Milestones: 16-19 months: emotional development
The first six months after your child’s first birthday is a time of rapid and remarkable emotional development. At this age, your toddler is beginning to experience a huge range of emotions in response to more specific events and thoughts. The trouble is that, while 16- to 19-month-old toddlers are experiencing and expressing these new emotions, they’re not very good at controlling them!
For example, simply preventing a child from reaching out to touch something may be met with a total meltdown lasting more than a few minutes. The challenge is in parents needing to learn how to be patient and not get overly frustrated or angry themselves.
By 16 to 19 months, most toddlers will:
- Show spontaneous affection to familiar people like friends, siblings, nannies and teachers, parents, and grandparents
- Play simple pretend games, like changing a baby’s diaper or cooking dinner in a play kitchen
- Throw the occasional temper tantrum when they’re hungry, uncomfortable, or don’t get their way
- Cling to parents and caregivers in unfamiliar situations
- Try to get your attention and applause by doing new things
- Laugh at silly behavior (wearing socks on your hands, putting a pillow under your feet instead of your head)
- Refuse to share their toys, unless coaxed or forced
- Play happily by themselves for short periods of time
By 16-19 months, some toddlers will try to:
- Explore new places by themselves, but with a parent or caregiver close by
- Defy their parents by loudly saying “no” or refusing to cooperate
By 16-19 months, a few toddlers can:
- Learn to control their tempers and use their words instead of throwing tantrums
- Organize simple games with friends
- Happily share their toys (for brief periods of time) with friends and siblings
More in milestones:
- 16-19 Months: Cognitive Development
- 16-19 Months: Cognitive Development
- Why developmental milestones will make you crazy
Takeaways
- If they haven’t already, many children this age will begin to throw temper tantrums.
- This is the age when babies start laughing at silly behavior.
- Some 16-month-olds are able to share, but this is a challenge for most and completely normal.
This is a fabulous reference for those who are new to the mommy thing or just want to know what they should look forward to at a certain age!
My little one has started to get really clinging when he wasn’t before. I am glad to hear this is normal!
Yes, it’s totally normal and a sign that you have bonded well together. Give lots of reassurance and hugs and this too shall pass!
This is such a great reference!
This is a great reference. I know some parents really worry about specifics and some kids just go at their own pace. =)
Exactly! That’s why we divided into: most, some, few – development is rarely the same from child to child. That’s also why it is important to fill out any developmental check-lists or questions that your pediatrician offers so they can get a feel for the details of your child and know when to be worried.