When your baby turns two years old, he’s officially a toddler. This is going to be the time of huge emotional, mental, social and physical growth for your child. Here’s a guide for parents on what skills and milestones your toddlers are typically meant to achieve at a certain age.
Physical Milestones
At this age, toddlers will learn many things and have a number of physical milestones. At this muscles and they develop muscle movement. Here are the things that you can expect them to be able to do:
Muscle Development (Gross Motor Skills)
- Toddlers will start to learn how to stand up, walk, run, and jump up and down with both feet.
- They will be able to carry things, like toys, with them as they walk.
- They will also be able to stand on their toes and balance themselves on one foot.
- This is the time they’ll learn how to climb on furniture.
- Toddlers will learn how to throw and kick a ball and then try to catch the ball with their hands.
- They’ll learn how to stabilize their balance, and they’ll learn how to push and pull things.
- They will learn how to alternate their feet as they learn how to walk up the stairs.
Muscle Movement (Fine Motor Skills)
- They will learn how to brush their own teeth and comb their hair.
- They’ll learn how to turn on the faucet and wash their hands.
- Toddlers will know how to wear their pants and take them off.
- They’ll learn how to use building blocks and make a block tower.
- Their grip will be stronger, and they’ll learn how to hold things.
These things will be learned by toddlers as they turn three years old.
Cognitive Milestones
This age comes with new ways of thinking for toddlers. They will also be eager to learn new skills and techniques to solve problems. By the end of their second year, toddlers will learn these skills:
- Children’s Imagination will grow and develop and they will enjoy pretend-play.
- They will remember and recollect what they did the day before or longer.
- Toddlers will also enjoy doing puzzles.
- Children will be able to group their toys by color, size, and type.
- They will also learn to sing and recite nursery rhymes.
- They will be able to listen to directions and follow them.
Psychological Milestones
Between the age of two and three years old, children will slowly learn how to be independent. Most babies don’t actually see themselves as an individual because they see themselves as one with their mother. However, as they come to their second year, they will slowly be aware that they are separate beings. They will be more insistent and have wants of their own. Here are ways that you can allow your child to grow in this aspect:
- Allow your toddler to do some simple things on their own.
- Include your child when you do household chores and make her feel like she can help.
- Have patience. Letting your child do things on his own will always make you want to help him. However, do your best to not step in.
- Remember to be firm with your child.
By this age, toddlers have started speaking, and during this stage, they will be learning how to speak in simple sentences. Sometimes children will have trouble speaking coherently, so parents should be patient during this period. Encourage your child by letting them finish what they want to say. Don’t finish their sentences for them—this will just frustrate them and will discourage them from talking. Give your child opportunities to speak up for themselves.
Children at this stage will also learn how to connect how they feel towards other people. This is how they will begin their interactions with others and build friendships. Encourage your child as they develop their sense of empathy by doing the following:
- When he feels bad, don’t try to fix it. Instead, guide them as they learn how to cope with their emotions. Reassure them that it’s okay to feel what they’re feeling.
- Be aware of your emotions and don’t hesitate to tell your child how you are feeling. Make sure that you are not overreacting to a situation so that they don’t feel afraid or anxious.
Emotional Milestones
Other than developing their sense of independence as mentioned above, toddlers will also be more interested in getting to know their peers. Here are other things children this age are likely to develop:
- They will start to realize that they can do things on their own without needing your help.
- Your toddler will start mimicking what they see from other children, adults, or from what they’ve seen on the television.
- They will also disobey more than before and will have more tantrums when they don’t get what they want.
Language Milestones
By the end of your toddler’s third year, they will learn to understand almost all of what you say to them. Your child will also be talking more and will likely be doing these things:
- They will understand the words used for everyday objects, familiar people, and simple body parts.
- They will speak in simple sentences and have a vocabulary of around three hundred words or more at this stage. They will almost always repeat what they hear.
- Children will start asking questions, usually, things that start with “why?” or “what’s that?”
Always keep in mind that every child develops and achieves these milestones at a different pace. There are children who are early developers and those who are late to do these things. Don’t panic, you don’t need to be alarmed because it’s normal. Keep the guidelines we made above and make them into a checklist of sorts to track their progress and developments. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider or you can visit us at Imagine Nation Learning Center.
