If you are excited as your little princess has taken her first steps, the next milestones she will be soon reaching are going to excite you even more. Be prepared to watch these advances of your baby and enjoy!
Image Source: step2direct.com.au
1. Throwing
Every time your baby picks up a ball and throws it (normally between 15 and 18 months), he tests his balance and agility while honing his eye-hand coordination at the same time.
Observe which hand she uses to toss the ball. Children start showing right- or left-handed dominance at around 2 years of age.
To help your little prince master this skill, you should think small, as even a tennis ball may be too big for a toddler’s tiny hands.
Instead play catch with Wiffle ball, sensory balls (they are easy to grasp due to their nubby texture) or beanbags.
2. Dancing
Your kid will soon discover a fun way to challenge his body in the form of dancing and will learn to integrate a range of movements into sequences.
The dancing typically starts between 15 and 20 months.
As you’ll shop for a swing and slide set at Step2 Direct, shop and play various types of music too in your home to encourage your child and return to the tunes she likes the most.
You can even bring her toddler-friendly instruments like a marcara, an egg-shaker or a tambourine, which will help her move to the beat.
Image Courtesy: step2direct.com.au
3. Walking Backward
This action is difficult for a toddler to master, much since it engages the quadriceps and glutes (which normal walking doesn’t).
Your little one may learn how to do it as early as in 15 months, but there is nothing to worry about even if she doesn’t learn it till she turns 2.
A wide range of kids sports toys available at Step2 Direct can be helpful for encouraging backward walking.
4. Jumping
From the age 2 to 3, your baby will begin jumping in place. Initially she’ll hardly get both feet off the ground.
But as time will pass, she’ll spring higher and farther. Significant amount of muscle power is required to get into air and balance as well as agility to land on her feet.
Provide her a soft and safe surface to practise like yoga mat or carpeting.
Another unconventional place to practise this skill is the water. Swimming lessons help enhance muscle tone and coordination, which are important for jumping and all types of gross motor skills.
Once your little one learns to jump in place, you can’t stop him. He’ll be soon seen skipping and hopping down the street with ease.
5. Climbing Stairs
Climbing stairs is a challenging activity that engages the large muscle groups of children and needs balance and strength to shift from one leg to the other.
Most toddlers learn to climb stairs by bending forward and putting their hands on the step above, ultimately progressing onto a railing or your hand at around 18 to 22 months.
Your baby will need to scoot down the stairs on his seat till he learns how to descend on two feet, which may likely take place around his second birthday.
Watch all these advancements in your baby’s growth and be a proud parent.
