A two year old has progressed from the stages of baby development and has reached the world of toddlerhood. This new stage of development includes increased mobility, rapid changes in language and often unpredictable emotions, making it a unique time in a child's life. It is important to remember that every child is different and develops at his own pace, but if you are concerned about your child's development, then discuss it with his doctor.
Physical
The physical development of a two year old involves a lot of rolling, walking, running, jumping and climbing. She may be able to kick a small ball, catch one that is rolled to her and throw one somewhat accurately. PBS Parents states that she will probably enjoy exploring her environment and may have to repeat a task several times until she gets the hang of it. She may begin using one hand more often than the other and walk while carrying something or pulling a toy behind her. Her other physical skills include the ability to use utensils and turn doorknobs.
Language
A two year old's language skills are rapidly developing. He will ask a lot of questions to understand things and have a vocabulary of hundreds of words. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, Healthy Children, he will be able to understand simple directions and speak in sentences of up to four words. Although his pronunciation skills may make him difficult to understand at times, that skill will improve with practice.
Literacy
PBS Parents states that a two year old may thoroughly enjoy books. She may ask you to read to her or try to read herself by sitting alone with a book. Her writing ability is developing as well. At this stage, she may make several scribble marks on a paper and even make a letter or two from her name.
Cognitive
A two year old's cognitive development is improving as he gains an understanding of certain concepts, despite his short attention span. For example, he will be able to understand the concept of time, such as being told that something happened yesterday. He starts to understand cause and effect and can solve some problems in his head. Healthy Children states that he may be able to find hidden objects, recognize patterns and sort shapes. His times of play will include more make-believe and he will use objects to represent real things in his life, such as cars.
Social and Emotional
Healthy Children states that a two year old will start to show increased independence. She will imitate the behavior of others and while she may play alongside another child, they may not necessarily play together. She might have difficulty controlling her changing and intense emotions and has the ability to recognize and label feelings. She may use certain objects as emotional security, such as a favorite stuffed animal or blanket.
