Infant and Toddler Development

Physical Development:
From the time a child is born through its toddler years, they continue to grow at a rapid
pace. According to Berk, By the end of the first year, a typical infants height is 50
percent greater than at birth (p176). During late infancy babies begin to lose their baby
fat and start to get a greater muscle build up. By two years toddler growth is 75% greater
than at birth.
Language Development:
During this time period babies begin to mimic words and sounds. By the end of
this stage children are using simple common words.
When they want something or need something they point to the object to try to
communicate their desires.
Cognitive Development:
The infant and toddlers brain grows rapidly allowing them to make connections
throughout the day. They begin to understand the world around them.
Children begin to understand simple directions and learn basic skills and begin to
become independent with skills like feeding, undressing, and helping others.
Social-emotional Development:
Begin to form attachments to caregivers, primarily parents.
Begin to learn trust. Babies learn that they can depend on their caregiver to meet
their needs.
Moral Development:
Infants are unable to moralize thoughts, actions, and others.
By late toddlerhood, toddlers are beginning to understand that there are others
around them. They learn that other children and people appear happy, sad, scared,
etc. just like them.
Atypical Development:
During this time period if an infant is not beginning to speak, it should be
addressed with their doctor, as this may be a sign of a delay.

Also, if a child is not walking by early toddlerhood this should be addressed with
the childs doctor.
Play based strategies to influence childs learning:
Parents can help their children grow and develop during this time by creating a
safe, stimulating environment that allows them to explore and learn.
Parents should also talk to their child often and read to them on a regular basis.
Infants: place an item just out of reach and encourage the child to get the object.
This helps to promote movement whether the infant is creeping, crawling, or
walking.
Toddlers: talk often with a variety of words. Introduce your toddler to different
environments, textures, and experiences to expand their knowledge and
vocabulary.

Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
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