Milestones: Your Toddler at 2 Years
Written by Lior Zaltzman
It’s hard to believe your child is now already two! Your little baby is now a full-on toddler who is walking and possibly even running on their own. They’ve gone from babbling and cooing to saying short sentences, and they’re also starting not to do what they’re told — on purpose!
If you’re looking to get a sense of where your baby is developmentally, we put together two-year milestones found on the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC websites. These milestones will help you get a sense of whether your child’s development is on track. We also discuss delays you can look into for this age as well.
Social Skills
At two years, you may notice your child is perfect a mimicry. They particularly enjoy copying what you, other adults, and older children are doing.
At this age, your toddler is excited at the prospect of spending time and playing with other children. They still mostly engage in parallel play, but your toddler should be starting to play together with peers — like adorably chasing other toddlers around.
Those two-year-old tantrums may be hard to handle, but the good news is that they’re a great developmental sign! Showing defiant behavior and doing expresedly what they’re told not to do is an essential step in your child’s social development.
Language Skills
Your toddler should be able to use two-word to four-word sentences by this point. Those mimicry skills also make them able to copy words you’re saying (so be careful with those x-rated words!)
Your child is now pointing at things in books when asked (“where’s the cow?”) or maybe picking up books and pointing things all on their own — and it’s truly a heartwarming sight.
They can now point to different body parts and recognize the names of familiar people.
Your child is also able to follow simple instructions, like being asked to wait or stay there (even if they sometimes choose not to!)
Your toddler’s vocabulary is getting pretty impressive — by now, they know between 50 to 100 words. That doesn’t mean you can always figure out what they’re saying. But you should be able to make out what they’re trying to talking about half of the time.
Movement Skills
By now, your two-year-old is walking like a pro, and they may even be starting to run. They should also be able to drag or hold a toy while walking. Check out those multi-tasking skills!
Your little one should also be able to stand up on tiptoes and kick and throw a ball.
Cognitive Skills
Storytime is now a collaboration, with your toddler completing words and rhymes from their favorite books and naming colors and animals. They can now sort out shapes and colors.
You may be watching in fascination as your toddler’s playtime becomes more complex: they may be playing simple games of make-believe with their toys and building taller towers of four blocks and more.
Your toddler is now able to follow two-step instructions, like “pick up your toy and put it in the basket.”
Delays to Look Out For
At your two year visit, your baby will be screened by your pediatrician for general development milestones, using standardized and validated tools. They are screened for autism. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, there are delays to watch out for at this age:
- Doesn’t walk steadily yet
- Doesn’t know what to do with objects like brushes, spoons, etc.
- Doesn’t copy actions or words
- Loses skills they once had
- Doesn’t follow simple instructions
- Isn’t using 2-word sentences
We are here to support you! We have special needs services at all of our preschools. Our mission at Books and Rattles, Inc. is to help preschool-aged children at all developmental levels. We are here to help your child grow and thrive.
