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Supporting Social Development in Your 18-to-24-Month-Old
Support an 18-to-24-month-old's social development through warm, face-to-face play: follow their lead, play back-and-forth turn-taking games, name feelings, encourage pretend play, and offer gentle time near other children. Parallel play is typical at this age. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
In this answer 5 sections
Between 18 and 24 months, your toddler is learning the beautiful first rules of being with people — and you are their favourite teacher.
In short
You support social development at this age by being warm, playful and present — turning everyday moments into back-and-forth connection. Toddlers this age learn to share attention, copy you, take simple turns, play near other children and begin to read feelings. The most powerful tool you have is unhurried, face-to-face interaction during play, meals and daily routines — no special equipment needed.
Ways to nurture social skills every day
- Follow their lead in play. Get down to their level, join what they are interested in, and add a little — narrate it, copy them, then pause and wait for their response. This turn-taking is the heart of social learning.
- Play simple back-and-forth games. Peek-a-boo, rolling a ball to and fro, "so big!", and gentle chase teach the rhythm of my turn, your turn — the foundation of conversation and friendship.
- Name feelings, theirs and others'. "You look happy!", "That little one is sad." Toddlers this age start to notice and respond to emotions, and your words give them the map.
- Encourage pretend play. Feeding a doll, talking on a toy phone, stirring a pretend cup — imaginative play this age signals growing social imagination.
- Offer gentle time near other children. They mostly play beside rather than with others (parallel play) — that is exactly right for now. Watching, copying and brief sharing all count.
- Use shared attention. Point things out together — "Look, a dog!" — and notice if they point to share interest with you, look between you and the object, and bring things to show you.
What's typical around 18–24 months
Toddlers this age usually enjoy showing you things, copy household actions, play simple turn-taking games, may have tantrums (a normal sign of big feelings with small words), and show clear attachment to familiar carers. Social skills vary widely between children, and lots of warm interaction is the best support there is.
If by around 24 months your child rarely makes eye contact, doesn't point to share interest, doesn't copy you, shows little interest in other people, or has lost social skills they once had, it's worth a friendly developmental check — not a cause for alarm, simply a chance to support them early.
The Pinnacle way
This is general guidance, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care. If you'd like reassurance or a clearer picture of how your toddler is growing, our team can help. Explore how we support children and families , learn what a clinician-administered AbilityScore® involves, and read about early developmental therapy built around play.
Trusted sources
CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." developmental milestones for 18 and 24 months; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) guidance on toddler social and emotional development; WHO Nurturing Care Framework on responsive caregiving and early play.
Next step — Want a warm, reassuring check of how your toddler is developing? Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician.
CONNECT THE ANSWER TO YOUR CHILD’S DAY
Something to notice. Something to discuss.
What to notice
By around 24 months, gently note if your child rarely makes eye contact, doesn't point to share interest, doesn't copy you, shows little interest in other people, or has lost social skills they once had — a reason for a friendly developmental check, not alarm.
In everyday life
Get down to your toddler's level during play, copy what they do, then pause and wait — that little gap invites them to respond, and the back-and-forth that follows is social learning in action.
Bring your observations and questions to your child’s professional. Choose activities that suit your child’s comfort, abilities and agreed plan.
Bring your questions to a first visitQuestions families ask
Is it normal that my toddler plays beside other children but not with them?
Yes — this is called parallel play and it's exactly right for 18-to-24-month-olds. Playing near others, watching and copying them are all important social steps. Playing truly together with shared rules develops gradually over the next couple of years.
My 18-to-24-month-old has tantrums — is this a social problem?
Tantrums are very normal at this age. Your toddler has big feelings but few words to express them, so frustration spills over. Staying calm, naming the feeling and offering comfort all help — this is part of healthy social and emotional learning, not a problem.
When should I seek a developmental check for social skills?
Consider a friendly check if, by around 24 months, your child rarely makes eye contact, doesn't point to share interest, doesn't copy you, shows little interest in other people, or seems to have lost social skills they once had. This is about supporting them early, not a cause for worry.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
References behind this answer.
- Source referenceCDC milestones for 2-year-olds
- Source referenceAAP HealthyChildren – toddler development
- Organisation website · further readingWHO Nurturing Care Framework
References are supplied with this answer. An organisation homepage offers further reading; it does not establish an independent review of this page.
Content attribution: SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network.
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