As you watch your toddler at play, have you noticed how hard she concentrates on everything she does? Each game or task is a learning proposition, and she’ll gather all sorts of information about the way things work. She’ll also now be able to draw on facts she’s already learned in order to make decisions and find solutions to play-related challenges. However, she’ll be interested in solving only those problems that are appropriate for her developmental and learning level, so hand her a toy that fascinated her at eleven months and she may walk away bored. Or suggest a game that’s too advanced and she’ll object. She’ll be especially attracted to mechanical devices, such as wind-up toys, switches, buttons, and knobs. It may be difficult for you to judge exactly what she can and can’t handle at this age, but it’s not hard for her to decide. Provide her with a range of activities, and she’ll select the ones that are challenging but not completely beyond her abilities.
Imitation is a big part of her learning process at this age. Instead of simply manipulating household objects, as she did during her first year, she’ll actually use a brush on her hair, babble into the phone, turn the steering wheel of her toy car, and push it back and forth. At first, she’ll be the only one involved in these activities, but gradually she’ll include other players. She might brush her doll’s hair, “read” to you from her book, offer a playmate a pretend drink, or hold her toy phone to your ear. Because imitation is such an important part of her behavior and learning, now, perhaps more than ever, you need to be aware of the behaviors that you are modeling for her. Remember, things that you say or do might be replayed (either to your great pleasure or dismay!) over and over again as she plays and learns. Older siblings are crucial here. This copying behavior happens between toddlers and their older siblings. It is an ideal time to take advantage of these natural developmental cues.
Last Updated 8/1/2009
Source Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
