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24-36 Month Developmental Milestones

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18-24 Month Developmental Milestones

Movement and physical development

Normal development

  • Climbs well
  • Runs easily
  • Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
  • Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
  • Can copy a circle
  • Can string multiple 1-inch beads on a string

Possible challenges from treatment

  • May regress in previously mastered skills
  • May have fewer opportunities to achieve physical milestones due to treatment

Ways to help

  • Provide opportunities for activities such as coloring, large puzzles, and musical toys
  • Encourage fun physical activities when possible
Encourage fun physical activities when possible.

Encourage fun physical activities when possible.

 

Language and communication

Normal development

  • Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
  • Can name most familiar objects
  • Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
  • Says name and gender
  • Names a friend
  • Says words such as “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
  • Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
  • Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Possible challenges from treatment

  • May have difficulty expressing themselves
  • Hearing problems may be possible in some cases.

Ways to help

  • Read books that include rhyming words and repetition
  • Continue to introduce new words such as identifying colors, shapes, animals, etc. as you point to them
  • Follow directions for proper hearing aid use if prescribed.
As part of normal communication development, your child may be able to names a friend, talk well enough for strangers to understand most of the time, and carry on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences.

As part of normal communication development, your child may be able to names a friend, talk well enough for strangers to understand most of the time, and carry on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences.

Social and emotional

Normal development

  • Copies adults and friends
  • Shows affection for friends without prompting
  • Takes turns in games
  • Shows concern for crying friend
  • Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
  • Shows a wide range of emotions
  • Separates easily from mom and dad
  • May get upset with major changes in routine
  • Dresses and undresses self

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Difficulties in maintaining schedule
  • Limited choices in hospital and lack of control
  • Limited opportunities for social interactions

Ways to help

  • Maintain routines as much as possible to increase feeling of security
  • Offer choices when possible to give sense of control and promote independence
  • Provide opportunities for group play when possible with other children
Provide opportunities for group play when possible with other children.

Provide opportunities for group play when possible with other children.

 

Thinking and learning

Normal development

  • Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
  • Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
  • Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
  • Understands what “two” means
  • Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
  • Turns book pages one at a time
  • Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
  • Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Imaginary thinking causes misconceptions and fears

Ways to help

  • Provide opportunities to explore medical equipment with play
  • Provide varied toys, experiences, and games to promote cognitive development
Provide varied toys, experiences, and games to promote cognitive development.

Provide varied toys, experiences, and games to promote cognitive development.

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18-24 Month Developmental Milestones

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