Your little one is chugging along nicely in their new journey as a toddler.
Between the ages of 2 to 3 years old, they are now learning more important life skills.
Now that they can check off ‘walking’ from their list of milestones, they will not focus more on the next one: ‘talking’.
Your child’s language development will kick into overdrive during this stage.
They are also learning more and more about their place as part of the family and also in a wider context.
However, this time is also what many parents call the ‘terrible twos’.
You may find that your little one is becoming extra bossy and fussy. Their personality and autonomy is growing, and with it comes all sorts of demands and defiance.
Here are other developmental milestones you can expect your child to reach now that they are 2 years and above.
Physical Development
Now that your child is 2 years old, they would be gaining around 1 kilograms per year.
They would be weighing around 11 to 15 kilograms, roughly 4 times their birth weight.
If your child is having trouble putting on weight, it’s important to take them to the doctor to address any nutritional deficiencies.
In terms of height, they should be growing around 7 to 13 centimetres per year.
Now that they are 2 years old and above, they should now be between 86 to 97 centimetres.
Let’s take a look at other physical milestones that are in store for your toddler at this time.
Better at Walking
Your toddler is now slowly transitioning from their usual awkward wide-stance walk to a proficient heel-to-toe pattern of walking.
This allows them to move around much better; they should now be able to maneuver around obstacles that may be in their path.
Your little one can now even run confidently and only fall a few times. They can also jump into the air with both feet.
With this improved walking, your toddler can also run with more confidence and will fall much less.
Another exciting milestone is that they can now squat for long periods while playing and they can squat to reach for objects before standing up again.
They can now also climb stairs unassisted, but they may climb each step with both legs instead of alternating left and right. It’s important to keep an eye on them regardless of when they do this.
Fine Motor Skills
Your little one’s fine motor skills also improve significantly during this period. Their hand-eye coordination develops further.
They should now be able to grasp and manipulate small objects with more precision.
They can also begin to hold crayons or markers with a firmer grip.
However, they may only still be able to draw nothing but scribbles instead of any actual shapes.
They can now build simple structures with blocks instead of just stacking them in towers.
Toddlers should be able to turn pages in a book and feed themselves adequately by the time they turn 2 and a half.
They should also now be able to dress and undress themselves although they may still struggle with some things.
Your little one may still need help with putting on and taking off shoes, buttoning buttons, and zipping up jackets.
Sensory Development
Your toddler is now becoming more aware and sensitive to different textures, sounds, temperatures, and flavours.
They may show preferences for these, especially when it comes to their sense of taste.
Between the ages of 2 to 3 years old is when children become fussy eaters.
They may prefer certain foods and become more selective in what they eat.
Sometimes these foods may not be healthy for them to eat on a regular basis, so be sure to set proper rules and boundaries.
Other Physical Milestones
Your child is also going through other physical milestones.
Speaking of eating, your child should now fully acclimate to solid foods.
Their coordination of chewing and swallowing improves greatly.
There is now a reduced risk of choking. However, you should still avoid giving them choking hazards like small fruits and nuts.
Toddlers also often start toilet training during this year.
However, you should also expect some accidents here and there, especially if you’re weaning them off diapers.
Their first set of baby teeth are now almost fully grown. Their second molars are starting to appear, completing the first 20 teeth they will ever have in their life.
Cognitive Development
As your child goes through their second year of life, they go through what is known as the ‘terrible twos’.
This is a challenging period for both parent and child, marked by an increase in tantrums and rebellious behaviour.
As your little one learns to reinforce their autonomy and follow the rules of the world, you as their parent will struggle teaching them how to balance the two.
Here’s what else is going on with your toddler between the ages of 2 to 3 years old.
Increased Independence
As your child grows in their toddlerhood, they begin to exert their presence more aggressively. This is part of their normal development in discovering their autonomy.
For now, your child may still not fully understand their parents’ rules and laws.
To them, these rules are nonsensical and stifling their fun.
They do not yet understand the dangers of certain things like touching a hot pan, or playing with knives.
When they do not get what they want, or if you stop them from doing something that can be dangerous or meddling they will fuss, cry, and throw a tantrum.
