Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
Congratulations! Your little bundle of joy is 2-year-old. It’s been 2 years since you started this wonderful parenting journey with your toddler. Your not-so-little toddler is achieving many toddler milestones and is growing a little too fast for your liking. It can be heartwarming and overwhelming at the same time.
When you look around at other toddlers of similar age, what do you see? Do you see how they are also playful and curious like your toddler or do you worry about the various skills they can do better or more than your toddler? What are the toddler milestones a 2-year-old should meet? Come, let’s find out.
In This Article
Here are some developmental toddler milestones your 2-year-old can achieve this year-
An average 2-year-old height and weight will be as follows-
Girls
Weight – 9.2 – 14.6 Kg
Height- 80.3 – 92.5 cm
Boys
Weight – 9.8 – 15.1 Kg
Height- 82.1 – 93.6 cm
(This chart is just an indication and these parameters may vary from one toddler to another)
Here are some tips for parents to aid their 2-year-old’s development in attaining their toddler milestones-
If your toddler is resisting potty training try giving them some diaper-free time during the day. You can also try potty training pants or underwear.
Take them to parks or play areas that have things to climb. Your toddler will love to climb at this stage, so give them a safe space to do it to their heart’s content. This will also reduce the chances of them developing a fear of heights.
It is common for toddlers to start whining at this stage. Instead of getting angry or irritated, help them communicate their feelings and wants. Ask them leading questions to understand what they are upset about.
Your toddler can now build not just vertically but horizontally too. Encourage them to build more with building blocks. There are a lot of different kinds of building blocks available in the market these days, choose the ones which your toddler likes.
Use rhymes and stories to teach them new words and concepts. They can learn rhymes with action. The action and tunes help toddlers learn and remember the words better (1). It also makes pronunciation easier.
Teach your toddler about emotions by making faces. Show them a happy face, sad face, or angry face, and encourage them to express emotions in their own way. This will help them acknowledge, name, and understand emotions.
Here are some ways to effectively take care of your growing toddler’s health-
Want to support your toddler in achieving their toddler milestones? Try these tips-
Your 2-year-old toddler has crossed many toddler milestones and will continue to develop more in the coming years. Always stay by their side patiently, and just let them learn. Small falls and bruises should not come in the way of their development. Remember, different toddlers will meet different toddler milestones at this age. Realize your toddler is unique in their own way and let their personality develop independently.
A toddler by the age of 2 should know their name, and recognize other familiar names like that of their parents, siblings, or playmates. They should know to name a few body parts and recognize familiar faces. They should know to slip their feet into slippers or open shoes, throw a ball, push or pull along toys when walking, get off a low stool or bed without assistance, and climb stairs with little or no help. The list of things a 2-year-old can possibly know, can be long. These are some of the most basic things a 2-year-old toddler should know.
A 2-year-old is still too young to start school or academics. At this age, their learning is mostly through play and observation. By now they should be able to sort shapes, match a few colors, identify a few images or pictures of animals, birds, etc. in books or flashcards, and make scribbles with a crayon.
It is quite normal for a 2-year-old to walk around and explore their surroundings on their own, resist control, get upset on hearing a “no”, and show interest in playing with other toddlers or toys. It is also normal for them to show preference for certain toys or people and fear strangers.
The inability to use common objects they are used to, like a comb, ball, spoon, etc., not walking properly yet, and not saying words or trying to communicate with others are all red flags in a 2-year-old toddler’s development. If they are screaming for no reason, running away without control despite saying a no, or if they pay no attention when you are talking to them and keep saying something irrelevant, it could indicate a developmental issue with regards to their behavior.
Toddlers will start saying a few words when they are about 14 months old. They will start using more words and simple sentences when they are about 21 months old. Some toddlers can start talking fluently when they are about 2 years old and some will need a little more time. Language development depends on many factors including their exposure to the language and the screen time they get.
No, it is not necessary. Toddlers will learn the letters of the English alphabet when they start going to school. If you teach them at home, some toddlers can recite them and some can recollect only a few letters and may not be in order. This does not reflect on their development.
Your toddler could be a “late-talker” meaning, they can understand what you tell them but their verbal communication needs more development before they can confidently talk. They are listening, understanding, and responding but just not using words. If your toddler is not showing any signs of communication or responding, you should consult a doctor or a speech therapist to confirm there are no complications.
References
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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