Toddler This Week: 21 Months, Week 3

Try something new: Ditch the stroller and let your toddler lead you on a walk around the block. You'll be amazed at how many times your curious explorer stops to check out small objects, such as an interesting rock, a dead leaf, or a parade of ants. Your toddler isn't trying to drive you crazy by dawdling. To her, the journey – and everything along the way – is as exciting as the destination.

Whether being silly, throwing a tantrum, or banging a drum, your child may seem like a revved-up ball of energy with an uncanny ability to keep going and going. That's actually a good thing, because kids learn through repetition.

But because children this age live so much in the moment, your 21-month-old has a hard time shifting gears from one activity or mood to another. He just can't stop himself when he's on a roll. You may even notice this tendency in your child's fine motor skills. He might scribble right off the paper or paint his arms or the easel as well as the drawing pad in front of him.

The typical 21-month-old has developed some decent self-feeding skills – like filling a spoon with food and getting it into his mouth, spearing food with a fork, and drinking from a cup. Whether your toddler is willing to use those skills consistently at the family table is another story.

Depending on your child's temperament, he may already be turning into a much tidier eater – or far from it. By his second birthday, he might find it distressing to spill a drink or get food on his hands or clothes. On the other hand, he might continue to use food like finger paint for months to come.

-BabyCenter.com