When your child reaches the age of two, you will likely notice significant changes in him or her almost every month. They may start to feel liberated as they explore their environment. It’s also possible that they’ll begin to express an interest in doing more tasks on their own without your assistance.
Let’s keep reading to learn more about the development of 2-year-old children.
Growth
Your child’s growth rate will slow after his or her second birthday. They are quite active at this age, and their look begins to change during infancy. While all children grow at different rates, the typical weight and height of 2-year-old males and girls are as follows:
- · Weight gain – Weight gain of about 4 to 6 pounds every year on average.
- · Height – Increases by roughly 2 to 3 inches every year on average.
Sleep patterns
A well-rested toddler between the ages of 1 and 2 sleeps more than 12 hours. Sleep duration will be reduced to roughly 11 hours as your child gets older, especially as he approaches his third birthday. In addition, there was also a change in how many times he slept a day. Around the age of 2, children often sleep a little longer in the morning, sleep longer in the evening, and eventually sleep through the night.
Development and social interaction
Most 2-year-olds are “egocentric” by nature, which means they can’t comprehend that others may have different thoughts or issues than they have. At this age, your child believes that the world revolves around them and that everything they do is centred on their needs. So don’t be surprised if your toddler isn’t ready to play with other children in traditional ways, such as ‘give-and-take’ behaviour. On the other hand, they may prefer to play around with other children, rather than play with them. But they still feel comfortable being around other people. This is also an excellent method for teaching your child about social interaction.
Cognitive development
At the age of 2, your child will begin to play imaginary games, integrate many activities into a more complex sequence, and shift from one object or activity to the next. This is a sign that their minds are already able to connect with information and are beginning to comprehend the relationships between various objects or thoughts.
Let’s learn more about the aspects listed below.
– Speech and language
Even though children may develop at different rates, the majority of children at this age can already master at least 50 words. Boys’ language skills, on the other hand, may develop at a slower rate than females. However, most children of the same age can already put three words together before they reach the age of three.
– Play
During this period, your child will begin to explore and try to figure out how things function while playing. As a result, you should provide them with as many opportunities to explore as possible, such as playing in the sand or the park.
As a result, your child is likely to enjoy repeating the same activity over and over, such as repeatedly dropping a block tower. Even if you may want your child to do something more, repeating the same behaviour helps them learn.
– Emotions
For children, this age is generally associated with the onset of anger. This is understandable given that children at this age are just learning how to communicate themselves when they are sad, frustrated, tired or hungry.
They are unable to express their emotions because they lack the verbal ability to do so effectively. As a result, they are more prone to demonstrate it. So don’t be surprised if your child falls to the ground and screams. This is a typical component of a child’s growth.
Movement development
During this stage, your two-year-old will enjoy demonstrating his or her motor skills. Between the ages of 2 and 3, children can make significant improvements in terms of running, climbing, throwing, and kicking. They will also begin to walk more like adults. They should also be able to walk alongside you without falling and should be able to go upstairs or downstairs with a little assistance at this age.
You may also notice that your child is just beginning to have control over his or her hand and finger movements, which is an indication that fine motor skills are developing. Your child may be able to hold a pencil or crayon in his or her hand and draw lines and circles slowly.
Nutrition
Give your child a variety of nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits and dairy products. Allow them to eat on their own and choose what they want. Continue to feed it to your child even if he or she doesn’t enjoy it. They could change their minds in the latter. At this age, your child should eat three times per day for a “full meal” and two times per day for a healthy snack. Don’t be worried if your child doesn’t eat much at times. Simply ensure that the food consumed is well-balanced and healthy for their growth and well-being.
At this age, your child should already be able to use a spoon, drink from a cup with one hand, and feed a wide variety of foods. Still, he is still learning to chew and swallow efficiently and may swallow food in a hurry to keep playing. Due to that, the risk of choking is high. So, make sure you are always with your child especially when they are eating.
How to help your child’s development
Here are some recommendations to help your toddler:
· Make a particular time to read a book with your child.
· Encourage your child to engage in role-playing activities.
· Play a parade or keep track of your toddler’s moves.
· Take your child for a walk to help him explore the world around him.
· Encourage your child to share his or her name and age with others.
· Teach your child simple songs. that he or she can follow along with.
Show good behaviours while avoiding negative behaviours such as rage.
· Teach your child how to express himself or herself when he or she is upset.
Signs of developmental problems (Things to watch out for)
Every child progresses at a different pace. However, there are a few indicators that can indicate if there are any developmental issues. Consult your child’s paediatrician if he or she:·
· Not running stably. Running in an unsteady manner.
· Do not imitate the actions and words of others.
· Do not follow simple instructions.
· Loss of skills once possessed.
· Not knowing what to do with everyday items such as a phone, fork, spoon, or brush.
· Don’t mention a phrase with more than one word like, “more milk”. Don’t use a sentence having more than one word, such as “more milk.”
Reference
https://www.verywellfamily.com/2-year-old-developmental-milestones-2631964
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/toddlers2.html
https://www.webmd.com /parenting/guide/child-at-2-milestones#1
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Feeding-and-Nutrition-Your-Two-Year-Old. aspx
https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/sleep/101/toddler-sleep-101-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default ? id = the-growing-child-2-year-olds-90-P02303
Image URL: https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/development/development-tracker-1-3-years/2-3-years