Here are a list of developmental markers for a 2 year old child, or a 3 year old child and my commentary on my girl. Keep in mind some of these things she's been doing for months now and she is only 19 months old! I'm so proud to be her mommy. She's a delight and a hand full all at once. But mostly she's one of a kind grasping concepts that are beyond her months.
By 2 years of age does your child:
Motor Skills
- drink from a straw, ABSOLUTELY! Since 10 months.
- feed himself with a spoon, Still a little shaky with peas but has Ice Cream mastered.
- help in washing hands, can do, dry, wipe face and blow nose.
- put arms in sleeves with help none needed. Loves jackets, shirts, cardigans...fairy wings!
build a tower of 3-4 blocks She built a tower too tall for her to reach the top the other day, AND amazed me when she picked up the entire tower to add blocks to the bottom to make it taller, without knocking it over. A concept that is WAY ahead of her age. Very impressed with my little block engineer. - toss or roll a large ball She has a bouncy ball and a purple soccer ball. loves them both!
- open cabinets, drawers, boxes She's in to everything. Can now open even the child proofed ones.
- operate a mechanical toy She loves winding up her monkey that does flips.
- bend over to pick up a toy and not fall Since about 10 months!
- walk up steps with help ALL BY HERSELF! little miss independent.
- take steps backward Leaving the library yesterday my little comedian thought it would be a riot to walk to the car backwards holding hands and giggled the whole way.
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- like to take things apart everything.
- explore surroundings never sits still!
- point to 5-6 parts of a doll when asked head, face, hair, nose, belly, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, cheeks, chin, bum, feet, knee, toes, hand, finger, arm, neck.... wouldn't surprise me if she showed me where her kidneys are.
Language and Social Skills
- have a vocabulary of several hundred words She knows all of the words in her baby's first 100 words book and can rattle off a whole slew of them that aren't in there.
- use 2-3 word sentences "Momma, Honor eat lunch now then watch Gongo? Berries for me?"
- say names of toys yes.
- ask for information about an object (asks, "Shoe?" while pointing to shoe box) more like "Cookies?" when she sees a box in the kitchen.
- hum or try to sing Has her own songs in her head. Sings her self to sleep in the car. Sings and dances along with radio.
- listen to short rhymes Mother Gooses #1 Fan.
- like to imitate parents I had to take a call from a vendor for work at home. I paced across the kitchen telling this woman's assistant No. No. No. you're not understanding the situation. Honor went to her play room, got her Leap frog cell phone and started pacing going, "NO NO NO!" Have to be very careful what we say around this little sponge. She's soaking everything up.
- sometimes get angry and have temper tantrums having the occasional fit on the floor.
- act shy around strangers temporary condition before she turns in to the worlds biggest flirt.
- comfort a distressed friend or parent once when she was having a temper tantrum, nana got down on the floor and had a faux tantrum and Honor immediately stopped hers, went over put her head down on nana's chest and patted her shoulder. Always gives me the best hugs.
- take turns in play with other children most of the time.
- treat a doll or stuffed animal as though it were alive Feeds and cuddles and changes diapers. Her Dolls get the best treatment. Tea parties too.
- apply pretend action to others (as in pretending to feed a doll) All the time.
- show awareness of parental approval or disapproval for her actions if she's in trouble she pops the bottom lip out and drops her head. She's learning "sorry" and "bold!"
- refer to self by name and use "me" and "mine" MINE! one of her favs.
- verbalize his desires and feelings ("I want cookie") I've certainly heard that before.
- laugh at silly labeling of objects and events (as in calling a nose an ear) oh yes, also a big fan of putting things on her head that don't belong there.
- enjoy looking at one book over and over guess how much I love you. And BOBO the monkey books are high up on the list.
- point to eyes, ears, or nose when you ask hers, mine, the dolls etc.
By 3 years of age does your child:
Motor Skills
feed himself (with some spilling) check.
open doors check.
hold a glass in one hand check.
hold a crayon well check.
wash and dry hands by himself
fold paper, if shown how
build a tower of 54 blocks
throw a ball overhead check.
try to catch a large ball check.
put on shoes (but not tie laces) check. can do velcro.
dress herself with help check.
use the toilet with some help check.
walk up steps, alternating feet check.
walk on tiptoes if shown how check. without being shown. if there's music playing she'll do it unprompted.
walk in a straight line
kick a ball forward check. (daddy's little soccer prodigy)
jump with both feet check. Bounce bounce she calls it.
pedal a tricycle check.(sorta) still working on getting it going. but she's got the concept.
Sensory and Thinking Skills
recognize sounds in the environment check. Shadow? when she hears dogs.
pay attention for about 3 minutes
remember what happened yesterday not able to articulate that yet.
know what is food and what is not food check.
know some numbers (but not always in the right order) check. one. two. three are pretty solid. working on the rest.
know where things usually belong. check.
understand what "1" is check. shows me with her finger, blocks, etc.
understand "now," "soon," and "later" check. not a fan of "Wait a minute sweetie"
substitute one object for another in pretend play (as in pretending a block is a "car") check.
laugh at silly ideas (like "milking" a dog) huh? now there's one I wouldn't suggest.
look through a book alone check. pointing and calling out items she sees.
match circles and squares not yet. But knows pizza is a circle. and a triangle.
match an object to a picture of that object check.
match objects that have same function (as in putting a cup and plate together) check.
count 2 to 3 objects check.
avoid some dangers, like a hot stove or a moving car knows the oven, the fire and mommy's tea are HOT.
follow simple one-step commands check.
Language and Social Skills
use 3-5 word sentences check.
ask short questions check.
use plurals ("dogs," "cars," "hats") not sure. I'll have to listen carefully to that little voice tomorrow.
name at least 10 familiar objects check.
repeat simple rhymes Ring-a ring-a rosie... heard that a lot this week.
name at least one color correctly check. likes purple orange and red the best.
imitate housework or help with simple tasks check. loves to sweep the floor.
ask to use the toilet almost every time
enjoy being read to check. LOVES library time.
talk about feelings and mental states (e.g., remembering)
demonstrate some shame when caught in a wrongdoing check. That would be the pouting lip.
try to make others laugh check. when she does she keeps doing what ever it is.
play spontaneously with two or three children in a group check.
assign roles in pretend social play ("You be mommy;" "I be daddy") not yet. .
know her first and last name not yet. Knows Honor, Honor Daigh and calls her self Hon-ie.
understand "I," "you," "he," and "she" not yet.
believe everything centers around him ("if I hide my eyes, no one will see me") not yet.
answer whether she is a boy or girl oh yes. she's a good girl she tells me and shadow's a good boy.
At this rate she'll be in college at the age of 10. She's making great strides with potty training. Runs to the bathroom and yells out "potty mommy!" when she has to go. We're not doing a great job of making it there on time, but the concept is there. She's already all trained to use her big girl bed. She chose her own linens and they're Tinkerbell. Gave up her bottle at 15 mos. and as I continue to say, is just a complete joy.
