Your child is growing incredibly fast, and their progress can be categorized into four main developmental domains: physical, cognitive, language and communication, social and emotional. hyperlink to the sections These are the key areas where you’ll see rapid growth between the ages of two and three. Observing these different facets of their development will help you support their natural progress and celebrate every exciting milestone.
1. Physical Development
1.1 Checklist
Toddlers are usually able to:
- walk down stairs with both feet on each step
- run, jump and climb with great agility
- chew well as they have most of their teeth now
They are learning to master how to incorporate toys and equipment like balls, riding toys and climbers in complex ways.
1.2 Ways to Promote
| Areas of Development | Suggestions | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Physical development | Ensuring adequate nutrition, sleep and exercise | Including children in the cooking process, consistent bedtime routine, active lifestyle |
| a.1. Gross motor development | Encouraging children to push their boundaries in physical activities, to do a little more every time | Climbing higher, racing |
| a.2. Fine motor development | Activities that let them attach uneven objects together, kneading | Simple puzzles, playdough or atta dough |
| a.3. Sensory, fine motor, oral-motor development | Food of different textures | Chewing foods, not blending |
|
By the age of two, the number of synapses a toddler has reaches an adult level and by three it doubles.
As the brain grows rapidly during this age, it is considered the prime time for brain development.
Tap again to close
|
Engaging children in conversations, ensuring secure attachment |
Talking about the task as you do it (“let’s squeeze some toothpaste on the brush”), acknowledging your child even if you are busy
Serve: child reaching out for interaction (e.g., babbling).
Return: adult acknowledging the serve and responding (e.g., making the same sound). Tap again to close |
1.3 When to See a Pediatrician
Gross Motor Skills:
- Cannot walk steadily by 2 years old
- Frequently falls and trips on flat surfaces
- Can not run, jump and climb by 2.5-3 years old
- Muscles seem too stiff or too loose
- Uses one side of the body more than other
Fine Motor Skills:
- Cannot grasp small objects, e.g. crayons, spoon
- Cannot stack 2-4 blocks
- Cannot scribble or draw
Other Physical and Sensory Concerns:
- Shows no interest in moving, playing and exploring
- Has difficulty chewing
- Closing one eye when viewing objects
- Extra sensitivity to sunlight
- Failure to respond to or locate the direction of parents’ voices
- Favoring one ear more than the other
1. Physical Development
1.1 Checklist
Toddlers are usually able to:
- walk down stairs with both feet on each step
- run, jump and climb with great agility
- chew well as they have most of their teeth now
They are learning to master how to incorporate toys and equipment like balls, riding toys and climbers in complex ways.
1.2 Ways to Promote
| Areas of Development | Suggestions | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Physical development | Ensuring adequate nutrition, sleep and exercise | Including children in the cooking process, consistent bedtime routine, active lifestyle |
| a.1. Gross motor development | Encouraging children to push their boundaries in physical activities, to do a little more every time | Climbing higher, racing |
| a.2. Fine motor development | Activities that let them attach uneven objects together, kneading | Simple puzzles, playdough or atta dough |
| a.3. Sensory, fine motor, oral-motor development | Food of different textures | Chewing foods, not blending |
|
By the age of two, the number of synapses a toddler has reaches an adult level and by three it doubles.
As the brain grows rapidly during this age, it is considered the prime time for brain development.
Tap again to close
|
Engaging children in conversations, ensuring secure attachment |
Talking about the task as you do it (“let’s squeeze some toothpaste on the brush”), acknowledging your child even if you are busy
Serve: child reaching out for interaction (e.g., babbling).
Return: adult acknowledging the serve and responding (e.g., making the same sound). Tap again to close |
1.3 When to See a Pediatrician
Gross Motor Skills:
- Cannot walk steadily by 2 years old
- Frequently falls and trips on flat surfaces
- Can not run, jump and climb by 2.5-3 years old
- Muscles seem too stiff or too loose
- Uses one side of the body more than other
Fine Motor Skills:
- Cannot grasp small objects, e.g. crayons, spoon
- Cannot stack 2-4 blocks
- Cannot scribble or draw
Other Physical and Sensory Concerns:
- Shows no interest in moving, playing and exploring
- Has difficulty chewing
- Closing one eye when viewing objects
- Extra sensitivity to sunlight
- Failure to respond to or locate the direction of parents’ voices
- Favoring one ear more than the other