Development
These skills tend to be quite variable. But at this age the typical child:

• Walks fast, walks up stairs with one hand held and walks backward.
• Sits in a small chair, climbs onto an adult chair.
• Kicks and throws a ball.
• Stacks three or four blocks, puts rings on a cone and dumps them then tries again.
• Turns pages in a book, looks selectively at pictures and names some objects.
• Uses a vocabulary of four to ten words with specificity.
• Understands and follows some simple directions.
• Points to body parts on request.
• Pulls a toy.
• Feeds self, uses a spoon and holds/drinks from a cup.
• Dumps a raisin from a bottle without being shown how to do it.
• Holds and shows affection toward a doll or stuffed animal.
• May use a household toy (telephone) appropriately.
• Puckers lips and kisses parent.

Safety
Injury prevention is proactive. Consider the following:

• Use appropriate car restraints.
• Ensure stair and window safety.
• Supervise all play near street or in driveway.
• Never leave child unattended in car or alone in house.
• Guard against falls.
• Never leave a toddler unsupervised near water (pools, bathtubs, wells or bathrooms).
• Guard against electrical injury by using socket covers, cord retracters.
• Knowing how to "swim" does not make a toddler "water-safe."
• Avoid serving food that your child can choke on (nuts, gum, popcorn).

Parenting
These activities provide good examples for modeling important skills and encourage your child to grow in a healthy and happy way:

• Read with your child and discuss picture books.
• Talk at the table during meals.
• Have your child play with interactive toys such as ones they can push or musical toys.
• Provide age-appropriate peers for playing.
• Provide space and encouragement for physical activity.
• Limit television.
• Offer praise.
• Show affection, affirm your child with both words and touch throughout the day.
• Establish a bedtime ritual.

Health
Health maintenance is essential to a child's well-being:

• Brush teeth twice a day with water. Avoid fluoridated toothpaste at this age.
• Perform frequent hand washing.
• Don't share cups, toothbrushes or eating utensils.

Nutrition
Good nutrition is essential to a growing body. Tips include:

• Encourage regular family gatherings and conversation at meals.
• Discourage unhealthy snacks.
• Likes and dislikes change rapidly and dramatically.
• May eat one good meal a day.
• Mealtime should not be battle time.
• Continue fluoride supplementation if appropriate.

Behavior
Childhood behavior may go from one extreme to another. This age is no exception:

• Allow your child to make some simple choices.
• Parents should agree on expectations and management.
• Set limits.
• Follow through consistently.
• Reinforce self-care and self-expression.
• Praise good work and independence.
• Self-comforting behaviors such as thumb-sucking, masturbation or use of a favorite toy is a natural way of handling tension and stress.
• Night fears occur.
• Naps may decrease.

Resources
The following items may be useful:

• Clark, Jean Illsloy. Self-esteem, A Family Affair
• Ginott, Chaim G. Between Parent and Child
• Gordon, Thomas. Parent Effectiveness Training. McKay, 1970.
• Mitchell, Grace. A Very Practical Guide to Discipline With Young Children. Telshare Publ., Inc. MA, 1982.
• Sears, William. Creative Parenting. Dodd, 1983.