- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Top 10 Toddler Milestones
Steps in Your Child's Development By Melinda Copp
4. Elaboration of LocomotionAlong with climbing, your toddler will be developingher ability to run and jump. These skills are part of gross motor development, or large muscle functions that control the movements of their growing bodies. "They have no fear," Dr. Horowitz says. "Especially if they have developed trust that you'll catch them." As these skills develop, your toddler will grow more and more active and athletic. 5. Walking up and Down StairsThe ability to walk up and down stairs one foot at a time is another gross motor skill. Although your toddler may start climbing up the stairs on all fours as early as 1, the ability to go up and down one foot at a time won't develop until around 20 months of age. 
6. Fine Motor SkillsAll the smaller, more dexterous movements that involve concentration and hand-eye coordination are fine motor skills. Your child starts mastering these skills with the pincher grasp. Thenhe develops the ability to stack two blocks and put one object inside another around 14 months. By 18 months, your child will probably try scribbling on paper (or whatever else is around) with a crayon.
6. Fine Motor Skills"By 3, your child will be scribbling circles with crayons," says Dr. Tricia Fine, a physician with the Columbus Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "But they start working on these skills early and progress with age."
7. Getting Dressed
By 3,toddlers can partially dress themselves. But they are able to take off some of their clothes much earlier than that. Your little one may like to take off his shoes and diaper as early as 1 year, which can lead to a lot of naked toddler chasing. Your 1-year-old should also be able to help you dress him by ifting his arms over his head and holding his legs up when you put on his pants.