All toddlers have their own timetable, but you can watch for certain developments in your 2-year-old. Celebrate with your child as he reaches or nears these milestones.
Cognitive
- Figures out simple mechanical toys
- Completes puzzles of three or four pieces
- Sorts objects by shape and color
- Knows names of body parts
- Finds things hidden under two or more layers
- Finishes sentences in familiar books, songs, and nursery rhymes
- Follows two- and three-part commands
Motor
- Runs with more coordination
- Learns to kick a ball
- Jumps
- Walks up and downstairs with alternating feet, while holding on.
- Pedals a tricycle
- Throws overhand
- May be able to stand on one leg
- Stacks blocks three or higher
- Unzips large zippers
- Turns handles; opens lids
- Uses a cup with one hand
- Begins to hold a crayon more like an adult‘s finger positioning
- Most are potty-trained by age 3
Communication
- Understands most spoken words
- Vocabulary rapidly increases, to about 300 or more words by age 3
- Sentences become longer than two to three words
- Repeats words and phrases he overhears
- Uses pronouns (I, we, you)
- Understands physical relationship words (“on,” “under,” “behind”)
- Says name, age, and gender
- Uses some plurals (babies, toys)
- Begins to speak clearly enough for strangers to understand
Social
- Very responsive to people (watching them, imitating)
- Pretend play mimics real-life emotions
- Shows affection for familiar playmates
- Plays with other children (for example, chase), rather than just side-by-side play
- Employs basic turn-taking
- Understands the concept of possessives (mine, his, hers)
- Quick to show emotions, especially happiness and frustration
- Shows defiant behavior (doing things after being told not to)
- Dislikes major changes in routine
References:
CDC's Developmental Milestones. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
“Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5 (5th Ed)” by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones” by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
