Your child at 2 years old

They call it the "terrible two" because it seems like all your little one wants to say is "no!" This is when the character of your baby begins to form, and he reveals himself. Here are some skills to look for.

Movement skills

At this age, the child should be able to:

Stand on tiptoes
Kick a ball
Start to run
Climb on and down from furniture without help
Walk up and down stairs while holding on
Throw a ball overhand
Carry a large toy or several toys while walking

You may have noticed that your child has stopped staggering when walking and has moved on to the smoother heel-to-toe movements that are typical of normal adult walkers. In the coming months, he will become a more coordinated runner, learning to back up, turn corners, and stand on one foot with a little help.

He will naturally improve his motor skills by running, playing, sliding and climbing. It is good for him to have time every day to go out and explore. This will allow him to improve motor skills, have fun and let off steam. But you must watch it.

Hand and finger development

Your child should be able to:

Scribble at will
Turn over a container and pour out its contents
Build a tower of four blocks or more

Your child can now coordinate their wrist, fingers, and palm to turn a doorknob or unscrew a jar lid. He can also hold a pen or pencil, although the grip may feel awkward. However, all he has to do is start drawing lines and circles on a piece of paper. His attention span will be much longer than at 18 months, and now that he can turn the pages of a book, he can participate more in reading together. Drawing, building blocks or using the constructor will please him for a long time.

At this age, your baby may prefer his left or right hand. But you don't have to force him to choose one or the other. Some children develop preferences later. Others can also use either hand. So let it happen naturally.

Language skills

Your child should be able to:

Point to objects or images when they are named
Know the names of parents, siblings, body parts and objects
Say a sentence of two to four words
Follow simple instructions
Repeat words heard in conversation

Your 2 year old will probably make longer sentences (e.g. "Mom, I want cookies" instead of just "Cookie mom"). Instead, he will also start using pronouns like "I" and "I". his name. Not all children speak at the same rate, so don't worry if your friend's child speaks more than yours. Boys tend to start talking later than girls.

Help your child develop language skills by talking to him and reading to him. Use books that ask him to touch or name objects or repeat words (you can do this yourself with any picture book by simply asking your child questions). As his language skills develop, he will enjoy poetry, puns and jokes.

Social/emotional skills

Your child may:

Copying others, especially adults and older children
Be excited around other children
Show increasing independence
Play mostly next to and not with other children
Demonstrates growing defiance (doing what you told him not to do)
Become more aware of yourself as separate from others

At this stage, children think that the world revolves around them. Concepts like sharing don't make much sense. Your child may sit next to another child to play, but ignore him unless he wants to take the toy away. This is fine. Tell her, “Would you like her to do this to you? means nothing at this age. So keep a close eye on his actions.

At the same time, children love to imitate others and can talk to their teddy bear or doll in the same way that their parents talk to them. This is another reason to be a good role model.

Learning, thinking skills

Your child should be able to:

Find things even if they are hidden under two or three layers
Start sorting shapes and colors
Full sentences and rhymes in familiar books
Play simple simulation games
Follow two-part instructions (e.g. "drink some milk, then give me the cup")

Your child's language skills are improving and he is now starting to solve problems in his head. He also begins to understand temporary concepts such as "I'll read you a story after we brush our teeth."

He will begin to understand the concept of numbers, so you can enter the score. His game will become more difficult and he can create a difficult scene for a special toy instead of jumping from one toy to another.

Developmental delays

Tell your doctor if your child cannot do any of the following by age 2:

Walking correctly - he should not walk exclusively on his toes or unsteadily after several months of walking.
Say a two-word sentence
Imitate actions or words
Follow simple instructions
Remember the skills he had before

Your child should also be tested for autism at 18 months and 24 months.

Screen time

By the age of 2, children can learn high-quality educational programs, but should watch no more than an hour a day. You should not let your child watch screens (TV, tablet or laptop) alone, but you should watch with them.