Speech, Swallowing, & Voice Specialists of Hawaii
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2 YEARS OLD
Social/Emotional & Cognitive Milestones
Typical milestones during this age range
Social/Emotional
Able to participate in small groups with other children
Able to play in social situations after a transition time
Able to locate objects you are pointing to
Copies others, especially adults and other children
Gets excited when with other children
Shows more independence
Shows defiant behavior (i.e.; doing something child has been told not to do)
Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase games
Enjoys play with new toys in varied ways
Enjoys sitting to look at or listen to a book
Able to be away from parents when with supportive and familiar people
Cognitive
Finds things even when hidden under two or three covers
Begins to sort shapes and colors
Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books
Plays simple make-believe games
Builds towers of 4 or more blocks
Might use one hand more than the other
Follows 2-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet”
Names items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog
Our sensory and motor skills play a big role in how we mature socially, emotionally, and cognitively. For this reason, some motor and sensory milestones for this age group are also listed below as they are intricately entangled in your child's social/emotional and coginivite development.
Motor
Stands on tiptoe
Kicks a ball
Begins to run
Climbs onto and down from furniture without help
Walks up and down stairs holding on
Throws ball overhand
Draws or copies straight lines and circles
Sensory
(Ranges between 2-3 years old)
Enjoys swinging, being thrown in air, and roughhousing
Able to participate in messy activities that result in dirty hands
Aware of sensation such as a wet diaper or underpants
Able to tolerate and stay calm during haircuts and while clipping fingernails