What is an important developmental milestone for an 18-month-old toddler?

For an 18-month-old toddler, the milestone of being able to say two words is significant in their language development. At this age, children typically expand their vocabulary and begin to combine words into simple phrases, such as "more juice" or "mommy go." This ability to communicate using two-word phrases marks an important transition in their linguistic skills, indicating that they are starting to understand and use language to express their needs and thoughts.

While toddlers may know a few words by 18 months, the ability to form basic two-word combinations demonstrates not only vocabulary growth but also cognitive development in terms of understanding relationships between words. This capacity for simple speech is foundational for further language acquisition and social interaction in the years to come.

Other options like saying four words, writing their name, or jumping on one foot are skills that would typically be expected at a later age, reflecting more advanced language proficiency, fine motor skills, and physical development.