2 to 3 Years of Age

During this year of life, children undergo many changes. They often lose their baby fat and they don't look like a baby anymore. This is also the year where they are gaining many social skills. Reading to your child at this age is extremely important. It not only helps increase his vocabulary and language skills; it sets a wonderful example for the years to come. A child at this age likes to imitate you. If he sees you reading, he'll want to read too.

This is an appropriate time to ask your child a lot of questions. Your goal is to help your child move from one-word responses to conversations. Asking what a picture in his favorite storybook means is one good method. Giving him your attention as you develop his conversation skills also helps develop his social skills and reassures him what he has to say is important.

Psychologists say that a 2- to 3-year-old is mastering what is called "parallel play." Children at this age will usually sit happily together and play with similar toys. They are often playing separately, not together. As the year ends, however, happy parallel play will likely turn into fights over the same toy. Don't worry. Quarrelling is how toddlers learn the social skills that will enable them to get along with others later in life.

  Physical Development
  Intellectual and Language Development
  Social/Emotional Development
  Appropriate Toys
 

Physical Development Characteristic 3-Year Milestones:
	Can stand on one foot, walk on tiptoes and jump with both feet
	Can throw a ball, catch large balls and kick a ball forward
	Rides a tricycle
	Can stack blocks to build towers of six to 10 blocks
	Paints, draws with a crayon, pencil or markers. Uses vertical, horizontal and circular motions
	Manipulates small objects such as pegs, puzzle pieces and snap blocks
	Feeds self quite well, although there are spills, and holds a small cup or glass in one hand
	Washes and dries hands by himself and uses the toilet (may still require some help)
	Can dress and undress self
To stimulate development you can:
	Give your child opportunities to climb, jump, play with balls, and ride a tricycle.
	Have your child play both indoors and outdoors with a balance between active and quiet play.
	Provide crayons, markers, paints, paper and play dough, and your guidance as he works with them.
	Help your child learn to dress and undress herself, wash and dry her hands, and follow a sanitary toileting procedure. Assist as needed.
	Encourage your child to dance and move to music. Provide scarves, streamers or similar articles to manipulate to the rhythm of the music.
Intellectual and Language Development Characteristic 3-Year Milestones:
	Speaks sentences of three to five words, uses about 250 words, understands about 2,000 words
	Can name many familiar objects and knows at least one primary color
	Asks short questions, especially "who," "what," and "where" questions and can answer them
	Understands "I," "me," "you," "she" and "he"
	Knows simple rhymes and songs
	Knows first and perhaps last name and his age
	Attention span has developed so she can stay with an activity from three to five minutes
	Can carry out a one-step direction
To stimulate development, you can:
	Play a color identifying game asking, "Can you find two things in your toy box that are red?"
	Teach your child his first and last name and age.
	Read to your child, look through books and magazines together, do finger plays, repeat simple rhymes and sing songs together.
	Play simple games while doing household chores, teaching your child to count items such as silverware and dishes when setting the table.
	Have your child identify and match colors of clothing as he dresses.
	Give your child one-step directions such as "Please put your blocks in the toy box."
	Help your child do simple chores by saying, "Let's do it together." Self-confidence will emerge.
Social/Emotional Development Characteristic 3-Year Milestones:
	Enjoys playing by herself and with other children
	Is beginning to learn to share
	Is lively, curious and loving, but can also be stubborn, exasperating and naughty at times
	Emotions may be extreme, but are short lived, and may express feelings physically
	Likes to laugh and make others laugh
	Likes pretend situations such as playing house, playing store or playing office
	Needs to know the rules for appropriate behavior and the consequences for disobeying them
To stimulate development, you can:
	Provide opportunities for your child to play alone and with other children for short periods.
	Provide props, so your child can engage in pretend play. Blankets make great forts. Large boxes work well for playing house, store or office.
	Encourage your child's good behavior by praising her and saying something like " Thank you for helping me pick up the toys."
	Rather than telling your child what not to do, tell him what to do. "Turn the pages gently."
	Have a few simple rules for your child, explain them to her and be consistent with them. Example: "We sit at the table when we eat." "Hitting hurts others." "We speak softly."
	Be calm when you discipline your child. Speak gently and softly. Avoid anger and violence.
Appropriate Toys 3-Years Old:
	Soft balls of various sizes and colors
	Tricycle or other pedal toy
	Building blocks of various sizes and colors
	Crayons, pencils, markers, paints, large sheets of paper, and play dough
	Pegs and peg boards, puzzles with few large pieces, and snap blocks such as large lego blocks
	Picture books with colorful pages and other story books
	Stuffed animals and dolls, bathtub toys, and kitchen pots and pans
	Dress up clothes and cardboard boxes
	Items for pretend play from the kitchen or your desk, discarded phones and calculators
	Doll houses, farms and airports
	Children's music and audio books
	Step stool to use at the sink or counter