By eighteen to thirty-six months, the toddler develops a sense of independence and separation from their parents. They are particularly attached to their mothers. They become insistent on doing things by themselves and need help enhancing their independence. The eighteen to twenty-four- month toddler will begin to use simple sentences. They have a larger vocabulary and can begin to put together words. They can engage in conversation to a limited degree and are rapidly learning new words all the time. They model speech after others but do not exhibit correct grammar skills. At twenty-four months, they begin to connect their own feelings and behaviors as they relate to others. They learn empathy toward others and feel bad when others are sad. Some toddlers will develop normally for a while but will regress during times of increased anxiety or stress.
PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT This section is about the development of preschoolers. Three-year-old preschoolers often question everything and are fixated on questions starting with the word “why”. They will pay attention to the answers given when they ask a question and begin to understand social rules. They understand that some behaviors are done because they are good for them but do not understand detailed explanations of what behaviors are appropriate. Three-year-old preschoolers develop reasoning skills but cannot see things from different angles and cannot solve complex problems. They develop logic skills but cannot think logically about complex things. They develop a better sense of time around three years of age. They develop daily routines but do not understand that others may have different routines. They understand that there are special days, such as holidays and birthdays but don‟t have a sense of when these events occur nor do they understand the length of a year. By the age of four years, the child can understand many basic but abstract concepts. They understand that the day is divided into morning, afternoon, and night. They understand the concept of the different seasons. By the age of five, they can count on a limited basis and understand the days of the week. They understand that days can be measured in hours and minutes and understand some of the letters of the alphabet. They understand geometric shapes. Children at this age need to have a wide variety of learning opportunities. They need to go places that can help them learn new things and actively participate in the learning process. They develop special talents and interests now and should be allowed to develop these interests as they become evident. They should be allowed to develop their interests by exploring activities that they find fascinating. 9|Page
