Language and Literacy Development Journey: Toddlerhood Introduction
Language development usually begins with using sounds and gestures during the infancy stage of development. However, during the toddler stage of development of language, children will begin to link concepts of interest to language (Pence & Justice, 2017). When a child reaches
his or her first birthday, the child will begin to speak his or her first words. According to Pence & Justice (2017), the child is transitioning from preverbal to verbal communication. During this
stage, children will begin to speak words and use the words in contexts appropriately. During this period of development, the child will begin using new words regularly. It is important to observe to see if the child is appropriately developing in areas of cognitive, physical, and social-
emotional development to effectively express his or herself and to appropriately develop language to speak and also to understand how to read and comprehend words while improving their literacy development. Developmental checklist: Toddlerhood
Parents need to understand the developmental milestones of all areas of development. When parents understand each milestone, the child’s language development will develop appropriately. During the toddler stage of development, children age 1 to 3 years old are expected to: Gross Motor
Walking, running, and climbing Fine Motor
Feeding themselves independently and
drawing Sensory
Seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and
