Your little one is not so little anymore.  By now, your baby has a mind of his or her own and is becoming Mr. or Mrs. Independent!!!  Oh, they are probably running you ragged as well with all of their energy.  At this point in development, your toddler should begin to express themselves by talking.  At first it may be one or two words, but by the end of their second year, you should understand most of what your child is saying and they should be talking in three to five word sentences-if not more!!! If you are noticing that your child doesn't seem to developing on the level that other children his age are developing, don't hesitate to address any concerns with your pediatrician.  It would be helpful to start teaching your toddler colors, letters of the alphabet, numbers, and shapes.  These are fundamental skills that will help them learn to read and help them with math as they prepare for school.