Your child is constantly learning and growing! Here are 7 new and exciting skills they'll gain this month.

At 32 months old, your toddler is rapidly growing in their sense of confidence and communication, as they further explore the world around them. They will be continuing to explore their independence and strengthen their communication, as their personality will further shine. They will test their parents' boundaries as they explore what pushing the boundaries are, but will simultaneously also be calmer as they learn to healthily transition from one activity or environment to another. This month is exciting as they expand upon their previous skills and learn new ones that increase their confidence.

The milestones this month fall into five areas: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive Development, Social-Emotional Growth, and Communication development. Together, these skills help your toddler learn to move their bodies, think and ask questions, express themselves, and make sense of their surroundings.

Is your baby showing off their autonomy this month?

At this age, your toddler is energetic, curious, and independent as they explore their surroundings further. They are developing stronger physical skills such as being able to jump onto two feet and brushing their teeth and hair on their own. They are able to now think through problems more clearly and find more creative and outside-of-the-box solutions to their problems. Their language is also rapidly developing as they now use plural words and have a wider range of sounds. They may begin to test their boundaries which can be new for parents, but is totally normal and healthy as they naviagate their independence and understanding of the world. This month is fun and exciting as your toddler is growing in their personality!

Why this month matters

This month is all about letting their creativity and imagination run wild and building their sense of confidence. Their imagination is now more active as they can imagine their toys as objects different from themselves. This could mean they can pretend to view their building block as other objects such as a car or box. They will also now be able to match objects they see in books to real life, such as pointing to a cat in a book and then to their pet cat. All of these growth points allow your toddler to further explore their surroundings and build confidence.

What are the 32-month milestones?

This month, Gross Motor development involves the ability to jump from a bottom step with feet together. More specifically, they can now jump off a single step with both feet. Encourage them with supportive words when you notice them doing this motion in front of you. Jumping with both feet will help build their strength, balance, and coordination.

Their Fine Motor skills continue to grow. They are now able to brush their own teeth and hair, although not fully. Their teeth brushing may be inadequate, and it may be wise to first let them practice the motion of brushing their teeth to gain independence, but then step in to help remove plaque. By this month, they will also be able to draw a horizontal line. Applaud them on their line drawing to help them feel a sense of independence and accomplishment.

In Cognitive development, you'll notice their growth in being able to find unique ways to solve problems. This could look like using a broom to retrieve a toy from underneath the couch, or a stool to reach a high object. Encourage their problem solving by letting them take the lead to find a solution, rather than immediately intervening.

As for Social-Emotional growth, your toddler will begin to test boundaries. This looks like attempting to do things that are not allowed, such as grabbing a cookie from the cookie jar. This is normal and healthy as they grow and want to exert their independence, but be sure to set clear boundaries and use consistently firm but calm language.

You will also notice at this age that they will now be able to transition to a new environment or activity calmly. This can look like healthily being able to move on from one form of play to another, even if it involves a more enjoyable activity transitioning to a less enjoyable one. It may help to use music if specific transitions feel harder for your child.

Communication development in this month includes your child's ability to add "s" sounds to words to create plurals. This is a huge developmental advancement! Have them practice saying plural words to get more comfortable with the sound and how it feels in their mouth. In addition, this month they can now say 18 different consonants in 10 minutes. Similarly, have them practice to get more comfortable and confident in this skill. Their communication in general is developing rapidly!

How many of 32-month's milestones has your baby mastered?

Your toddler is growing fast! Being aware of the 32-month milestones helps you celebrate progress as it happens. It also helps you keep track of what your child should be working on. Each new skill helps in building confidence and personality. With a Basic Membership for just $2 per month, you can track all 812 milestones your child is expected to reach by age 4. Stay on top of your baby’s progress and celebrate every exciting new skill along the way!

Create a free account with Fledglings' Flight and get access to 4,820 screen-free, play-based exercises. That is 200-300 exercises each month that you can start doing with your baby from the day that they are born to help them develop into the best version of themselves. In addition, your free account gives you access to over 1,200 articles on child development to keep you informed while you help to navigate your child's developmental journey with confidence.

FAQs

What milestones should a 32-month-old toddler be reaching?

At 32 months, toddlers often show growth in gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive development, social-emotional growth, and communication development. Common milestones include jumping from a bottom step with their feet together, brushing their own teeth and hair, drawing a horizontal line, finding unique ways to solve problems, testing boundaries, transition to new environments or activities calmly, creating plural words, and saying 18 different consonants in 10 minutes.

What are the gross motor milestones for a 32-month-old?

At 32 months, many toddlers are able to jump from a bottom step with their feet together. This motion helps their independence, coordination, and balance.

What are the fine motor milestones for a 32-month-old?

A 32-month-old toddler is now able to brush their own teeth and hair, although not well. Have them practice these motions before intervening to help them do these activities more effectively. They can also now draw a horizontal line. Encourage these motions to help with their coordination and strength.

What cognitive milestones are common at 32-months?

At 32 months, toddlers will be able to find unique ways to solve problems. This could look like using a tool to help grab an object that fell underneath the couch. Let them first problem solve on their own before intervening to further help. This helps their problem-solving skills develop.

What are the social-emotional milestones for a 32-month-old?

Social-emotional milestones at 32 months often include testing boundaries of doing things they know are not allowed, and being able to successfully transition from one activity or environment to another in a calm manner. Praise them when they have quick and healthy transitions.

How does a 32-month-old communicate?

At 32 months, many toddlers are able to add "s" sounds to make plural words, and say 18 different consonants in 10 minutes. Verbalize your support when you hear these skills in use.

How can I support my toddler’s 32-month milestones?

Parents can support 32-month milestones by turning jumping into a game to help them practice jumping from short distances, setting up a mirror so they can watch themselves brush their teeth and hair, and using calm and consistent language with rules especially when you notice them testing boundaries. This month is all about testing their limits and independence and it's your job to ensure they can do so in the safest manner!