Your Clever Toddler in Week 67: Guessing (and Testing!) How Things Work

Many of the seemingly naughty activities that children engage in are actually scientific experiments that they're conducting in the laboratory called home. For example, your toddler knows from experience that if she tips over her plastic cup, the liquid in it—be it milk, juice, or water—will spill onto her high chair tray and down to the floor. (As early as week 14, your little one was grasping the concepts of cause and effect.)

Soon, you may notice her eyeing your tall cup of water on the coffee table. She'll observe, reason, balance the evidence in front of her, and conclude that the water will spill when the cup is tipped. To confirm her hypothesis, she'll toddle over, pick up the cup, and pour the water onto the coffee table. Sure, she's making a mess, but from her perspective she's further confirming the properties of liquids: "They'll pour out when tipped upside-down, not only from my cup but from Mom's as well!"

Be patient as your child uses these new hypothesizing and information-seeking skills around your home. Breathe deeply, and try to allow her the freedom to make messes through exploratory play, offering her safe places to test her ideas. (And, yes, keep glassware well out of Baby's reach.)

Coming soon, look forward to: Week 68: Why Experimenting Leads to Learning
Review the most recent accomplishments: Week 66: The Difference between Pointing and Reaching

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 16?
• Here's what our pediatrician says you might be worried about this month.