Child 1–2 years
23 Month Old
Movement is becoming purposeful enough to serve an idea, and pretend play starts to follow a short sequence.
Movement and daily skills
- Running, kicking or climbing may become more purposeful for some children — used to get somewhere rather than practised in itself.
- A spoon may be used with more control, and turning a lid or a knob becomes its own small project.
Language and thinking
- Short word combinations may become more frequent, though the range between children stays wide.
- Pointing to familiar pictures or body parts often works best inside a game rather than a question.
Social and emotional development
- Pretend play may follow a short sequence with more than one step, and the order starts to matter to them.
- Noticing that someone else is upset, and reacting to it, may become more visible.
Try together
Set up a two-step pretend routine together — fill the cup, then offer it — and let them lead the order.
What can we do today?
42 activity ideas suit this age — most take about five minutes and need nothing you do not already have.
- Your Turn
- Who Is That?
- The Kitchen Drum
What can we prepare?
ParentSide has 12 recipes for 19–24 months, each with its texture, portion and preparation notes.
Professional support
Services ParentSide defines for this stage. Each page explains what the service covers and which professionals are approved to provide it.
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, or if your child has lost a skill they once had — and you can ask about developmental screening.