Milestones: 16-19 Months: Emotional Development
The first six months after your child’s first birthday is a time of rapid and remarkable emotional development. At this age, your toddler is beginning to experience a huge range of emotions in response to more specific events and thoughts. The trouble is that, while 16- to 19-month-old toddlers are experiencing and expressing these new emotions, they’re not very good at controlling them!
For example, simply preventing a child from reaching out to touch something may be met with a total meltdown lasting more than a few minutes. The challenge is in parents needing to learn how to be patient and not get overly frustrated or angry themselves.
By 16 to 19 months, most toddlers will:
Show spontaneous affection to familiar people like friends, siblings, nannies and teachers, parents, and grandparents
Play simple pretend games, like changing a baby’s diaper or cooking dinner in a play kitchen
Throw the occasional temper tantrum when they’re hungry, uncomfortable, or don’t get their way
Cling to parents and caregivers in unfamiliar situations
Try to get your attention and applause by doing new things
Laugh at silly behavior (wearing socks on your hands, putting a pillow under your feet instead of your head)
Refuse to share their toys, unless coaxed or forced
Play happily by themselves for short periods of time
By 16-19 months, some toddlers will try to:
Explore new places by themselves, but with a parent or caregiver close by
Defy their parents by loudly saying “no” or refusing to cooperate
By 16-19 months, a few toddlers can:
Learn to control their tempers and use their words instead of throwing tantrums
Organize simple games with friends
Happily share their toys (for brief periods of time) with friends and siblings
More in milestones:
16-19 Months: Cognitive Development
16-19 Months: Cognitive Development
Why developmental milestones will make you crazy
Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Important Milestones: Your Child at Eighteen Months.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension - Developmental Milestones: Toddler.
National Network for Child Care - Developmental Milestones: A Guide for Parents, the Second Year.
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