You are here: Home

Toddler Years

Two's

Your Two Year Old

Developmental Milestones
Your Two-Year Old

The terrible two’s aren’t so, so terrible after all. There’s plenty of talking, discovery of free will and pretend play. Here are some key milestones to look for according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Movement milestones
* Walks alone
* Pulls toys behind her while walking
* Carries large toy or several toys while walking
* Begins to run
* Stands on tiptoe
* Kicks a ball
* Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
* Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills
* Scribbles spontaneously
* Turns over container to pour out contents
* Builds tower of four blocks or more
* Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones
* Points to object or picture when it’s named for him
* Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body
parts
* Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
* Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months)
* Uses two- to four-word sentences
* Follows simple instructions
* Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones
* Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
* Begins to sort by shapes and colors
* Begins make-believe play

Social and emotional milestones
* Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older
children
* Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
* Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
* Demonstrates increasing independence
* Begins to show defiant behavior
* Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear,
then they fade

Developmental Health Watch:

Alert your child's doctor or nurse if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range:
* Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs
* Persistent drooling or very unclear speech
* Cannot build a tower of more than four blocks
* Difficulty manipulating small objects
* Cannot copy a circle by age 3
* Cannot communicate in short phrases
* No involvement in "pretend" play
* Does not understand simple instructions
* Little interest in other children
* Extreme difficulty separating from mother or primary

caregiver
* Poor eye contact
* Limited interest in toys
* Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had