Toddler Milestones 1 to 3 Years: What to Expect (Singapore)
Toddler milestones from 1 to 3 years in one table: movement, language and social skills, Singapore's 18- and 30-month checks, and when to seek help early.
Babylove Editorial Team
Updated
5 min read
In this guide
Between the first and third birthdays, most toddlers go from first steps to running and climbing, from a few words to short sentences, and from playing alone to playing alongside, and then with, other children. Typical toddler milestones include walking by about 15 months, around 50 words and two-word phrases by 2 years, and simple sentences, pretend play and running by 3. Ranges are wide, and it’s steady progress across all areas that matters most.
Below is an age-by-age table, how Singapore’s developmental checks at 18 and 30 months work, how to support your toddler at home, and when to seek help. For the first year, see our baby milestones month-by-month guide.
Toddler milestones by age: 12 to 36 months
| Age | Movement | Hands and play | Language | Social and emotional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Pulls to stand, cruises; may take first steps | Pincer grip; puts objects into a container | 1 to 3 words; waves, points | Plays peekaboo; shy with strangers |
| 15 months | Walks alone; may squat to pick up toys | Stacks 2 blocks; scribbles with a crayon | A few words; follows simple instructions with gestures | Shows you things; brings toys to share interest |
| 18 months | Walks well; climbs on to furniture; starts to run stiffly | Stacks 3 to 4 blocks; uses a spoon with spills; drinks from a cup | Often around 10 to 20 words; points to a body part when asked | Simple pretend play (feeding a doll); may have separation anxiety |
| 2 years | Runs; kicks a ball; walks up stairs holding on | Stacks 5 to 6 blocks; turns pages; starts to show hand preference | Often 50 or more words; two-word phrases (“more milk”) | Plays alongside other children; copies adults; tantrums common |
| 30 months | Jumps with both feet; climbs playground equipment | Turns doorknobs and screw lids; strings large beads | Short sentences; asks simple questions; says own name | Starts taking turns; names a friend; more elaborate pretend play |
| 3 years | Pedals a tricycle; walks up stairs with alternating feet | Copies a circle; builds a tower of 6 or more blocks; uses a fork | Speaks in 3- to 4-word sentences; familiar people understand most of what they say | Plays with other children; shows concern for a crying friend; separates more easily |
If your child was born before 37 weeks, doctors usually use their corrected age until about age 2. Every child has areas where they’re ahead and areas where they take longer.
Movement: from first steps to tricycles
Most toddlers walk on their own between about 9 and 15 months, and nearly all by 18 months. Crawling styles and early walking are covered in our baby milestones guide. After walking comes a burst of physical confidence: climbing on the sofa, running, jumping, kicking and eventually pedalling.
Toddlers need plenty of active play. Singapore’s HDB playgrounds, parks and park connectors are ideal, as are indoor play areas on rainy days. Supervise closely around stairs, escalators, windows and water.
Language and communication
The second year often brings a “word burst”, when vocabulary suddenly grows. Understanding runs ahead: a 2-year-old usually understands far more than they can say. By 3, most children speak in short sentences and can be understood by familiar adults most of the time.
Bilingual toddlers are common in Singapore. Count words in all languages when tracking progress. Our baby speech milestones guide covers bilingual homes, screen time guidance and speech red flags in more detail.
Social and emotional development
Toddlers are discovering that they’re separate people with their own wants. That brings independence (“me do it”), strong opinions and big feelings. Tantrums peak between about 18 months and 3 years. Our toddler tantrums guide explains how to handle them.
Play changes too. Young toddlers mostly play alone or alongside others. By 3, many begin simple games with other children, take turns with help and enjoy pretend play such as cooking, shopping or putting a teddy to bed. Role-play attractions are usually designed for older children, so our guide to KidZania for young kids suggests better options for under-4s.
Self-care skills
By around 3, many toddlers can feed themselves with a spoon and fork, drink from an open cup, help undress, wash and dry their hands with help, and brush teeth with an adult finishing the job. Many also show signs of readiness for toilet training between 18 months and 3 years. See our potty training guide.
Developmental checks in Singapore
Your child’s development continues to be checked through the Child Development Screening programme, recorded in the Health Booklet and on the HealthHub app. In the toddler years, the key touchpoints are at 18 months and 30 months, followed by another at 48 months. The 18-month check usually coincides with a booster vaccination.
At each visit, a doctor or nurse goes through the developmental checklist with you, observes your child, and checks growth, vision, hearing concerns and teeth. Screening is fully subsidised for Singapore Citizen children at polyclinics and CHAS GP clinics. You can find more on HealthHub’s Children’s Health e-services page.
How to support your toddler’s development
- Talk, read and sing every day, in whichever languages your family uses
- Offer open-ended toys such as blocks, balls, crayons, play dough, pots and spoons
- Get outdoors daily for running, climbing and exploring, avoiding the midday heat
- Let them help with simple chores like putting clothes in the laundry basket or wiping the table
- Limit screens: MOH advises no screen time under 18 months except video calls, and under an hour a day from 18 months to 6 years
- Protect sleep: most toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours in 24 hours, including a nap
- Arrange playdates or time at a playgroup or childcare centre for time with other children
When to seek help
Talk to your GP, polyclinic or paediatrician if your toddler:
- Isn’t walking by 18 months
- Doesn’t point to show you things, or has no single words, by about 16 to 18 months
- Doesn’t follow simple instructions by 2 years
- Isn’t using two-word phrases by 2 years
- Doesn’t copy actions or words, or show interest in pretend play, by about 2 to 2½ years
- Can’t be understood by familiar adults most of the time by 3
- Makes little eye contact, doesn’t respond to their name or seems uninterested in people
- Falls a lot, walks on tiptoes most of the time, or has trouble with stairs by 3
- Loses skills they previously had. See a doctor promptly for this.
Your doctor may refer your child for a hearing test, speech therapy or a developmental assessment at KKH’s Department of Child Development or NUH’s Child Development Unit. Early intervention support is available in Singapore, with fees subsidised for eligible families. Getting help early makes a real difference. Our guide to early intervention in Singapore explains assessments, EIPIC and subsidies.
The bottom line
- Most toddlers walk by 15 months, say around 50 words by 2 and speak in short sentences by 3
- Look at progress across movement, hands, language and social skills rather than one milestone
- Singapore’s developmental checks at 18 and 30 months are subsidised at polyclinics and CHAS GPs
- Daily talk, play, outdoor time and good sleep support development best
- Seek help for delays across areas, no phrases by 2, or any loss of skills
More toddler guides are on our toddler development hub.
What should a 2-year-old be able to do?
Most 2-year-olds run, kick a ball, stack several blocks, say 50 or more words, use two-word phrases, follow simple instructions and play alongside other children. There’s a wide range of normal, so look at overall progress.
When are toddler developmental checks done in Singapore?
The toddler screening touchpoints are at 18 months and 30 months, followed by 48 months. They’re recorded in the Health Booklet and on HealthHub, and are fully subsidised for Singapore Citizen children at polyclinics and CHAS GP clinics.
Is it normal for a 3-year-old not to play with other children?
Many 3-year-olds are only just starting to play cooperatively, and some are naturally shy. If your child shows little interest in people, rarely makes eye contact or has limited language too, talk to your doctor.
This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your doctor, midwife or paediatrician. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
