Interesting Facts About Toddlers

The word toddler was identified in the 18th century from the word 'TODDLE' which means "to move with an unsteady gait." Here are a few interesting facts about the 'cute little mischief-makers'!!

A two-year old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowd!
An average toddler takes 176 steps a minute!
On an average, a 4-year-old asks about 437 questions a day!
A toddler's stomach is very small, about the size of a small fist!
A child's kneecap starts to turn bony at 3 years of age until then they are made up of cartilage!
A child under the age of 6 is at a greatest risk of crushing or burning injuries of the hand!
The first three years of a child's life is most important! They determine the brain's organisation, development and functioning throughout life!
Kids don't remember what you try to teach them, they remember what you are! - Jim Henson.
The most common type of developmental problem in children is language and speech delay.
A child understands what you are saying even before they began to speak!

An average baby will triple the birth weight in the first year!
Most 1 year olds are ambidextrous! Hand preference develops only by two or three years of age and 90% will be right handed.
A 2-year-old has twice as many neural pathways as an adult!
When the pre-schooler covers his/her eyes, he/she thinks you can't see either!!
Studies show that a child does best when he/ she has at least three loving and supportive adult influences in his/ her life!
A child who watches more than 3 hours of TV a day has a higher chance of emotional and relationship problems by the time he/ she is seven years than children who don't.
Studies show that corporal punishment can hinder intellectual development.
At about 18 months, a toddler's spoken vocabulary explodes, adding about one new word every two waking hours!
A child whose parents talk to him/her frequently know 300 or more words by the age of 2 than a baby whose parents rarely speak to him/ her!
A child learns to propel on a swing at around 4 years.
A child who spends more time outdoors is less likely to become myopic (short sighted).
Social interaction increases the speed and accuracy of learning in all ages, especially in the toddler age group!
A child who eats in a regular family together, in a pleasant atmosphere, is less likely to develop an eating disorder and become overweight at a later age.
Playing is the most effective way for a child to learn life skills and find out what they like!
Bullying can have negative effects on a child development and can last well into their middle age!
Once a toddler has mastered walking, he/ she makes new moves! By 18 months, most toddlers can walk backwards and climb stairs with help, jump in the place by age of 2 and can ride a tricycle by the age of 3, skip by 4 years and hop on one leg by 5 years!
Toddlers are attracted to shapes that resemble a human face!
A toddler can hear much better as compared to your hearing- although he pretends he can't hear you at times!!
A toddler is most active (between 2 to 4 years) than any other time in his or her life!
Toddler can grow up to half an inch during sleep time!

Article by Dr. Pushkala., M.S.
MBBS, MD, PGDID (Australia)
Consultant Paediatrician, Kauvery Hospital

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TODDLERS