Toddlers – Physical Development
Physical Development in Toddlers
Chapter 5.7
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One-year-old Ved, sits on the rug busily pulling apart the straws from a box. He sees his elder sister munching berries. Wanting to join the fun, he grabs onto the sofa, pulls himself to standing, and cruises along the edge moving towards his sister. As he begins to stand unsupported, the strength and control in his back and leg muscles increase. Soon he was seen pushing his stroller in the park. And no sooner than later he took his first steps!
Senior Toddlers (ages 2-3 yrs) is the age when your new walker evolves from his/her wide legged toddle walk to a smoother gait. This develops the ability to run, jump and hop. Some common traits of Large Motor Skill development is the ability to throw or catch large balls, ability to push around a riding toy with his/her feet.
2 to 3 year-olds often begin showing a preference for using one hand more often than the other, which is the beginning of becoming left or right-handed. You know your toddler’s fine motor skills are getting honed when: s/he is found scribbling (while finger painting or crayons), gets engrossed stacking blocks or pulling them apart, trying to make something out of the playdough, trying to place pegs into the board, or inserting threads through big hollow beads and so on.
Let’s Reflect
Focus needs to be upon how you can help your toddler develop an active lifestyle.
This is the phase when your toddler is naturally consumed in exploring and establishing his/her physical development. It would seem like your child is on repeat mode! Going over and over again on the skills s/he knows. This is necessary to ensure strengthening of those connections in the brain. Once the base is set, your toddler will build upon them to develop more complex skills.
When your toddler begins to walk independently.
It is such a dramatic shift! It is indeed such a joy to watch your little one marching around to the tune of his/her own music, moving from object to object, eager to explore the world! Yet there is a deep-rooted need within him/her to know that mommy/daddy is right behind to safeguard from any potential mishaps.
Physical development opens doors for development in other areas:
Cognitive development (thinking skills) in toddlers:
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Enables your child to understand the cause and effect concept (a contributor to cognitive development) for e.g.: “if I run towards pigeons they will fly away”,
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Gets their minds into action to replicate real world scenarios… makes the “choo-choo” sound while toying around blocks put together
Social development in toddlers:
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Uses specific behaviors involving motor skills to connect with their peers. For example, knowing you’re in there, crawls/waddles up to the bathroom and bangs the door
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pushing and pulling a friend in a wagon while outdoors, allows your toddler to learn about others’ feelings and relationships.
Encourages literacy & communication:
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Is able to waddle his/her way and points and tries to speak out the name of the object of interest: Banana, big toy etc.
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Holding a stick to scribble in the wet muds, is preparing those finer muscles towards writing (literacy).
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