Tag Archives: development

What Does 14 Months Old Look Like?

Toddler development is a funny thing, isn’t it. As your baby grows into a toddler, it’s anybody’s guess as to what skills he will master first. Some toddlers walk early and speak late while others build a pretty hefty vocabulary before they take their first steps. There are plenty of guidelines in books and online that provide a good estimate of what your toddler might be doing, and when. Today, I realized that I did not keep track of many of Dylan’s milestones and I have not really been keeping track of Blake’s either. I have been taking lots of … Continue reading →

Talk, Listen, Read, Repeat.

The development of vocabulary that happens as a toddler grows is absolutely amazing. Even though Blake is just getting started with words, I am still very excited to be able to witness the miracle of toddler vocabulary development for a second time. As an experienced parent, I know that there are many companies out there who will have you believe that your toddler’s vocabulary will not develop well unless you buy and use their product or educational program. As an experienced parent, I can also tell you that that is simply not true. Parents, not products or programs, are perfectly capable … Continue reading →

The Link Between Toddler Milestones and Unusual Behavior

Did you know that when your toddler is learning to walk and talk, there could be regressions in other areas of his behavior? Mastering new skills is hard work, and it can push a toddler’s system into overload. If your previously mild mannered tot is suddenly throwing tantrums or your little one’s formerly very regular nap time is becoming difficult to predict, there may be a developmental growth spurt happening. While it is exciting that your toddler is acquiring new skills at a very fast pace, the accompanying changes in his or her behavior can be unsettling. Simply knowing that there is … Continue reading →

What Happens During the Toddler Years

Now that Dylan has turned three and Blake has had his first birthday, I am thinking a lot about just how much growth and development occurs during the two years that a child is a toddler. For example, right now even though he is technically a toddler, when I look at Blake I still see a baby because he is just beginning his journey through the advances in physical ability, physical appearance, and verbal skills that are the milestones of the toddler years. Blake has taken a few steps here and there, and he cruises around a lot, but his … Continue reading →

TV Watching and the Toddler

Most toddlers have short attention spans and will, thankfully, limit their own television watching. Unhealthy habits can form when kids get too much TV. The general rule is for a child to view no more than 30 minutes of television a day. Even educational programming counts against this time. Educational programming does provide great information, but most toddlers will learn these skills in due time without having to watch it on television. Experts say that kids, who watch more than 30 minutes of TV a day, are developing sedentary lifestyle habits, which will be hard to overcome when they get … Continue reading →

Happily Clapping

I noticed a new skill in my son the other day: clapping. He was sitting on his little playmat, surrounded by toys, when he heard a song that my wife had previously played to him in the womb repeatedly. He got a big smile on his little face, his eyes lit up bright, he readied his entire body and flung his arms up and behind with a great force in order to bring them back together and create that marvelous clapping sound. My son puts his entire being into clapping and if he is sitting up throws himself off balance … Continue reading →

Do Fetuses Have Memory and Other News

A new study suggests that babies in the womb may be able to remember. This is exciting news, not just in itself. Testing babies on their memory while they are still in the womb may help detect developmental issues as early as possible. The study was conducted at Maastricht University Medical Center in The Netherlands and published in the journal, Child Development. Fetuses were given a form of stimulation by vibration. At first the babies were startled, but after several introductions of the stimulus, they seemed to ignore it. Furthermore, fetuses tested when they got older seemed to “remember” the … Continue reading →

When Children Regress, Part Two

Earlier today, I shared some of the reasons why children might regress in terms of their behavior. While some regression can be typical during times of stress, trauma and transition, more obvious physical regression that does not appear to be isolated or rooted in an event can signify a developmental disability and should be evaluated by a doctor. As a parent, you can start by trying some strategies to see if you can get a child back on track and then if things do not improve, you may want to contact a physician or child development specialist. There are a … Continue reading →

Welcoming Natural Cycles

Life is not linear. As much as we would like to make predictable plans and schedule out the next year or even the next decade—life just does not work that way. Instead, what many of us discover is that life tends to move in cycles. Over time, we can start to notice and accept these cycles as they move and spiral through our lives. In fact, we can even learn how to welcome these natural cycles instead of trying to resist, steer, and eradicate them. Whether it is with our child or children, or with ourselves, there are natural cycles … Continue reading →

Riding Without Training Wheels

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Well, it happened today at about 7:15 EST. Our baby daughter, who is almost 6 years old, rode her bike without training wheels for the first time. Yippee! My two daughters came inside and announced this evening that the 6-year-old was ready for the big moment. My wife and I retreated to the front sidewalk of our addition to cheer her on. I took off her training wheels and guided her about 10 to 20 feet before it was clear she did not need me anymore – boy, I don’t like the sound of that. I’m already starting to have … Continue reading →