What to expect from your 2 year old

Milestones

• Ways your toddler is developing between 2 and 3 years of age.
• Jumps in place.
• Pedals a tricycle.
• Speaks in three or four word sentences.
• Feeds and dresses self.
• Can draw a cross and a circle with a crayon.
• Plays “make believe” games with dolls and stuffed animals.
• Help your child develop new skills by playing with him/her.

Health Tips

• Are your child’s “shots” up to date? If they are, your child won’t need any more until just before he/she enters kindergarten.
• Offer your child a variety of healthy foods every day. Limit junk foods. Eat meals together as a family as often as possible. Turn off the TV while eating together.
• Brush your child’s teeth at least once a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure your child gets a dental checkup once a year.

Parenting Tips

• Talk with your child about what they are doing. Read picture books together and talk about the pictures.
• Help your child enjoy active games like catch, tag, and hide-and-seek. Give him/her simple toys to play with, like blocks, crayons and paper, and stuffed animals.
• You may want your child to be toilet trained soon, but he/she may not be ready until about age 3. Your child will show you when he/she is ready by being dry after sleep and telling you when he/she wants to use the toilet.
• Limit television to 1 hour or less. Watch with your child and talk about the programs.

Safety Tips

• Keep cleaning supplies and medicine locked up and out of reach.
• Always hold your child’s hand while walking near traffic, including in parking lots. Check behind your car before backing up, in case a child is behind it.
• If you have guns at home, keep them unloaded and locked up.
• Put a life jacket on your child whenever they are near the water or in a boat. Always watch them around the water.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach.