Toddler Growth & Development

Question 1

Age 1-3 years

Answer 1

• Erikson (theory of Psychosocial development)- autonomy versus shame and doubt. Toddlers in this stage seek to attain autonomy by gaining more self-control in areas such as toileting and food and toy preferences. Success leads to self-confidence and self-control, where feelings of shame and doubt in these areas may lead to a sense of inadequacy.
• Piaget (cognitive development theory)- 2-7 year olds are in the preoperational stage, which is characterized by magical thinking, the belief that their personal thoughts have a direct impact on the real world, and egocentrism, the inability to see things form another perspective
• Freud (psychosexual theory)- anal stage (1-3 years) toddlers are in the anal stage which focuses on pleasure derived from the toddlers enjoyment of holding and releasing bowel movements

-Kohlberg (thoery of moral development) 2-7 year olds are in the stage of conventual moral reasoning and tends to follow set rules for fear of punishment

Question 2

Motor development of a toddler

Answer 2

• walk alone by 15 months
• begin to run
• stands on tiptoes
• climbs stairs while holding on to support by 21 months
• build towers of four or more blocks by age 2
• build towers of more than six blocks by age 3 years
• kick a ball
• climb on furniture by age 2 years
• pull or carry toys while walking
• Run and jump by age 2 years
• plays on a riding toy by age 3
• can turn a door knob

Question 3

Language skills of a toddler

Answer 3

• pointing to objects when named by others
• Recognizing the names of well known people and things
• learning own names
• understanding more than they can speak
• repeating words that are overheard
• saying five words by 12 months
• saying 50 words by 18 months
• converses using 2-3 sentences by the age of 2
• Uses words “I”, “Me”, and “you” by age 3

Question 4

Cognative skills for a toddler

Answer 4

• finding objects that are hidden
• beginning to identify and sort colors and shapes
• beginning to play make-believe
• beginning to scribble and show preference from on hand versus the other

Question 5

Social and emotional milestones for toddlers

Answer 5

• imitate others
• have an awareness of self and separate from others
• begin to enjoy spending time woth other children
• engage in parallel play, playing near other toddlers but not consistently interacting or playing together
• show affection openly
  -begin to display defiance
• display separation anxiety until approximately the end of the second year
• express jealousy at the arrival if a new sibling