Toddlers are aged 13 months to 3 years old. During this time, they experience significant physical growth and development. By 24 months, most toddlers will have reached 50-53% of their adult height and will continue growing 2-3 inches and gaining 6 pounds per year. Their teeth and bones are also developing, and toddlers should have a full set of baby teeth by 24 months. In terms of motor skills, toddlers start walking between 9-18 months and work on developing gross motor skills like running, jumping, climbing, and throwing/catching. Their fine motor skills also improve as they learn to hold spoons, cups, books, and writing tools.

1. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT-TODDLERS

2. TODDLERS- WHO ARE THEY?
 Aged 13 months to 3 years old
 Not a “toddler” until they are walking

3. HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
 Most girls hit 53% of
their adult height by 24
months
 Most boys hit 50% of
their adult height be 24
months
 After 24 months .. Gain
2-3 inches and 6lbs a
year
Age Height
Avg.
Weight
Avg.
12 mo 30 in 21lb
18 mo 32 in 24.5lb
24 mo 34 in 27 lb
30 mo 36 in 30 lb
36 mo 38 in 32lb

4. GROWTH CHARTS

5. TEETH AND BONES
 After 24 months should have a full set of deciduous
teeth … “baby teeth”

6. LARGE MUSCLE … GROSS MOTOR
 Walking- 9 to 18 months, feet wide apart, feet
turned outward, tiptoes because haven’t learned to
use fine motor skills to lower their heels, sideways
walkers, arms up and out, toddlers can take up to
170 steps per minute
 Running- arms up and out, awkward, not skilled
 Jumping- stepping off is how they learn, move arms
backward instead of forward
 Climbing- onto furniture, going up stairs is easier,
not changing feet
 Throwing/Catching- rigid throwers, same hand
same foot, can’t time release of object, squat and
pick up objects

7. SMALL MUSCLES … FINE MOTOR
 Fine motor depends on hand eye coordination
 Practice makes perfect
 12-18 months:
Hold spoons in fist, drink from cups
 15 months:
Fill and empty containers, make marks on paper by
holding object with fist, take off hat and socks, turn
pages of books
 18 months
Turn knobs, hold writing objects using fingers, hit pegs
with hammer
 24 months
Handedness starts showing, 95% righties