As a child inches closer to the second birthday, parents often start pondering about the journey travelled so far. The toddler's evolution from a wobbly walker to a confident sprinter, combined with refined abilities like pointing or mimicking, rightly deserves a celebration.
Incredible, to say! As the little one reaches the two-year-old threshold, it becomes apparent that these observed alterations are not just random. They signify the growing physical strength, comprehension abilities, and individuality that become glaring in a two-year-old.
This article aims to underline the key milestones to expect as your toddler turns two. In essence, it’s about unfolding the evolution journey and laying down common markers to help you gauge your child's progress.
Movement Milestones in Two-Year-Olds
Physical development takes a steep upward curve in the second year. The toddler's new found strength and coordination might be manifested as leaping and falling, and walking and climbing, hinting towards an exploration spree. The majority of one year-olds could take a few steps with assistance. Still, by the time they are 18 months old, most toddlers typically walk independently, illustrating their enhanced gait and robustness.
The playroom might turn into a chaos zone as the two-year-old pushes and pulls toys at will, honing the coordination skills. The 18-month old also masters the use of utensils, making mealtime with spoons and cups an exciting affair.
Around the same time, toddlers start to show signs of self-dependence by trying to undress themselves, albeit with some assistance. As the second birthday is agreed, toddlers generally begin to enjoy running, kicking and climbing.
Cognitive Milestones in Two-Year-Olds
Your toddler’s ability to reason, learn, and solve problems takes a leap around this age. You might catch your little Einstein imitating your routine activities – picking up your smartphone, or feeding his plush toys! Interestingly, mimicking the surroundings is an early signal of imaginative play. You'd also find your toddler following one-step commands around 18 months of age and two-step commands with increasing comprehension.
A heightened memory is another exciting development around this period. Your two-year-old might surprise you with remembering people and places and the ability to narrate events. The cognitive abilities expand to encompass colour recognition and shape sorting too!
Communicative Milestones in Two-Year-Olds
By their second birthday, many toddlers can string some words into small sentences. They often imitate words they overhear, and you'd notice changes in their tone. Now is also the time to watch your words, for two-year-olds tend to mimic adult conversations gleefully!
Their increasing knowledge of names extends to common objects and body parts, making it possible to engage in meaningful interactions. Communication skills for sure, have seen an upswing!
Social and Emotional Milestones by Age Two
An improved understanding of social conventions characterises this stage. Toddlers begin to display affection towards familiar people and prefer specific individuals for certain tasks. Emotionally, as they approach their second birthday, a rush of independence can lead to temper tantrums and defiant behaviour.
On the play front, instead of engaging in parallel playing, toddlers begin to share stuff with their playmates in an unstructured manner. Playgroups and music classes might see a lot more of interactive participation. If you thought chasing games were just fun, think again! It reflects your child's growing socialisation skills.
When to Reach Out to your Pediatrician
While it's important to remember that every child has their unique growth timeline, certain delays could call for a consultation. Inability to copy actions, unstable gait, not following simple commands, or a lack of two-word sentences could be potential warning signs. If you note regression, wherein the child forgets skills they once knew, it's time to talk to a doctor.
Whether it's mastering physical feats like pedalling a tricycle or linguistically engaging in a conversation, each new development will fill you with pride. So, dear parent, buckle up and enjoy this rollercoaster ride of nurturing a two-year-old!