Your Child’s Development: 2 Years (24 Months) (for Parents) (2024)

FAQs

Your Child’s Development: 2 Years (24 Months) (for Parents)? ›

By 2 years, most children: put 2 words together to form a sentence ("More milk.") use new gestures other than waving or pointing, like blowing a kiss. point to things in a book when asked to find them.

Imagination is growing at this age, so books, stories, and make-believe play are getting more interesting to your child. Children this age play roles and enact scenarios rather than just imitate simple actions with toys. This leap forward of imagination means that new fears, worries, and anxieties may start to pop up.

Toddlers can go through what is often referred to as a "daddy phase." This is a period when the toddler seeks more interaction, comfort and attention from their father. The "daddy phase" is a common and normal part of a toddler's development, reflecting their own independence and expanding social circle.

Toileting: Difficulty potty training and refuses to use the toilet. Eating issues: Refusing to eat, avoids different textures, or has power struggles over food. Sleeping problems: Difficulty falling asleep, refuses to go to sleep, has nightmares or wakes several times a night.

At 2-3 years, you can expect strong feelings, tantrums, pretend play and independence. Toddlers are developing new skills in many areas, including language, thinking and movement. Development activities include talking and listening, reading, playing outdoors, playing with others and cooking together.

They increasingly assert themselves and want to make their own choices. They test their boundaries by saying “no,” struggling, or running away (e.g., when you try to dress them or buckle them in the car). They can get very angry or upset when things don't go as planned.

Most children complete potty training by 36 months. The average length it takes toddlers to learn the process is about six months. Girls learn faster, usually completing toilet training two to three months before boys do.

The best thing to do when dealing with a toddler temper tantrum is to stay calm and actively ignore the behavior. This means turning your eye gaze away from the child, you yourself engaging in a different behavior, and not speaking or interacting with the child.

How many tantrums a day are normal for a 2 year old? ›

Tantrums happen most frequently between ages 1 and 4, averaging up to one a day. They typically decrease when a child starts school. At this age, they're talking more, so they can express their needs verbally. Tantrums usually last between two and 15 minutes.

Sometimes, severe and persistent challenging behaviour can be a sign of a developmental condition or a more serious mental health concern. If your child's behaviour is affecting the way they cope with life you should see your GP for help and further assessment.

A study showed that babies and toddlers tend to prefer their moms because they spend more time with them. Of course, this isn't always the case, but it certainly rings true for many families. Simply put, primary caregivers are around more often, so they're automatically thrust into the role of the go-to parent.

The survey revealed that the majority of parents admitted the time period between 6-8 was the most brutal and came with the worst meltdowns (prepare yourself, the terrible twos are merely an introduction of what's to come!)

How to respond: Try not to take your toddler's rebuffs personally. They still loves you but may not need your hugs and kisses as much right now. If it seems like you're bothering them when they're hard at work, save your hugs and kisses for bedtime or when they're not so occupied.

Be calm and accepting. Give your child positive attention when they do eat, but don't make it a problem when they don't eat. Just take the food away, cover it and offer it to them again a bit later.

Your custody schedule should give your toddler frequent contact with both parents and provide both parents opportunities to feed, bathe, play with, read to, arrange playdates for, and put the toddler to sleep. Toddlers can be away from either parent for 2 or 3 days.