Between 19 months and two years, toddlers develop rapidly. For toddlers with autism or similar disorders, developments may come at a different pace than others. ACES ABA can support you and your child through early infant intervention services so they can continue developing skills. Contact our ABA therapists today to learn more about our program.

Cognitive Milestones

As their curiosity and imagination grow, toddlers become increasingly interested in exploring their environment and understanding how things work. They can find hidden items and sort shapes and colors, build towers of blocks, and play simple make-believe games. They can finish sentences or rhymes in familiar books and name items in a picture book such as cat, bird, or dog. Two-step instructions such as "Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet" can be followed at this stage.

Adaptive Milestones

Life skills such as eating, drinking, and dressing grow as the toddler becomes more independent. They can request certain foods or liquids and remove shoes and socks. Their feeding skills are more developed as they can eat and drink independently with utensils, wash their hands, and unwrap food. They may insist on doing things alone, and they can also help with everyday tasks like clearing dishes or putting away toys. They can communicate the need to eliminate and pull pants down independently, so potty training may begin at this stage.

Movement Milestones

During this period, toddlers become more mobile and refine their gross and fine motor skills. They can open doors, hold a cup with one hand, and handle fragile objects like eggs. They can make or copy straight lines or circles with crayons. They can run, jump, climb stairs, and kick or throw a ball more easily.

Social and Emotional Milestones

Toddlers at this age continue to become more social and develop stronger bonds with family members and caregivers. They copy others, especially adults and older children. They get excited when playing with other children and show more independence. Tantrums and defiant behavior may also occur due to their newfound emotions and desires. You'll notice your toddler plays mainly beside other children but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase games.

Communication Milestones

Between 19 months and two years, toddlers continue to expand their vocabulary and may begin to combine words to form simple sentences of two to four words. They know the names of familiar people and body parts and can repeat words overheard in conversation. They become more skilled at expressing their needs and wants, as well as their thoughts and feelings.While every toddler develops at their own pace, understanding these key milestones can give parents a sense of what to expect and help identify potential developmental concerns. If you have concerns about your toddler's development, contact ACES ABA, the leading provider of services for children with autism. We can help you and your toddler thrive!