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24-36 Month Developmental Milestones

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18-24 Month Developmental Milestones

Movement and physical development

Normal development

  • Climbs well
  • Runs easily
  • Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
  • Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
  • Can copy a circle
  • Can string multiple 1-inch beads on a string

Possible challenges from treatment

  • May regress in previously mastered skills
  • May have fewer opportunities to achieve physical milestones due to treatment

Ways to help

  • Provide opportunities for activities such as coloring, large puzzles, and musical toys
  • Encourage fun physical activities when possible
 

Language and communication

Normal development

  • Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
  • Can name most familiar objects
  • Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
  • Says name and gender
  • Names a friend
  • Says words such as “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
  • Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
  • Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Possible challenges from treatment

  • May have difficulty expressing themselves
  • Hearing problems may be possible in some cases.

Ways to help

  • Read books that include rhyming words and repetition
  • Continue to introduce new words such as identifying colors, shapes, animals, etc. as you point to them
  • Follow directions for proper hearing aid use if prescribed.

Social and emotional

Normal development

  • Copies adults and friends
  • Shows affection for friends without prompting
  • Takes turns in games
  • Shows concern for crying friend
  • Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
  • Shows a wide range of emotions
  • Separates easily from mom and dad
  • May get upset with major changes in routine
  • Dresses and undresses self

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Difficulties in maintaining schedule
  • Limited choices in hospital and lack of control
  • Limited opportunities for social interactions

Ways to help

  • Maintain routines as much as possible to increase feeling of security
  • Offer choices when possible to give sense of control and promote independence
  • Provide opportunities for group play when possible with other children
 

Thinking and learning

Normal development

  • Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
  • Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
  • Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
  • Understands what “two” means
  • Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
  • Turns book pages one at a time
  • Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
  • Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Imaginary thinking causes misconceptions and fears

Ways to help

  • Provide opportunities to explore medical equipment with play
  • Provide varied toys, experiences, and games to promote cognitive development
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18-24 Month Developmental Milestones

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