Be there through them as they learn to regulate their emotions. Comfort them without judgement, but do not give in to their demands.
Language Learning
Your toddler is now realising that language is an effective way for them to get what they want.
They should now be able to use words to communicate their needs and preferences.
Between the ages of 2 to 3 years old, your toddler has broken the ‘linguistic code’; they now understand the meaning of words.
Most of the time these words are not even something that you teach but things that they’ve picked listening to you speak in everyday conversations with other adults.
They can now use up to fifty to three hundred different words in their speech. Their vocabulary is continuously increasing day by day.
They can now also use three to four-word phrases like ‘mummy, want milk’.
They now understand how to use negatives (no, don’t, not), and how to ask questions like ‘What’s that’ in the most basic of ways.
Growing Intelligence
Your toddler’s hand-eye coordination is much better now; they can put objects together, take them apart and do simple puzzles.
They can also do simple classification tasks such as separating toy animals from toy vehicles.
They now tend to be engrossed in certain activities that require problem-solving. They may stare for long moment at a strange new object or how to solve a puzzle.
As their memory improves, your toddler is now able to remember familiar people, places, and routines.
They start recognising objects and people even when they are out of sight, demonstrating an understanding of object permanence.
Your toddler is now at that age where they are fully engaged in pretend play.
You will notice them imitating daily activities like cooking, talking on the phone, or taking care of dolls and stuffed animals.
This type of pretend play is so important for helping them understand social roles and practice problem-solving in a creative way.
Emotional Development
Your child is starting to understand their place in the world and in the family.
While they are still quite demanding and often territorial especially of their parents and toys, your toddler now shows stronger signs of empathy and caring.
You may notice them trying to comfort a child or even an adult who is crying. They may offer their toys and their food to others as a gesture of sharing.
Entitlement
Your child’s sense of entitlement will increase between the ages of 2 to 3 years old.
This will manifest as a stronger attachment to you as their parent and to any other major carer that they interact with on a normal basis.
While this may seem like they’re going back in their progress, it’s actually an important part of how they learn about social interaction.
They may become more possessive and aggressive when someone takes away their things, or if someone they don’t know shows affection towards their parents (such as a close friend or a relative they’ve never met).
Your toddler may also be extra ‘bossy’ with you.They’ll order you around, make demands and will expect immediate compliance from adults.
Tantrums
They may struggle with emotional regulation, leading to tantrums when they feel overwhelmed or unable to communicate their needs effectively.
However, they also start developing basic coping mechanisms, such as seeking comfort from a carer, hugging a favourite stuffed animal, or using simple words to express their feelings.
Their growing emotional awareness allows them to recognise when they are happy, sad, or upset, even if they still need guidance in managing their emotions.
In that window of time before they learn proper words, their temper tantrums will be extra aggressive.
But as they slowly develop language skills, you may find that their tantrums reduce in frequency.
Empathy and Social Play
Empathy begins to emerge in toddlers during this stage.
As mentioned, toddlers around 2 to 3 years old start recognising when someone else is upset and may offer comfort in their own way. They may pat a friend on the back or bring them a toy.
Socially, toddlers begin to show more interest in playing with others.
However, they will still largely engage in ‘parallel play’ that is, playing alongside other children rather than directly engaging with them.
As they approach three years old, they gradually start participating in more cooperative play, learning to take turns, share toys, and follow simple social rules.
They may also start showing affection through hugs, kisses, and verbal expressions like ‘I love you’ or ‘I miss you’.
Surviving the ‘Terrible Twos’
The terrible twos get a bad rep in the parenting world.
The truth is not all children are built the same.
Some can be extra fussy and aggravating, while others are more or less mild-mannered with only a few meltdowns here and there.
That said, the 2 to 3 year mark is when all parents should prepare themselves mentally for all the wonders and challenges that await them as their toddler starts to develop a personality and a growing awareness of themselves and how they fit into the world.
With some practice, understanding and a world of patience, you can sail through the choppy waters of your child’s second year of life relatively unscathed in time to celebrate their next milestone.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
For more insightful stories and parenting advice, stay tuned to Motherhood.sg!