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Toddlerhood consists of the years from about 1 to 3 years of age. Dramatic advances occur in language, interpersonal skills, and affective, motor, cognitive and physical growth. Affective development is toddler development, babies, growth, learning, toddler highlighted by the toddler's striving for autonomy and independence, attachment to family, and the development of impulse control. Cognitive development is characterized by the toddler development, babies, growth, learning, toddler transition from sensorimotor to preoperational thought.
Growth Rate and Physical Appearance
After the rapid growth of infancy, the rate of growth slows in the toddler years. After age 2, toddlers gain about 5 lb in weight and 2.5 inches in height each year. Head circumference only increases by about 1 inch from 2 to 12 years. Growth often occurs in spurts. Between the ages of 2 and 2.5 years, the child will have reached 50% of his adult height.
Growth of the lower extremities often is accompanied by tibial torsion and physiologic bowing of the legs, which usually corrects by age 3 years. The percentage of body fat steadily decreases from 22% at age 1 year to about 15% at age 5 years.
Gross Motor Skills
Complex gross motor patterns rapidly develop, and balance and coordination improve. Most children walk without assistance by 18 months.
At 2 years, the stiff, wide-leg gait of early toddlerhood.