Health and Physical Development
Older Toddlers (18 to 36 months)
Components and Developmental Indicators
Older Toddlers (18 to 36 months)
Components and Developmental Indicators
Developmental Indicators
HPD Goal-1: Children develop healthy eating habits.
Occasionally able to make nutritious choices with support.
Feed themselves using utensils and hands.
Accept or refuse food depending on their appetite and personal preference (make food choices at a meal, leave unwanted food on plate, ask for seconds of favorite food).
Notice and talk about food preferences, textures, temperatures, and tastes (crunchy crackers, warm soup, sweet apples).
HPD Goal-2: Children engage in active physical play indoors and outdoors.
Show satisfaction with new active skills and strength (ask others to watch them. “I’m big and strong!”)
With guidance and support, transition from active to quiet activities.
Develop strength and stamina by spending moderate periods of time playing vigorously.
HPD Goal-3: Children develop healthy sleeping habits.
Use language about sleep (“Time for bed,” after clearing lunch things; give sign for sleep).
With guidance, participate in sleep routines (wash hands after lunch, get comfort item, listen to calming songs and/or stories, lie down on bed or mat).
Fall asleep on their own.
Sleep well, waking rested and ready for daily activities.
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.
Coordinate movements for a purpose (kick, jump, step, pedal, push away).
Move through the world with a variety of movements and with increasing independence and control (run, jump, pedal).
Use familiar objects that encourage large motor movements (riding toys, crawl tubes, large ball in basket, slide).
Perform actions smoothly with balance, strength, coordination (dance, bend over to pick up a toy, reach up high on a shelf, walk up and down 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.
Use hands and eyes together with a moderate degree of control (complete puzzles, thread beads with large holes, use shape sorters, put on mittens, painting at easel).
Plan and use more complex refined hand movements (stack a few small blocks, draw, look for a favorite page in a book, practice self-care routines).
Use tools that require finger and hand control (large paintbrush, measuring cups, switches, shovel, rolling pin).
Developmental Indicators
HPD Goal-6: Children develop personal hygiene and self-care skills.
Initiate self-care routines and complete with guidance (put on some clothes, undress, throw away paper towel, begin to show interest in toileting).
Help with snack routines.
HPD Goal-7: Children use safe behaviors and personal safety practices with support from adults.
With guidance, remember cause and effect experiences and apply their experiences to future situations (avoid touching cold railing, walk slowly down steep hill where fall happened).
Increase self-control over their impulses (remind self not to touch something, wait for adult vs. running ahead).
Cooperate with adults in unsafe situation, such as being cautious with unknown dog and taking adult’s hand to cross street.