24-Month Old
Congratulations! At this point, your toddler has stepped into his third year and is in the "terrible twos" phase of his life.
Like his first birthday, you are all excited about celebrating this birthday as well. Invite other children over and keep the party at a time when your toddler is cheerful. When you call other toddlers over, invite their parents also. This makes it easier to tackle tantrums if they arise. For his first birthday, we presented you with a beautiful video on how you could take some good birthday photos. Why not make this year's birthday memorable with some videos? Check out a great video on tips to shoot good birthday videos.
You may decide to start allowing your toddler to watch the Television. While it can be educative, it can also become an addiction. There are two processes which occur while he watches television. The first process involves a reaction to the content of the programme being watched. The child reacts to the programme on the basis of the experiences he brings to it. The second process includes the environment in which he watches the television. Most of the time, parents' viewing habits determine the child's viewing habits - how much, how long and what kind of programmes your child will watch. You can help her develop a balanced viewing schedule. Read more on Watching TV for Children.
You can help your toddler understand the world around him better using his surroundings. This can be by taking him for trips to the park, a grocery store or a zoo. Talk to him about what he sees. Give him a toy sprinkler and ask him to join you when you water your plants. Another stimulating outdoor experience is observing the clouds. Take him outdoors and point to the sky and show him the clouds. Also help him observe how each cloud is different from the other.
You must continue reading to your toddler as much as possible. If he shows interest in handling the book, allow him to do so. This is a key step towards developing his interest in reading. You can also play or sing nursery rhymes to enhance his communication skills.
At this stage, your toddler is very likely to be jumping a bit. He may jump from the bottom step using both feet. He can also walk backwards and use his hands, talk and look around as he moves. He will continue to gain expertise in all the skills he did before. During his second and third years, he is usually not fearful of trying out a new task. For example, he may not request you to open a bottle without trying it for himself. He likes to talk by watching you talk. So you can talk to him the same way you talk to your friend. Also, remember that your child learns by repeated attempts and failures.
