Your Clever Toddler in Week 95: Completing Tasks

You don't need to teach your child the "right" way to play with complex toys or complete tasks. For now, know that your toddler is passively recognizing your standards for projects (such as assembling a craft or playing a rules-intensive game) and daily activities (such as putting on shoes, setting the table, shelving groceries). He will gradually incorporate these standards into his ongoing behavior.

Until then, keep your expectations in check: It will be a few more months until he's fully aware of your standards and interested in living up to them. Even then, he won't work at completing projects consistently; he won't have this ability until he reaches age three.

When your toddler first stacks five blocks, he'll smile proudly and may even say "there!" He'll not only have completed the task, but he'll know precisely when he's done so, and he will feel very pleased about his accomplishment.

Coming soon, look forward to: Week 96: Prepare Yourself for Tantrums
Review the most recent accomplishments: Week 94: Using Pronouns

Curious about how else your toddler might be developing right now? Learn more about her clever brain and her growing body here:

• What's happening in Month 22?
• Here's what our pediatrician says you might be worried about this month.