Normal Development

• Can feed themselves with a spoon (14+ months)

• Turns the pages of a book (14+ months)

• Scribbles on paper with a crayon or pencil (16–20 months)

• Drinks from a regular cup without help or spilling (16+ months)

• Uses thumb and pointer finger to explore objects, turn knobs and dials, etc. (10–20 months)

• Can draw simple lines (18+ months)

• Stacks 3+ blocks (14–24 months)

• Turns over containers to pour out contents (16–24 months)

• May begin to show a preference for using their right or left hand, but may not fully decide for several more years (16–33 months)

• Likes to explore and examine objects (16–24 months)

What You Can Do

• When reading, let your child turn the pages of the book

• Give your child paper and crayons

• Draw shapes together

• Play with sidewalk chalk

• Do finger painting

• Teach your child to do simple finger games such as “itsy bitsy spider”

• Play games of filling up and dumping

• Play with blocks

• Play with large size legos that are not choking hazards

• Do small knob puzzles

Our Advice

• Remember to be on the lookout for choking hazards

• Allow your child to practice drawing and writing—even when it’s messy!

Try not to compare yourself to other parents, or your child to other children. Every family is different!

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