Important Milestones: By the End of Two Years (24 Months)

 

Social

• Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children

• More aware of herself as separate from others

• More excited about company of other children

 

Emotional

• Demonstrates increasing independence

• Begins to show defiant behavior

• Separation anxiety increases toward midyear then fades

 

Cognitive

• Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers

• Begins to sort by shapes and colors

• Begins simple make-believe play (i.e. eating pretend food, "answering' the phone, etc.)

 

Speech Sounds (Articulation)

• About 50% intelligible

• Produces ealy developing sounds such as b, d, p, t, g, n

 

Language

•Points to a few body parts when asked

•Starts combining words 

•Follows simple instructions and understands simple questions ("Roll the ball," "Kiss the baby", "Where is your tummy?")

•Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes

•Points to object or picture when named 

• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts

• Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months)

• Uses simple 2-4 word phrases (by 18 to 24 months)

• Repeats words overheard in conversation

 

Movement

• Walks alone

• Pulls toys behind her while walking

• Carries large toy or several toys while walking

• Begins to run

• Stands on tiptoe

• Kicks a ball

• Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted

• Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

 

Hand and Finger Skills

• Scribbles on his or her own

• Turns over container to pour out contents

• Builds tower of four blocks or more

• Might use one hand more often than the other

 

Developmental Health Watch

• Cannot walk by 18 months

• Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks only on his toes

• Does not speak at least 15 words

• Does not use two-word phrases by age 2

• By 15 months, does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, spoon)

• Does not imitate actions or words by the end of this period

• Does not follow simple instructions by age 2

• Cannot push a wheeled toy by age 2

• Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had

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