Building Blocks: Milestones at 19 - 24 Months Old

In this video, Dr. Preeti Parikh talks about what you can expect from your child when they reach 19-24 months old.

In this video, Dr. Preeti Parikh talks about what you can expect from your child when they reach 19-24 months old. Their vocabulary will be increasing exponentially and they will likely know around 50 words so it is important to talk and sing to them as much as possible. It is important to have both structured and unstructured time. Be mindful of the new skills your child has acquired such as running, jumping and climbing. If your child is not doing any of the things Dr. Parikh mentions in the video, contact your pediatrician to see if your child has some form of developmental delays.

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This video features Preeti Parikh, MD. Dr. Parikh, a board-certified pediatrician affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, is HealthiNation's chief medical editor.

Duration: 2:44. Last Updated On: Nov. 13, 2017, 3:26 p.m.

00:00 [MUSIC]
00:05 I'm Dr. Preeti Parikh.
00:07 Phew, where has the time gone?
00:10 The last 19 months have flown by,
00:12 and your little bundle is now a little person who's full of personality.
00:17 The fun has only just begun, cuz over the next five months,
00:20 you'll notice lots of leaps in language, social and cognitive skills.
00:25 You should see your toddler begin using a vocabulary of about 50 words.
00:29 But only months earlier it was only a handful of words.
00:33 That is why it's key to read to your child and make sure to talk and
00:36 sing to them as much as possible.
00:39 Your child will also be able to link those words in short two word sentences like,
00:44 me want and point to a desired object.
00:48 True pronouns like I, me, and you may not always be used correctly, but
00:53 the meaning is understandable and appropriate to the situation.
00:58 Your child's dexterity has matured too.
01:01 Children 19 to 24 months can easily create towers of blocks stacked seven high.
01:06 Hey, from a toddler's point of view, that's a skyscraper.
01:10 They can also turn the pages of the book you're reading to them,
01:13 one page at a time.
01:15 Keep little hands and
01:16 minds challenged and busy with age appropriate activities and toys.
01:21 Lead them in some activities first and
01:23 then let them have some unstructured play time.
01:26 Speaking of playtime, children this age are capable of independent play.
01:31 That means that two children are playing by themselves.
01:34 But, in the same spaces each other.
01:37 Playing together will come a little later.
01:39 Toddlers at this age are able to go up and
01:41 down steps without any help, but the child safety gates should remain up for
01:46 a bit longer until they're about three years old to avoid any accidents.
01:50 As big and grown up they seem to be now, children this age still need to
01:55 use a rear-facing safety seat every time they ride in a car.
01:59 At least until they are two or until they have reached the maximum height and
02:02 weight restrictions set by the car seat manufacturer.
02:06 And speaking of age appropriate safety, you child at this stage should
02:09 still never be left unattended in a bathtub even just for a moment.
02:14 Childhood is so full of wonder.
02:16 Help your toddler acquire new skills while keeping them out of harm's way.
02:21 Be mindful of the skills your little one has acquired, running, jumping, and
02:25 climbing, and take the necessary steps to keep them safe.
02:29 If your child hasn't yet shown some of the language and
02:32 dexterity skills I've just mentioned, speak with your pediatrician to
02:36 see what is recommended to get your toddler up to speed.
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