ParentSide
Child 1–2 years

19 Month Old

Movement and carrying start to happen at the same time, and words, gestures and sounds increasingly work as one message.

Movement and daily skills

  • Walking while carrying something is a new balance problem, and a faster, less controlled pace often appears before real running does.
  • Taking a more active part with a spoon or cup is common through this period, even when most of it still misses.

Language and thinking

  • Words, gestures and sounds may increasingly be used together in a single attempt to tell you something.
  • Recognising a familiar object or body part when it is named often shows in a glance rather than an answer.

Social and emotional development

  • Simple pretend play may last a little longer than it did, following one idea before moving on.
  • Coming back for help and then returning to independent play is the whole pattern, not an interruption of it.

Try together

Roll a soft ball back and forth and let them decide when to send it back. The waiting is the interesting part.

What can we do today?

37 activity ideas suit this age — most take about five minutes and need nothing you do not already have.

  • Name What You See
  • Your Turn
  • In and Out

Browse activities for 1–2 years

What can we prepare?

ParentSide has 12 recipes for 19–24 months, each with its texture, portion and preparation notes.

See all: Recipes for 19–24 months

Professional support

Services ParentSide defines for this stage. Each page explains what the service covers and which professionals are approved to provide it.

All ParentSide services

Sources and updates

This provides general developmental information and is not a developmental assessment. Speak with a healthcare professional if you have concerns about your child's development.

All months in this stage