Week-by-week library · 21 months old
Month 21
Quick answer
What is my baby up to at 21 months old?
This month, "helping" with chores (even if it slows everything down) is a real developmental win.
What's developing
Social
Helping with simple tasks, putting a toy in a bin, carrying a light object, is common and reflects growing independence and a desire to participate.
Motor
Jumping with both feet off the ground together is emerging for many toddlers, a genuinely tricky coordination skill.
Communication
Vocabulary keeps expanding, often with new words appearing daily for some toddlers.
Try this together this week
- Invite "helping" with an easy, low-stakes task (putting toys in a bin) and let it take longer than doing it yourself.
- Practice jumping with both feet, even if it starts as more of a hop-stumble.
- Keep a running mental list of new words this month; it is often a fun one to look back on.
- Simple matching games (same color, same shape) for early categorization skills.
What parents often notice
The first two-foot jump often looks more like a hard step than an actual jump for a while, which is a completely normal part of learning the movement.
Sourced to
- Zero to Three, Early Development guides
Last reviewed by the This Week Baby editorial team.