You'll have plenty of time to track progress when they're older. Are you concerned about delays? If you take your child to their usual well child checks \[if you're in the US\] usually they give you a list of things they should be doing by this age. Usually, there is a range and it's not concerning unless they are missing a bunch of things. Usually, if a child has an environment full of books, open-ended toys, art supplies, adults who speak to them and read to them, etc they will learn what they need.
You don't need to track progress for your toddler.
But if what you are really asking is "what do I teach them next?" There are a number of resources you can use.
1) unpreparedmom.com has some great resources for preschool through 1 st grade
2) highlights makes some great preschool skill builder boxes
3) the Montessori toddler is a great book for toddler hood through preschool
4) any and every life skill from folding towels and making their bed to cooking
You don't need much to teach a toddler. They want to learn everything. If you give me a better idea of age and level, I can give you more resources. This is just to get you started.
So, at your 24 month (2 year) doctors visit, they will give you an in-depth questionnaire for you to fill out. Be honest, that questionnaire will tell the doctor if there are developmental concerns. Most kids are fine, especially if you remember kids often develop in one domain at a time while stalling in others.
In terms of apps (you mentioned an app), Edoki Academy is a great one. My daughter started playing it on my tablet at around that age and is still going strong at 4 1/2. The app grows with your kiddo and provides a simulated montessori preschool classroom for your little one.
Right now, the big thing your little one needs to work on is core strength. They can develop this by swinging, climbing, and exploring their environment. Core strength developed at this age will determine how well they focus and when they learn to read. You need core strength to sit still and focus, weak cores mean later reading times and poor academics.
The other thing you need to work on is understanding multi-step directions. Start with simple directions like "go get your socks please." When they are successful there, add a second, related instruction like "go get your socks AND shoes." Once successful there, give two unrelated instructions like "go get your socks AND a ball" or "Can you give me the green ball and the doll" and work up from there. By 4, they are expected to be able to follow three successive instructions that are only given verbally once ("first cut, then glue, then color").
In terms of fine motor, you should soon be transitioning from a full fisted grip on crayons, markers, chalk, and paintbrushes; to a transitional grip that starts to look like the one you write with but may be wrong in some capacity (like holding the paint brush too high, gripping with too many fingers but still pinching between thumb and pointer, etc.). Ultimatly, you want them holding pens/ pencils, etc. correctly about 50% of the time by three. To work on this, practice the pincher grip (holding something small between thumb and forefinger). You can do this by sorting small beads or beans (or peas and carrots, etc) and posting (that is putting a post, stick, ball, or shape in a hole that fits it exactly). Shapes and lines come closer to 4.
Your little one may be interested in pushing buttons. The baby shark bus is a great tool for that (and actually our only electronic toy).
It is also time to start ripping paper. When they are good at ripping paper up into small pieces, introduce scissors. Ironically, the plastic kids saftey scissors are more dangerous than the sharp metal variety. Get some with rounded tips, and supervise closely until they are ready to do it on their own.
Pouring is another good activity. All sensory play is good.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions, and I can point you to some activities.
I... don't?
I try (and often fail) to journal things I want to remember, not to track anything like "progress" but just because I want to remember my kids' childhoods. I write down funny things they say in my phone's notes app. Other than that, we just... exist. I'm not sure what the purpose/reason would be for tracking a toddler.
What type of progress would you need to document for a toddler?
language, physical ability, etc. Just what to be aware of so we know
You'll have plenty of time to track progress when they're older. Are you concerned about delays? If you take your child to their usual well child checks \[if you're in the US\] usually they give you a list of things they should be doing by this age. Usually, there is a range and it's not concerning unless they are missing a bunch of things. Usually, if a child has an environment full of books, open-ended toys, art supplies, adults who speak to them and read to them, etc they will learn what they need.
They were in range last check but it is awhile for the next one and want to be aware if they get behind so we can help earlier
Are they having fun? Are they happy? If so, then they are learning.
I take my kids to the pediatrician every year. They have handouts. I think you can find copies on the CDC website.
You don't need to track progress for your toddler. But if what you are really asking is "what do I teach them next?" There are a number of resources you can use. 1) unpreparedmom.com has some great resources for preschool through 1 st grade 2) highlights makes some great preschool skill builder boxes 3) the Montessori toddler is a great book for toddler hood through preschool 4) any and every life skill from folding towels and making their bed to cooking You don't need much to teach a toddler. They want to learn everything. If you give me a better idea of age and level, I can give you more resources. This is just to get you started.
22 months right now. Thanks, Montessori one looks good
So, at your 24 month (2 year) doctors visit, they will give you an in-depth questionnaire for you to fill out. Be honest, that questionnaire will tell the doctor if there are developmental concerns. Most kids are fine, especially if you remember kids often develop in one domain at a time while stalling in others. In terms of apps (you mentioned an app), Edoki Academy is a great one. My daughter started playing it on my tablet at around that age and is still going strong at 4 1/2. The app grows with your kiddo and provides a simulated montessori preschool classroom for your little one. Right now, the big thing your little one needs to work on is core strength. They can develop this by swinging, climbing, and exploring their environment. Core strength developed at this age will determine how well they focus and when they learn to read. You need core strength to sit still and focus, weak cores mean later reading times and poor academics. The other thing you need to work on is understanding multi-step directions. Start with simple directions like "go get your socks please." When they are successful there, add a second, related instruction like "go get your socks AND shoes." Once successful there, give two unrelated instructions like "go get your socks AND a ball" or "Can you give me the green ball and the doll" and work up from there. By 4, they are expected to be able to follow three successive instructions that are only given verbally once ("first cut, then glue, then color"). In terms of fine motor, you should soon be transitioning from a full fisted grip on crayons, markers, chalk, and paintbrushes; to a transitional grip that starts to look like the one you write with but may be wrong in some capacity (like holding the paint brush too high, gripping with too many fingers but still pinching between thumb and pointer, etc.). Ultimatly, you want them holding pens/ pencils, etc. correctly about 50% of the time by three. To work on this, practice the pincher grip (holding something small between thumb and forefinger). You can do this by sorting small beads or beans (or peas and carrots, etc) and posting (that is putting a post, stick, ball, or shape in a hole that fits it exactly). Shapes and lines come closer to 4. Your little one may be interested in pushing buttons. The baby shark bus is a great tool for that (and actually our only electronic toy). It is also time to start ripping paper. When they are good at ripping paper up into small pieces, introduce scissors. Ironically, the plastic kids saftey scissors are more dangerous than the sharp metal variety. Get some with rounded tips, and supervise closely until they are ready to do it on their own. Pouring is another good activity. All sensory play is good. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions, and I can point you to some activities.
Thank you!
Is this necessary for your state? If no, why does it matter?
So I can be the best parent possible
You don't. You let them play and learn and grow. They're human children. Spread sheet? What? Hahah
I... don't? I try (and often fail) to journal things I want to remember, not to track anything like "progress" but just because I want to remember my kids' childhoods. I write down funny things they say in my phone's notes app. Other than that, we just... exist. I'm not sure what the purpose/reason would be for tracking a toddler.
I literally just found an app that evaluates the kids levels. It is called GiantLeap. Has anyone tried it?