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15.1: What Infants and Toddlers are Like

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    39301
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    During the infant/toddler years, all children depend on responsive, secure relationships to develop and learn. Let’s explore what infants and toddlers are like in terms of their progression through developmental milestones, so that we can connect it to what they need from adults. Here are some representations of what children are like as infants and toddlers. You can find other ages and more developmental milestones in Appendix C.[1]

    2 month old can hold head up, make a fist and eyes follow objects. Coos and smiles. At 4 months holds head steady, rolls from tummy to back, babbles & plays.6 months - rolls in both directions, sits with support, bounces when stood. Enjoys mirrors. 9 months - pulls thereselves up to stand & crawls. Picks up things. Understands NO.

    12 month - walks holding onto furniture, stands alone. Favorite words are mama and uh-oh. Explores. Has favorite toy. 18 months - Walks, starting to run. Scribbles & climbs, speaks two word sentences

    Connor just turned two years old. He runs and walks up and down stairs holding on. He is left-handed and loves to play in the water and pour and dump sand. He is skilled with the shape-sorting toy and can make items in picture books. He speaks in 2 to 4 word sentences and follows simple instructions. He gets excited by other children, but still mostly plays near them (rather than with them). He doesn't always do as he is told (showing defiance).

    Figure 15.1: What infants and toddlers are like at different ages.[2]

    References

    [1] Content by Jennifer Paris is licensed under CC BY 4.0

    [2] Graphics by Ian Joslin and Anthony Flores (licensed under CC BY 4.0) use the following images: image by Raoul and Hannah Snyman (licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0), image (in the public domain), images by the CDC (in the public domain), image by Spc. Anna K. Perry (in the public domain), image by the CDC (in the public domain), image by Marine Cpl. Jessica L. Martinez (in the public domain)


    This page titled 15.1: What Infants and Toddlers are Like is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Paris, Kristin Beeve, & Clint Springer.