Appointments and activities – What's coming up in the 18th month?
Meeting peers: Most children like meeting other children their age. However, don't expect too much when you arrange playdates – the little ones don't play together yet, but each plays on their own. Just enjoy the time when you can exchange experiences with other parents.
Family activities: Especially when older siblings are in the house, it's difficult to find something that the whole family enjoys. Now that the youngest child can walk, the siblings can play together more and more. Not only do the parents benefit from this, but the children do as well. On a joint outing to the park or playground, the older sibling can show the baby what there is to discover.
Important developmental milestones in the 18th month
Self-recognition: Toddlers are now quite familiar with their own bodies. They point to the relevant body parts and some children can already name them.
Climbing: Whether it's the climbing frame on the playground or the stairs in the house – at 18 months many children are enthusiastic climbers. Support your little one and give them assistance when climbing down.
Expressing: The vocabulary of toddlers is constantly growing. When you look at a picture book together, your child will probably now begin to express what they see. Through animal sounds, words and pointing, they let you know what they have discovered.
Repetitions: Through repetition, toddlers can better perceive and process what they hear or see. That's why they also love it when they can listen to songs or stories several times in a row.
Walking backwards: Every child develops at their own pace. By 18 months most children can walk confidently without help – forwards and backwards.
New stimuli: Toddlers are constantly exposed to new stimuli and take in a lot of new things in everyday life. In the process, they develop their own will and express their demands. If they encounter resistance, it can lead to tantrums.
