As parents, watching your child grow and develop is one of the most rewarding experiences. From babies to toddlers and beyond, it often feels like it happens in a blink of an eye. You begin to realize your toddler is growing and changing everyday. Around the age of two, toddlers reach several important milestones that showcase their rapid development in various areas. Developmental milestones around two years of age will amaze you. In this blog post, we will dive in a little deeper into the world of two year old developmental milestones. We will explore more about what to expect during these exciting states of your little toddlers life. From language skills to social interactions, let's explore the key milestones you can expect from your 2-year-old.
At two years old, many children begin to expand their vocabulary significantly. You might notice your toddler starting to: use two-word phrases. Instead of just saying single words, they may start combining words to form simple sentences or requests. Some examples of this could be "more juice", “up Momma” or "big truck." Typically around the age of two, children have a vocabulary of around 50 words. While some words may still be unclear, many toddlers can pronounce familiar words correctly, making it easier for you to understand them. At this stage, toddlers are also beginning to follow simple instructions. They can often comprehend and respond to basic directions like “come here”, “clean up” or “give me the ball.” As a parent, you can assist your toddler in their development by creating a safe and stimulating environment that promotes exploration and play. In addition to giving them the opportunity to learn and grow while engaging them through reading, singing and talking.
Beginning to follow instructions leads us right into growing their engagement with others. Socially and emotionally, two-year-olds are beginning to navigate their relationships with the world around them. At this age, parallel play is the most common. While they may not play directly with other children, they will often engage in play alongside peers as they begin observing and mimicking their actions. Occasionally you even start to see some sharing of toys. Another skill learned among social engagement is emotional growth as toddlers learn to express their emotions. During this stage you may see a wider range of emotions, from joy and excitement to frustration and anger. Tantrums are common as they learn to cope with feelings. A great way to assist your child in coping with feelings is to narrate situations and model how to express what they’re feeling. Modeling actions allows for your toddler to observe and begin to show more affection, such as hugging or kissing family members and friends.
Cognitive development is another exciting area of growth for two-year-olds. Some of the skills and signs you can notice during this development are problem solving skills, understanding new concepts and memory development. In learning to solve their own problems, toddlers may experiment with toys and find new ways to play with them, while demonstrating curiosity and creativity. They start to grasp simple concepts, such as big vs. small, and can identify colors and shapes and even begin learning numbers or counting. Toddlers quickly grow their independence at this stage and you might notice your child recalling familiar stories or recognizing favorite characters from books and shows.
Physically, your 2-year-old is likely to undergo significant changes as they become more adept at using their body. Many key physical milestones that can be seen are around walking and running on all surfaces. Most toddlers can walk confidently, and many can run and play with balls with age appropriate increasing skill. Some activities that assist your child in growing should be ones that promote their continued development of gross motor skills such as jumping, climbing and throwing. In addition to physical activities, toddlers should also engage in activities that promote development of fine motor skills and allow them to improve hand eye coordination. They may start to use utensils during meals, stack blocks, or scribble with crayons as they begin learning to intentionally mark on paper. These activities help toddlers to build skills that are essential for school readiness.
As you continue to watch your child develop and assist in their growth, remember to always celebrate each milestone they achieve and provide a supportive and nurturing environment to foster their development. It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own pace, and while milestones serve as general guidelines there is always room for variation. Keeping in mind that early intervention and regular check-ups with your pediatrician can also be helpful in identifying any potential delays or concerns. Providing love, patience and attention will allow your child to blossom into a confident and capable individual. Embrace this incredible stage and cherish them as they explore and thrive!
This information is shared to support your learning as you support your child.
What was your favorite milestone that your child achieved during their second year of life? Feel free to comment below and ask any questions you may have. We’d love to hear from you.
Written By: Ashley, Early Interventionist
Content Graphics: by Kristin Weingart MS CCC-SLP
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