• Phone number: 361-643-4644
  • 1305 Wildcat Drive Portland, Texas 78374

PARENT ONLINE RESOURCES

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE

All children develop at their own pace.
If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk to your child’s health care provider

18 – 24 MONTH OLDS

PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILL MARKERS

  • Is able to control the muscles used to urinate and have bowel movements, but may not be ready to use the toilet
  • Can build a tower of 2 to 4 blocks
  • Can use a spoon and cup with help to feed self
  • Imitates scribbling
  • Can turn 2 or 3 pages of a book at a time

SENSORY AND COGNITIVE MARKERS

  • Shows affection
  • Has separation anxiety
  • Listens to a story or looks at pictures
  • Can say 10 or more words when asked
  • Identifies 1 or more parts of the body
  • Understands and is able to point to and identify common objects
  • Begins to feel a sense of ownership, identifying people and objects by saying “my”

PLAY RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Encourage and provide the necessary space for physical activity.
  • Encourage play that involves building and creativity.
  • Use a transitional object to help with separation anxiety.
  • Encourage play dates with children the same age.
  • Avoid television and other screen time before 2
  • Play simple games together, such as puzzles and sorting.
  • Read together.

2 YEAR OLDS

PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILL MARKERS

  • Can look through a book turning one page at a time
  • Can kick a ball without losing balance
  • Can pick up objects while standing, without losing balance (This often occurs by 15 months. It is a cause for concern if not seen by 2 years.)
  • Should have the first 16 teeth (The actual number of teeth can vary widely.)
  • At 2 yrs. old, will reach about half final adult height

SENSORY AND COGNITIVE MARKERS

  • Able to put on simple clothes without help (The child is often better at removing clothes than putting them on.)
  • Able to communicate needs such as thirst, hunger, need to go to the bathroom
  • Can organize phrases of 2 – 3 words
  • Vocabulary has increased to about 50 – 300 words (Healthy children’s vocabulary can vary widely.)
  • May be ready for toilet training

PLAY RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Allow the child to help around the house and take part in the daily family chores
  • Encourage active play and provide enough space for healthy physical activity.
  • Provide safe copies of adult tools and equipment. Many children like to mimic activities such as cutting the grass or sweeping the floor.
  • Read together.
  • Try to avoid television watching at this age (recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics).
  • Control both the content and quantity of television viewing. Limit screen time to less than 3 hours per day. One hour or less is better. Avoid programming with violent content. Redirect the child to reading or play activities
  • Control the type of games the child plays.

3 YEAR OLDS

PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILL MARKERS

  • Has improved balance
  • Has improved vision (20/30)
  • Has all 20 primary teeth
  • Needs 11 – 13 hours of sleep a day
  • Can briefly balance and hop on one foot
  • Can easily place small objects in a small opening
  • Can copy a circle
  • Can pedal a tricycle

SENSORY AND COGNITIVE MARKERS

  • Has a vocabulary of several hundred words
  • Speaks in sentences of three words that is understood by others
  • Counts three objects
  • Often asks questions
  • Can dress self, only needing help with shoelaces, buttons, and other fasteners in awkward places
  • Acts out social encounters through play activities
  • Knows own name, age, and gender (boy/girl)
  • Starts to share

PLAY RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Provide a safe play area and constant supervision
  • Help your child take part in — and learn the rules of — sports and games.
  • Limit both the time and content of television and computer viewing.
  • Visit local areas of interest.
  • Encourage your child to help with small household chores, such as helping set the table or picking up toys.
  • Encourage play with other children
  • Encourage creative play.
  • Read together.
  • Encourage your child to learn by answering his or her questions.
  • Provide activities related to your child’s interests.
  • Encourage your child to use words to express feelings (rather than acting out).

4 YEAR OLDS

PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILL MARKERS

  • Has 20/20 vision
  • Sleeps 11 to 13 hours at night, usually without a daytime nap
  • Shows improved balance
  • Hops on 1 foot without losing balance
  • Throws a ball overhand with coordination
  • Can cut out a picture using scissors
  • May still wet the bed

SENSORY AND COGNITIVE MARKERS

  • Has a vocabulary of more than 1,000 words
  • Easily puts together sentences of 4 or 5 words
  • Can use the past tense
  • Will be curious and ask a lot of questions
  • Tries to be very independent
  • May show increased aggressive behavior
  • Talks about personal family matters to others
  • Is able to tell the difference between 2 objects based on things like size and weight
  • Lacks moral concepts of right and wrong

PLAY RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Allow the child to help around the house and take part in the daily family chores.
  • Encourage active play and provide enough space for healthy physical activity.
  • Provide safe copies of adult tools and equipment. Many children like to mimic activities such as cutting the grass or sweeping the floor.
  • Read together.
  • Try to avoid television watching at this age (recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics).
  • Control both the content and quantity of television viewing. Limit screen time to less than 3 hours per day. One hour or less is better. Avoid programming with violent content. Redirect the child to reading or play activities.
  • Control the type of games the child plays.

Temper tantrums are common at this age. Children who have tantrums that often last for more than 15 minutes or that occur more than three times a day should be seen by a health care provider