Intellectual Development of Toddlers

Take some time to watch toddlers playing. Notice the differences in their development: height, weight, how they relate to you and to other children, and their energy levels. Some children seem to never sit still, while
others seem happy to sit down with a book. Toddlers learn by exploring and experimenting. They love to do things over and over.

ONE-YEAR-OLDS:

• are curious.
• imitate animal sounds.
• can name familiar people and objects.
• combine two words to form a basic sentence.
• use the pronouns me and mine.
• use "no" frequently.
• name body parts and familiar objects in pictures.
• use objects for their intended purpose.
• begin to include a second person in pretend play.
• have a short attention span.
• can hold a pencil and scribble.
• are very active.
• have trouble knowing what is real and what is pretend.

Try some of the activities listed below to help one-year-old toddlers grow and learn.

• Roll a ball for them to catch.
• Provide safe mirrors for them to look at themselves. Talk with them about their reflections in the mirror.
• Let them fill containers over and over again.
• Let them push or pull a favorite toy.
• Look at picture books with them, and talk about the pictures.
• Talk about the size, shape, and texture of everyday objects.
• Make comparisons such as "this ball is bigger than that ball."
• Talk about cause-and-effect relationships such as "if you push this block, the whole pile of blocks will fall over."

TWO-YEAR-OLDS:

• follow simple directions.
• use three or more words in combination.
• express their feelings and wishes.
• use objects to represent other objects.
• still have a very limited attention span.
• can memorize short rhymes.
• join in simple songs.
• begin to think about doing something before doing it.
• have trouble making choices, but they want to make choices.

Try some of the activities listed below to help two-year-old toddlers grow and learn.

• Encourage toddlers to run, jump, and climb outside.
• Sing songs with them, and act out songs with simple movements.
• Play pat-a-cake, and teach them simple finger plays.
• Tell them simple short stories, especially those about themselves or other two-year-old children.
• Let them pound a toy workbench.
• Give them water to measure and pour.
• Let them stack blocks and other objects.
• Provide things that can be taken apart and put back together, such as large pop beads.
• Ask children to name objects in pictures. Give them the correct word if they cannot think of it.
• Give them simple directions to follow.
• Play matching games and work simple puzzles with them.
• Encourage pretending by providing dolls, housekeeping toys, dress-up clothes, and toy telephones.
• Introduce art activities - scribbling or painting with crayons, chalk, and paint; play dough and finger paints.
• Begin toilet training, hand washing, and tooth brushing when the toddler is ready.

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. (1994). Intellectual development of toddlers. In M. Lopes (Ed.) CareGiver News (November, p.3). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension.