Child developmental Milestones Toddlers Two Years

GROWTH AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• weight gain averages 2-2.5 pounds per year, weighs approximately 26-32 pounds
• grows approximately 3-5 inches per year, average height is 34-38 inches
• body temperature continues to fluctuate with activity, emotional state and environment
• brain reaches 80% of its adult size
• eruption of teeth is nearly complete, second molars appear, a total of 20 deciduous (baby) teeth
• gains control over bowels and bladder
• walks with hunched shoulders, slightly bent knees and elbows
• sleeps more than 12 hours
• anything that can be climbed on or jumped from has an almost irresistible attraction
• full head of hair
• mobile; walks with a 'toddle'
• anterior fontanel closing
• body fat decreasing
• hearing is acute

MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

• runs with greater confidence, has fewer falls
• climbs stairs unassisted, but not with alternating feet
• often achieves toilet training during this year, the child will indicate readiness
• enjoys pouring and filling activities
• uses feet to propel wheeled riding toys
• squats steadily and stands without using hands
• aware of own size compared to objects around him
• holding handrail or wall, walks up and down stairs, placing both feet on each step
• small muscle control is more advanced
• stacking a number of blocks
• stringing wooden beads
• can hold a small glass of juice with one hand
• balance increases
• easily tires and becomes frustrated
• plays physical games
• draws in circular motion
• takes off simple clothes

PERCEPTUAL-COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

• eye-hand movements are better coordinated, can put objects together and take them apart
• begins to use objects for purposes other than intended
• attends to self-selected activities for longer periods of time
• recognizes and expresses pain and its location
• turns picture book pages one at a time and recognizes tiny details
• can unwrap a small candy
• uses 6 cubes to build a tower
• ability to recall events that happened earlier in the day
• ability to anticipate events that will occur later in the day
• put smaller objects into bigger ones
• drop and throw objects to watch their movements
• explore and test their environment, as they learn about cause and effect

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

• realizes that language is effective for getting others to respond to needs and preferences
• uses 50 to 300 words, vocabulary continuously increasing
• refers to self as "me" or sometimes "I" rather than by name, has no trouble verbalizing "mine"
• expresses negative statements by tacking on a negative word such as "no" or "not"
• repeatedly asks "what's that?"
• speech is 65-70% intelligible
• shows interest in conversation between other people
• can say short sentences
• asks the names of various people and things
• participates in songs and nursery rhymes
• likes to hold and examine things he is beginning to name
• active vocabulary of 300 words and a passive vocabulary of 1000 words
• mastering words and grammatical forms at an enormous rate
• words lack the specificity of meaning and separateness they have for adults
• enjoy rhythmic pattern and musical qualities of language as much as they do its meaning
• uses single words to communicate wants and needs
• understands simple questions
• learns about nine new words a day
• speaks first intelligible word

PERSONAL-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• shows signs of empathy and caring, comforts another child who is hurt or frightened, sometimes overly affectionate in offering hugs and kisses to children
• temper tantrums likely to peak during this year, cannot be reasoned with while tantrum in progress
• impatient, finds it difficult to wait or take turns
• often defiant, shouting "no" becomes automatic
• can put on shoes and hat
• resists authority and throws tantrums if frustrated
• possessive over toys
• spoon feeds self and drinks from a cup
• understanding that others have needs and feeling
• developing relationships with peers
• hug or pat distressed person
• when he does something wrong, has a sheepish look on face
• will object mother's help and insist on doing things on own

DEVELOPMENTAL ALERTS

Check with a health care provider or early childhood specialist, if by the third birthday, the child does not:

• attempt to talk
• understand new words
• walk alone
• show interest in pictures
• recognize self in mirror
• attempt to self feed