# When Do Toddlers Develop Emotional Skills?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-should-a-child-emotional
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Emotional skills (ICF b152) unfold gradually between 12 and 36 months — affection, shared joy, tantrums, comfort-seeking, and the early, adult-supported start of calming down. There is no single milestone age; toddlers regulate feelings with your help, not alone. Persistent absence of shared joy or comfort-seeking across settings is worth a gentle developmental check.

*Your toddler's big feelings — the giggles, the tears, the proud little grins — are emotional development unfolding right on time.*

## In short
Emotional skills (ICF b152, the regulation and range of feelings) grow steadily between **12 and 36 months**. There is no single "should" age — instead, watch for a gradual unfolding: showing affection, sharing feelings, copying your moods, and slowly learning to calm down with your help. Big tantrums in toddlerhood are normal, not a red flag.

## How emotions typically unfold (12–36 months)
- **Around 12–15 months** — shows affection to familiar people, may be wary of strangers, looks to you to gauge how to feel ("social referencing").
- **Around 18 months** — points to share excitement, may have tantrums, hugs a doll or toy, seeks comfort when upset.
- **Around 24 months** — shows defiance, notices when others are hurt or upset, begins simple pretend play with feelings.
- **Around 30–36 months** — names a few feelings, shows pride, takes turns with support, and starts (with your help) to settle big emotions.

A toddler this age cannot yet manage feelings alone — co-regulation with a calm adult *is* the skill at this stage.

## The science
Emotional regulation is built through thousands of warm, responsive moments. When you name and soothe feelings, you wire the brain's regulation pathways. Variation is wide and normal; persistent flatness, no shared joy, or no comfort-seeking across settings is worth a gentle check.

## The Pinnacle way
Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. under qualified clinician care — this article is for guidance, not diagnosis. Explore [emotional development](/emotional), see how an [AbilityScore® is calculated](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), or learn about [child development therapy](/child-development-therapy).

## Trusted sources
Aligned with the WHO ICF framework (b152, emotional functions), CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones, and AAP/HealthyChildren guidance on toddler social-emotional growth.

**Next step —** if you'd like reassurance or a developmental check, message the Pinnacle team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 for a friendly screen.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- CDC: Learn the Signs. Act Early. milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP HealthyChildren: toddler social-emotional development: https://www.healthychildren.org
- WHO ICF emotional functions (b152): https://icd.who.int

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Skills: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/skills
- Parent / Family: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Toddler: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/toddler
- Emotional: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/emotional
- Milestone: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/milestone
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Book Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/book-assessment
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity
- Emotional: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/ability/emotional
- Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, 2nd Ed: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/assessment/brief2
- English: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/language/en
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/sdg/3
- emotional: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/skill/emotional
- ASHA / PHC / Frontline: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/asha_phc
- Therapist / Clinician: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/therapist

## Related question paths

### Recognise signs & concerns
- When Do Children Become Emotional?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-do-children-usually-emotional
- Emotional milestones for your 18-to-24-month-old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-emotional-milestones-should-my-18-to-24-month-old-have-reached
- When Should a Toddler Show Emotional Expression?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-should-a-child-emotional-expression
- When does a child develop emotional understanding?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-should-a-child-emotional-understanding
- Emotional milestones for your 12-to-18-month-old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-emotional-milestones-should-my-12-to-18-month-old-have-reached
- At What Age Does a Child Develop Social-Emotional Understanding?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-should-a-child-social-emotional-understanding
- Could difficulty with emotions be a sign of developmental delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/could-difficulty-with-emotional-be-a-sign-of-a-developmental-delay
- Is It Normal My Toddler Isn't Showing Emotions Yet?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-emotional
- Is My Toddler Not Showing Emotional Skills Yet?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-emotional
- What signs suggest my child may need support with emotional skills?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-emotional
- If a child in your care isn't showing emotions yet: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-emotional
- Emotional development: what teachers can expect by age: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/by-what-age-is-a-child-usually-expected-to-emotional-and-what-should-a-teacher-expect-in-class

### Understand assessment
- What an Amber Zone for Emotional Development Means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-emotional-what-does-that-mean
- Emotional Red Zone Meaning: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-emotional-what-does-that-mean
- Assessing & Tracking a Child's Emotional Progress: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-clinician-assess-and-track-a-child-s-progress-in-learning-to-emotional

### Explore therapy & support
- How a Teacher Can Support a Toddler's Emotional Skills: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-support-a-child-working-on-emotional
- Therapy that helps a toddler learn emotional skills: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-therapy-helps-a-child-learn-to-emotional
- Emotional Amber Zone — Your Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-emotional-what-should-we-do-next
- Emotional Green Zone — What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-emotional-what-should-we-do-next
- Emotional red zone — your next steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-emotional-what-should-we-do-next
- As a therapist, what techniques help a child develop emotional skills?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-therapist-what-techniques-help-a-child-develop-the-ability-to-emotional
- How can a teacher support a student learning emotional skills?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-support-a-student-who-is-still-learning-to-emotional
- Prioritising the amber-zone child for emotional development: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-emotional

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I help my toddler learn emotional skills at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-help-my-child-with-learn-to-emotional-at-home
- An Everyday Activity to Support Your Toddler's Emotional Skills: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-emotional
- Helping Your Child Practise Emotional Skills at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-emotional-during-everyday-routines