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Health and Physical Development
Younger Toddlers (8 to 21 months)

Components and Developmental Indicators

Adorable baby sleeping on white bed with copy space

COMPONENT 1:
Physical Health & Growth

Developmental Indicators

HPD Goal-1: Children develop healthy eating habits. 
 
 
1

green check

Try new foods.

2

green check

Feed self with some assistance.

3

green check

Communicate when hungry, thirsty, or has had enough.

 
 
1

green check

Eat enough to meet nutritional needs, although amount or type of food may vary over time (eat a lot at one meal and little at the next, show interest in many foods but no interest in others).

2

green check

Eat a variety of small pieces of age-appropriate table foods.

3

green check

Distinguish between food and non-food items.

HPD Goal-2: Children engage in active physical play indoors and outdoors. 
 
 
1

green check

Show they enjoy active play and seek to be physically active (choose to play often on climber, laugh and squeal while moving).

2

green check

Anticipate and ask for outdoor play (point at door and say, “Out”, sometimes preferring to stay outside).

3

green check

Engage in regular and sustained movement (push toys around play area, go up and down, slide over and over).

4

green check

Develop strength and stamina when using large muscles and participate in physical activity for longer periods of time.

HPD Goal-3: Children develop healthy sleeping habits. 
 
 
1

green check

Cooperate with sleep routines (choose a book, get preferred sleep toy).

2

green check

Use simple sounds, gestures, or words to show they are tired (say, “Night, night;” go to get familiar stuffed animal or other comfort item).

3

green check

Sleep well, waking rested.

baby-girl-playing-soccer-ball-YT HPD comp

COMPONENT 2:
Motor Development

Developmental Indicators

HPD Goal-4: Children engage in play and movement to develop the large muscle control and abilities needed to explore and move in their environment. 
 
 
1

green check

Develop strength, balance, and coordination by repeating movements (pull up and sit down, bend and straighten, squat to pick something up from the floor).

2

green check

Coordinate arm and leg movements to explore, climb, push, pull, and achieve goals (push a stroller, use riding toys, crawl up steps).

HPD Goal-5: Children engage in play and experiences to develop muscle control and hand-eye coordination to manipulate objects and work with tools. 
 
 
1

green check

Use hands and eyes together for more complex actions (put together and take apart toys, feed themselves finger foods, fill containers).

2

green check

Use hands to explore and manipulate objects (pick up and examine, stack two or three large blocks, pick up or roll a ball, and turn pages in board books).

3

green check

Use simple tools (spoon for feeding hammer with pegs, crayon for scribbling).

mother-washing-baby hands - YT HPD comp 3

COMPONENT 3:
Self-Care, Safety and Well Being

Developmental Indicators

HPD Goal-6: Children develop personal hygiene and self-care skills.
 
 
1

green check

Cooperate and help with care routines and cleanup (mouth-care, hand-washing, diapering, dressing, bathing).

2

green check

Drink from a cup and feed themselves with their fingers or a spoon.

HPD Goal-7: Children use safe behaviors and personal safety practices with support from adults. 
 
 
1

green check

Watch for adult reactions to unfamiliar things or situations that might be dangerous.

2

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Show some caution about unfamiliar and/or unsafe situations.

3

green check

Respond to simple warnings that prevent harm. (“Stop!” “Hot!” “Wait!”)