etc
• Able to identify familiar people or objects in a photo
• Object permanence – child knows that the object does not disappear if you cover it with a blanket or cloth and can find the object underneath the blanket or cloth
• Starts to know prepositions: under, over, up, down
• Able to fit a circle and square in a shape puzzle