What is the cognitive development of a 2 3 year old?

If you have concerns about a child's development and think a child might need extra help to learn and grow, do not hesitate to refer a child.

The family will be contacted by the local school district to arrange for a screening or evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for Infant and Toddler Intervention or Preschool Special Education services in Minnesota.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

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Doctors use certain milestones to tell if a toddler is developing as expected. There's a wide range of what's considered normal, so some children gain skills earlier or later than others.

Toddlers who were born prematurely may reach milestones later. Talk with your doctor about your child's progress.

Here are things toddlers usually do by this age:

Communication and Language Skills

• say around 50 words
• say 2 or more words together, with 1 action word, like “doggie run”
• say words like “I,” “me,” or “we”
• name things in a book when you point and ask “What is this?”

Movement and Physical Development

• take some clothes off by themselves
• jump with both feet
• use hands to twist things, like turning a doorknob or unscrewing a lid
• turns pages in a book one at a time

Social and Emotional Development

• play next to other children and sometimes play with them
• show you what they can do by saying “Look at me!”
• follow simple routines when told, like picking up toys when you say “It’s clean-up time.”

Cognitive Skills (Thinking and Learning)

• use things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
• show simple problem-solving, like using a stool to reach something
• follow 2-step instructions (“Pick up the toy and put it on the shelf.”)
• know at least 1 color, like pointing to a red crayon when asked “Which one is red?”

When Should I Call the Doctor?

You know your toddler best. So share your concerns — even little ones — with your child's doctor.

If your toddler is not meeting one or more milestones or you notice that your child had skills but has lost them, tell the doctor.

To learn more about early signs of developmental problems, go to the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early program.

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As children grow, so do their skills. While not specific to your child, this education sheet can help you know what skills your child is likely to develop at this age.

Children develop at their own rate, learning some skills much quicker than others. Progress also starts and stops. As some skills are learned, your child might go back to an earlier stage in some other areas for a time. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's development, talk with your doctor or nurse practitioner.

Gross motor skills

— skills that use large muscles (legs, arms, trunk, and neck)

• jump in place with both feet
• climb up and go down a toddler slide
• pedal tricycle
• walk up and down stairs when one hand being held by an adult
• stand briefly on one foot when one hand being held by an adult
• walk backwards

Fine motor skills

— skills that use small muscles (hands and fingers)

• stack 1-inch blocks, six high
• hold crayon with thumb and fingers
• string large beads on a stiff string
• snip and cut with a scissors
• imitate vertical and horizontal lines, and circle
• copy vertical and horizontal lines and circle

Self-help skills

—  skills that help children become more independent

• use a fork and spoon with spilling
• wash and dry hands with supervision
• brush teeth with assistance
• use toilet consistently (a few accidents at times)
• dress and undress self with help
• put own things away, helps with clean up and putting things away

Cognitive skills

— mental skills (thinking, learning, problem solving)

• engage in pretend and imaginative play
• match shapes
• understand the concept of "I"
• play side by side with peers
• sort colors
• identify body parts and their functions
• complete 3- to 4-piece puzzles

Speech skills

See the education sheets, "Speech and language development: 24 to 30 months," and "Speech and language development: 30 to 36 months."

Questions?

This sheet is not specific to your child, but provides general information. If you have any concerns about your child's development, please ask your doctor, nurse practitioner, or therapist.

Children's Hospitals and Clinics of MinnesotaPatient/Family Education2525 Chicago Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55404

Reviewed Rehab 6/2015 © Copyright

Feelings
This is one of the most important ages for emotional development.

Your child is going through a lot of emotions while also learning about other people’s feelings. Temper tantrums are normal, because children often don’t know how to put words to ‘big’ emotions like frustration, anger, embarrassment, guilt and shame.

Your child is also starting to understand how their behaviour affects you and how your behaviour affects them. Your child won’t have as much separation anxiety, and they might not get so upset when you leave them.

Talking
Around 2 years, toddlers might be able to use sentences of 2-3 words and say ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘me’. Your child is learning and using a lot of words and might be easier to understand when talking.

At 3 years, toddlers can usually use sentences of 3-5 words, or even more. Your child starts learning how to take turns when speaking and might be able to have a short conversation with you.

Your child is learning how to talk about things that have happened during the day. With your help, your child might be able to put things in order to make a simple story – for example, ‘I go shop’. ‘And what did you do at the shop?’ ‘Buy milk.’ By 3 years, your child might be able to tell a simple ‘made-up’ story based on their own experiences, but it will probably be quite short.

At this age your child will also talk about people and objects that aren’t with them – for example, ‘Grandma at the shops’, or ‘My ball in tree’.

Thinking
Everything toddlers have learned so far has developed their thinking.

Your child is starting to understand concepts like time and opposites – for example, big/small and day/night. Your child is also starting to point to body parts based on what they do, sort objects, and match shapes and colours. And your child is starting to remember what some things look like – for example, apples look red and round.

Your child solves problems by trying things out.

Playing and learning
Play is important because it’s how children learn.

Your child enjoys playing with others, playing dress-ups, having tea parties, painting with their fingers or a brush, and playing ‘rough and tumble’. When your child plays with you or other children, you might find that your child is getting better at taking turns.

Telling stories, singing and reading are also fun things for your child to do at this age.

Everyday skills
Around this time, toddlers are keen to do more things for themselves.

For example, your child can probably wash their own hands, wash themselves at bathtime, feed themselves and get dressed – although your child is probably better at taking clothes off than putting them on! And your child is still learning so you might still need to help.

You can build your child’s confidence and independence by letting them help you around the house with chores like sweeping or dusting. Your child feels very proud when they’re a good helper.

Your child might even be ready to start toilet training. Some of the signs are when your child:

• can do most things that you ask without your help
• is interested in watching others go to the toilet – this can be awkward or make you uncomfortable at first, but it’s a good way to introduce things
• lets you know when they do a poo or wee in their nappy
• can follow simple instructions like ‘Give the ball to Daddy’.

Watch and see whether your child is ready for toilet training – but try not to push it. Going to the toilet is one of the hardest things for your child to learn because it uses so many skills. For example, your child must know when they need to do a wee or a poo, understand that they should do wees and poos in the toilet, be able to walk and climb onto the potty or toilet, and pull clothes up and down.

If you start toilet training too early, it might take your child a while to learn.

Moving
At this age, toddlers can run and will probably fall less. Your child is starting to walk up and down stairs on their own but sometimes uses the rail for balance. Your child is now better at throwing overarm, kicking and catching a ball, and might even stand on one foot for a few seconds.

If you’re around while your child explores, they’ll feel reassured and safe. This helps your child build confidence to try new things and explore on their own.

With your child so active, it’s a good idea to look at how you can make your home safe.

At this age, your child might also: