Developmental Milestones by 18 Months

You are the most important observer of your child's development. If your child has special needs, early help can make a difference. This is a simple tool you can use to be aware of and appreciate the dramatic changes that are occurring in your child. Watch for these signs in your child over a one month period. (Even children have "bad days.")

Remember, each child is different and may learn and grow at a different rate. However, if your child cannot do many of the skills listed for his or her age group, you should consult your pediatrician. If your child was born earlier than expected, be sure to deduct the number of months born early from his or her age. A 5-month-old born 2 months early would be expected to show the same skills as a 3-month-old who was born on his or her due date.


By 18 months of age does your child:

  1. Motor Skills
  2. Like to pull, push, and dump things
  3. Pull off hat, socks, and mittens
  4. Turn pages in a book
  5. Stack 2 blocks
  6. Carry a stuffed animal or doll
  7. Scribble with crayons
  8. Walk without help
  9. Run stiffly, with eyes on the ground


Sensory and Thinking Skills

  1. Identify an object in a picture book
  2. Laugh at silly actions (as in wearing a bowl as a hat)
  3. Look for objects that are out of sight
  4. Put a round lid on a round pot
  5. Follow simple 1-step directions
  6. Solve problems by trial and error
  7. Language and Social Skills
  8. Say 8-10 words you can understand
  9. Look at a person who is talking to him
  10. Ask specifically for her mother or father
  11. Use "hi," "bye," and "please," with reminders
  12. Protest when frustrated
  13. Ask for something by pointing or by using one word
  14. Direct another's attention to an object or action
  15. Become anxious when separated from parent(s)
  16. Seek attention and bring toys to share with parent
  17. Act out a familiar activity in play (as in pretending to take a bath)
  18. Play alone on the floor with toys
  19. Compete with other children for toys
  20. Recognize herself in the mirror or in pictures and seem selfish at times

 

Source: The National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 2nd year. Developmental milestones: A guide for parents. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service
 

Following the Child

This commonly used phrase comes from the Montessori practice of observing children in their natural environment (e.g. the prepared classroom)
and using their interests and level of ability as a
guide. The caregiver provides appropriate material
and adapts to meet the needs of each child accordingly.

Using Best Early Childhood Practices

Our programs are adapted for the specific areas
we engage in (e.g. rural environments) and utilize
time tested methods to make impact at the
grassroots level. We have a dedicated core of
experienced developers and trainers, with
backgrounds in a multitude of ECD disciplines.

Creating a More Peaceful and Sustainable World

By focusing on the early years, our programs capitalize on a window of opportunity when the brain is still forming and a person is most conducive to internalizing humanistic principles. By instilling a strong framework of values and ethics in our children, we plant seeds for future prosperity in the world.

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