Developmental Milestones for Pre-Toddlers (12 to 24 Months)

In the second year of life, pre-toddlers learn most effectively when they feel emotionally safe, engaged, and curious. When their hearts are engaged, their minds naturally follow. This stage of pre-toddler developmental milestones is marked by growing independence, expanding language, and emerging memory.

How Toddlers Grow in the Second Year

Development between 12–24 months is not just about walking and talking.

The second year is centred on:

• Growing independence and confidence.
• Understanding language before speaking clearly.
• Memory develops through repetition and routine.
• Learning through imitation and observation.
• Curiosity, imagination, and early problem-solving.
• Emotional connection guiding behaviour and learning.

Parent Foundations and Development Support Checklist

These everyday experiences help nurture your toddler’s healthy brain, emotional, and learning development:

• I create moments of warm connection before guiding or teaching.
• I engage my child emotionally before asking them to focus.
• I keep activities short, playful, and age-appropriate.
• I follow my child’s interest rather than forcing attention.
• I understand that my child’s natural concentration is brief, often their age plus one minute.
• I repeat activities across days instead of expecting immediate results.
• I turn daily routines into learning moments.
• I focus on joy and curiosity rather than performance or outcomes.
• I allow learning to happen through play, movement, and interaction.

Practising skills through play! In our Shichida Toddler Class, little hands learn to grasp and release small objects using chopsticks – strengthening fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and early concentration skills.

12-15 Months: Confidence in Movement & Connection

In the second year, toddlers learn most effectively when they feel emotionally safe and curious. Walking becomes steadier and your child will show a strong interest in people and shared attention.

Developmental Focus:

• Walking is becoming steadier and more intentional.
• Strong interest in people and shared attention.
• Pointing to express needs and curiosity.
• Understanding simple words and routines.
• Repeating favourite actions, gestures or sounds.

Parents’ Checklist:

• My child walks with growing confidence.
• My child points to show interest or need.
• I talk gently about what we are doing together.
• I offer safe objects with different textures.
• We repeat favourite songs, games and routines.

15-18 Months: Understanding Before Speaking

Toddlers at this stage understand far more words than they can actually speak. You will see them imitating your actions during play and using their hands purposefully to stack or push objects.

Developmental Focus:

• Understanding far more words than can be spoken.
• Following very simple instructions.
• Showing preferences for familiar people and objects.
• Imitating actions during play.
• Using hands purposefully, such as stacking, placing, or pushing.

Parents’ Checklist:

• My child follows simple directions.
• I model actions for my child to copy.
• My child shows interest in books.
• I give time to try things independently.
• I name objects slowly and clearly.

18-21 Months: Memory, Language & Imagination Emerging

This stage is characterised by the emergence of pretend play and an improved memory for where objects are stored. Your toddler will begin to use more words with meaning as their vocabulary expands.

Developmental Focus:

• Using more words with meaning.
• Remembering where favourite objects are kept.
• Recognising familiar routines.
• Beginning pretend play, like feeding dolls or driving cars.
• Sorting or grouping objects in simple ways.

Parents’ Checklist:

• My child uses some meaningful words.
• I encourage pretend play.
• We look at picture books daily.
• My child recognises familiar routines.
• I praise effort rather than correctness.

21-24 Months: Thinking, Story & Social Awareness

As they approach two years, toddlers start combining words into short phrases. They develop a longer attention span during shared reading and show more curiosity about playing near other children.

Developmental Focus:

• Combining words into short phrases.
• Longer attention during shared reading.
• Curiosity about other children.
• Better movement control.
• Early problem-solving through play.

Parents’ Checklist:

• My child tries to use short phrases.
• I read interactively every day.
• My child enjoys playing near other children.
• I allow trial and error.
• We celebrate effort, not speed.

Toddler Classes That Support Early Brain Development

Early learning does not need to be academic or pressured. It can be joyful, play-based, and deeply connected. The Shichida program focuses on nurturing:

• Memory and attention.
• Imagination and curiosity.
• Emotional security.
• Parent-child connection.

Our classes are designed around these principles, supporting toddlers through guided, joyful experiences that build strong foundations for learning.

Resources to Support Pre-Toddler Developmental Milestones

Supporting your pre-toddler’s developmental milestones happens in everyday moments. Short, playful interactions at home build independence, strengthen language and memory, and deepen your connection.

Shichida Toddler Classes

Shichida Toddler Classes offer guided, milestone-focused experiences that support your child’s expanding language, movement, and curiosity. Structured around toddler developmental milestones, our classes nurture confidence, connection, and joyful learning.