Twenty-one months

This month your toddler should be able to recognize when she makes mistakes. If she confuses words – sister and brother, or dog and cat, for instance – she may laugh at her mistake, or even correct herself.

This is a positive step forward as your child’s comprehension of ‘the rules of language’ is developing. Read our article helping your toddler to talk for more advice on this.

At 21 months you may notice that your little one’s world is not so self-centered as she begins to enjoy the company of others. Being with other children will help her to learn new skills (all children are copycats) and helps her to become more social. Some toddlers lean towards wanting to be with others from an early age, and others are more comfortable playing on their own. Children this age don’t ‘play together’ in the way that older children do – they tend to play alongside each other, with minimal interaction. At this early stage there is nothing to worry about and you can be assured that your child is learning from what she observes other children doing. See building social skills and sharing for more tips.

Your baby may have become adept at removing her socks and sunhat at an early age, and soon she will probably be keen to try dressing and undressing. She may be able to pull on a simple elastic-waist skirt or loose t-shirt, for example. Shoes may be a little hard, but you can try getting shoes with simple Velcro fastenings which she can do up and undo once you’ve put the shoes on her feet – give her the opportunity to try out her skills and gain a little independence. She will get frustrated when she can’t do up a button, though, so make sure you wait patiently at the sidelines to offer assistance when frustrations are brewing! Read helping your child to overcome frustration for more tips on dealing with this.

If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other parents or our resident experts for all those toddler issues you may be having.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 16/06/2008

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