This is an outline of the usual developmental progress for a two year old child. It is intended as a guideline for parents and it is important to remember that all children are different and children can vary in the age at which they achieve the same skill.

There are five areas we look at:

Gross Motor Skills

• Walking & Running without falling
• Able to walk upstairs & downstairs holding on and using two feet per step
• Able to throw ball forward without falling over
• Walks into ball to kick it

Fine Motor Skills

• Builds a tower of 5-6 bricks
• Imitates a circular scribble and straight line
• Able to turn the single pages of a book

Vision

• Recognises pictures of animals and everyday objects e.g. cup, apple, banana in picture books
  
• No squint seen

Communication & Hearing

• Able to name 3-5 pictures or objects
• May have about fifty understandable words and understands more
• Beginning to make little sentences of two words e.g. “mummy’s keys”
• Able to tell you what he needs
• Able to carry out simple instructions

Social Skills & Behaviour

• Plays with toys meaningfully and in make believe play
• Has little idea of sharing but may be beginning to take turns
• Plays alongside other children rather than with them
• Very possessive of own toys
• Drinks from a cup and able to feed self with spoon
• Very curious and tries to investigate everything and has no concept of danger
• Temper tantrums when frustrated but easily distracted
• May have toilet awareness e.g. know when wet or soiled

Safety
This is a very exciting time for your child so it is important to be aware of safety. Particularly running away when outside and dangers of choking because they still like to put things in their mouths and drink anything that looks interesting so it is important to keep medicines and household cleaning liquids out of reach

If you are concerned about any aspect of your child’s development, nutrition or behaviour contact your Health Visitor and make an appointment to see her.

Frances Byatt-Smith RN RHV BA Psychology

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