toddler obstacle course

Setting Up a Toddler Obstacle Course

CME WebsitesChild Development, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

Depending on your toddler’s physical development and needs, there are a variety of obstacles you can introduce to develop his/her gross motor skills. Obstacle courses are a great tool in pediatric physical therapy and used by many therapists in the field. Therapists and parents often know what muscle groups need strengthening, but asking a toddler to perform a regimen of …

No Stairs, No Problem! Tips to Help With Stair Climbing Skills

CME WebsitesChild Development, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months, Walking

Stairs are an important part of our everyday lives.  Many families have stairs inside or leading into their homes.  Other families may not have stairs in their home but will visit friends’ or relatives’ houses that have stairs. Common questions that parents often ask therapists are: “When should my child be able to crawl or walk up the stairs” and …

fine motor development in toddlers and preschoolers

Fine Motor Development in Toddlers and Preschoolers

CME WebsitesChild Development, Pre-Schoolers 36 - 60 Months, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

During the first year of life, a child develops and gains new skills at an amazing rate. The infant goes from not having any voluntary control over his or her arms and hands to being able to grasp a small raisin with the thumb and index finger in a mature pincer grasp by his or her first birthday. But, fine …

bottle weaning

Weaning From Bottle and Pacifier: When and Why

CME WebsitesChild Development, Mealtime, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

All parents must face the task of weaning their children from a bottle at some point, but when is the best time to do it? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends doing it by the time healthy children are 15 months. If there are significant concerns regarding the child’s health and nutrition, it is always advised to check with a child’s pediatrician before weaning from the bottle.

Feeding Skills Developmental Milestones for Infants and Toddlers

CME WebsitesChild Development, Infants 3 - 12 Months, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

Feeding your baby is one of the most important aspects of child care.  When it does not work as you expect or is a stressful event, it can be of great concern. Here are some developmental milestones to look for at this age: Feeding Skills at 4 – 6 Months Baby will feed in semi-reclined position Visually recognizes bottle Continues …

Speech Development for Toddlers 12 – 24 Months

CME WebsitesChild Development, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

In speech development, typical 18-month-olds can: Use 10-15 words spontaneously Attempt to sing Say “No” meaningfully Gesture to express needs Name one or two familiar objects In speech development, most two-year-olds can: Understand “no” Use 10 to 20 words, including names Combine two words such as “daddy bye-bye” Wave good-bye and plays pat-a-cake Make the “sounds” of familiar animals Give …

Speech Development for Toddlers 24 – 36 Months

CME WebsitesChild Development, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

In speech development, most two-and-a-half-year olds can: Use 50+ words Answer questions Refer to self as “I” or “me” Communicate mostly with speech and shows frustration when misunderstood In speech development, most three-year-olds can: Identify body parts Carry on a ‘conversation’ with self and dolls Ask “what’s that?” And “where’s my?” Use 2-word negative phrases such as “no want” Form …

Top 4 Questions About Speech Therapy for Infants & Toddlers

CME WebsitesChild Development, Infants 3 - 12 Months, Resources, Special Needs Diagnoses, Therapy Options, Toddlers 12 - 36 Months

Can you provide therapy for an infant as young as 3 or 6 months? How do you go about getting a child of that age to understand and respond? Children are interactive from birth and are learning the building blocks of speech, language and overall communication from very early in life. Even a newborn child is communicating! There are very …