24 Months

How your toddler's growing
Happy birthday! It seems like just yesterday he was a baby, and now he's two. Your child spent most of last year developing his motor skills, like walking, running, and reaching out. This year you'll see a lot of changes in his thinking. About now he starts to form images in his mind, organise categories and arrange things in order. His memory is also improving and a minority of children of this age will already know their basic colours. Some can even count up to five.

Your life: making conversation
You might be able to have a two or three-sentence conversation with your toddler. He's learning new words, getting an idea of grammar, and getting better at describing his needs, wants, and ideas. As his sense of himself as a distinct person grows, he'll talk about himself -- what he's doing, what he likes, and what he doesn't like. These strong views can lead to conflict if you don't take notice of his feelings -- try to take the middle road and encourage your toddler to co-operate with you.

Check up time
In some areas toddler developmental checks are given now -- they can be carried out any time between 18 and 24 months. The next isn't due until your child is three. Come armed with any questions you want to ask. If you want your child to go to nursery school or preschool, it's worth contacting your local Childcare Information Service to find out about provision in your area. Another check-up worth booking over the next year is a family trip to the dentist -- not only will this help your toddler get used to having his teeth looked at, hopefully before he needs treatment, but it's also a good opportunity to get advice on teeth cleaning and diet.