This document discusses the developmental milestones that toddlers reach between the ages of 1 to 3. It outlines the key physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional skills achieved at each year. At age 1, toddlers learn to crawl, walk, pick up objects, say their first words, and understand language. Between ages 1 to 3, they start running, drawing, problem solving, following instructions, and developing self-awareness and social skills. By age 3, their motor skills, language, thinking abilities, and social interactions continue to advance. The document emphasizes the importance of parents being aware of developmental milestones to identify any delays and support their child's healthy growth.

1. As a parent it is exciting to see your toddler go
through different stages of development. During
the age from 1 to 3 your toddler will experience
rapid physical, cognitive and emotional
development.
Observing your child’s growth helps you identify
any potential developmental delays at an early
age. Additionally, being aware of one's
weaknesses and strengths encourages success
in all facets of one's life. Simply put, one key to
assisting your toddler in reaching their maximum
potential is to be aware of their developmental
milestones.
In this article you will get to know how your child
achieves developmental milestones at different
stages of life.
Toddler Developmental Milestones: What to Expect at 1 to 3 Years Age

2. One Year Old Developmental Milestones
From birth to 1 year, a child develops lifelong skills including the ability to
sit, crawl, speak, and respond. According to a research published by
JPMA, in Pakistan, parents need to be more concerned regarding the
growth stages of their infants and toddlers. Such considerations are
necessary to detect any developmental delay so that parents can get
medical assistance in time.
Here are the significant developmental achievements a one-year old
achieves.

3. Gross Motor Skills:
Infants learn to crawl, pull themselves
up, and start responding to parents
during 6 to 9 months of age. This is a
big milestone as it allows them to
explore their environment and build
their strength and coordination.
Fine Motor Skills:
Cognitive Development:
Language Understanding:
A one-year-old child also starts to show some
cognitive development. They are becoming
more curious and are starting to figure out
how things work. This is a great opportunity
for parents and caregivers to encourage their
problem-solving skills by providing safe toys
for infants and toddlers.
Infants begin to develop their fine
motor abilities from 8 to 12 months,
which include the ability to pick up
little things with their fingers. This
helps with their hand-eye coordination
and dexterity.
One year old infants develop their language skills, they
start to understand what is being told to them, with
many beginning to say their first words. It is essential
for guardians and parents to talk to their child and
encourage their language development. According to
the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child speaks
their first word at age of 1. However, infants
communicate through gestures from 9 months.

4. Second Year Developmental Milestones
From 1 year to 3 years, your child falls in the toddler’s category. During
such a period of time, kids take their first steps, start running, and develop
problem-solving skills. Here are the major developmental milestones
toddlers start achieving from 2 years of age.

5. Walking and Running:
Most kids start walking independently in
between 8 - 18 months and by the time
they are 2 years old, they start running.
Walking and running boost agility,
mobility and coordination. From taking
first steps to start running is a crucial
turning point in their physical
development since it enables them to
become more autonomous and freely
explore their surroundings. Although they
may still struggle with balance and
coordination, they are actively attempting
to improve these abilities.
Imitating Actions:
Toddlers are great imitators, and they
learn a lot through observation and
mimicking the actions of others.
According to the study of Michigan
state university, 14-month-old kids
learn things by copying their parents.
Imitation is a natural and powerful tool
for learning for young children, and it
helps them absorb new information,
skills, and behaviours. For example,
they may observe and imitate actions
such as talking on the phone, brushing
their teeth, or cooking in the kitchen.

6. Holding A Crayon or Pencil:
A toddler’s fine motor skills have
improved enough to hold a crayon or
pencil, allowing them to start engaging in
early forms of writing and drawing. This
is an important milestone in a toddler's
cognitive and physical development as it
opens up new avenues for them to
express themselves creatively and
experiment with different forms of
communication. They may still struggle
with control and precision in their
movements, but with practice and
repetition, they will continue to improve.
Linguistic Development:
Toddlers are still honing their language
abilities, expanding their vocabulary,
and picking up the usage of two-word
phrases. For example “mama come”,
and “more juice.” Two-word phrases
are a sign of their increasing
proficiency with grammar and syntax,
which are essential abilities for future
language development.

7. Problem Solving Skills:
2-year-olds are beginning to develop
problem solving skills and learning to use
trial and error to find solutions to simple
problems. This is a critical milestone in
toddlers' cognitive development. As a
result of the fact that it creates the
foundation for more advanced problem-
solving abilities.
Social And Emotional
Development:
Kids start to understand other people's
feelings and emotions around the age of
two. They are also becoming more
confident in their interactions with
others and are starting to engage in
cooperative play, sharing toys and
taking turns with friends. This not only
helps them develop social skills, but it
also helps them build a sense of trust
and security with others.

8. Self-Awareness:
By the age of 2, toddlers start to
recognise themselves in the
mirror, which helps them grasp
their physical attributes and
traits. Children begin to develop
a sense of identity thanks to their
growing self-awareness, which
also helps them understand their
own emotions and sensations.
Follow Simple Instructions:
Two-year-olds are capable of
understanding and following
straightforward requests like "come
here" or "give me the toy." Children at
this age are starting to comprehend
fundamental orders and are able to
adhere to straightforward directions,
which contributes to the development
of their sense of security and
confidence.

9. Third Year Developmental Milestone
From 3 years to onwards, toddlers start achieving advanced skills that are the progression
of basic taught abilities. For instance, on average, a child learns to walk in between 10 - 18
months, which means that their gross skills are fully developed by that time. When a
toddler turns 3 years old, the developed gross motor skills start to advance and the kid
starts jumping, climbing, and doing other tasks that involve muscle movements. Here is
an overview of developmental stages that a 3-year old goes through.

10. Motor Skills Advancement:
A 3-year-old child's physical skills continue to
advance. Because of the improvement in their gross
motor abilities, they are better able to climb and
move through barriers. They are also honing their
fine motor abilities, such as the ability to drink from
a cup on their own.
Language Advancement:
Social and Emotional Development:
Critical Thinking:
A 3 year old child is more social. They can
socialise very easily, and make friends in
Montessori class. Moreover, 3-year old
toddlers are less cranky than younger ones, as
they can easily adapt to their surroundings.
A toddler's language is still expanding and
developing after 2 years of age. They can now speak
lengthier phrases and have a larger vocabulary.
Additionally, they are starting to speak independently
and effectively express their needs and wants. For
example, they can say “ I want to play football.” or “I
want to eat an egg.”
A child's cognitive abilities continue to develop
around age three, enabling them to think more
abstractly and comprehend complicated ideas.
They can concentrate for longer stretches of
time and follow directions more successfully.

11. Wrap Up
In conclusion, toddlers between the ages of 2 and 3 need to reach certain developmental
stages. They continue growing and maturing in a variety of domains, including physical,
cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional, and self-awareness developmental stages.
These developmental milestones play a significant role in determining how well your child
is progressing overall. Moreover, it gives you essential information about what to
anticipate and how to encourage your child's learning and advancement. By closely
observing these growth changes, you can make sure that your child thrives as they
continue to grow, develop, and reach their full potential.