Your Baby's Development By 2 Years

Your child at this stage is going through a range of physical and emotional developments. Expect a lot of temper tantrums as they explore their emotions. It is challenging when these occur but understand that this is the way they express their frustrations, rage, guilt and shame while they explore emotions. 

At this stage your toddler might not have as much separation anxiety, they might not mind you leaving her. They also start to understand how their behavior affects you and how yours affects them. 

Here are some important milestones to look forward to. 

Social and emotional Milestones

• Imitates others, specially children of the same age or parents.
• Shows independence.
• Extremely enthusiastic about playing with other children.
• Shows defiant behavior.
• Tends to play with other children. 

Language and communication development

• Points to objects or pictures when named
• Knows names of animals, familiar people and body parts.
• Tries to form sentences with as much words as possible (usually 2-4 words)
• Is able to follow simple instructions.
• They are now interested in books and can point and name things in books.
• Repeats words overheard in conversations 

Cognitive development 

• Identifies shapes and colors
• Plays hide and seek with objects.
• Completes sentences in rhymes and known books.
• Plays simple make believe games.
• Follows instructions like ' pick up your clothes, put them away'.
• May build towers with a few large blocks 

Movement and Physical Development 

• Scribbles on paper and other surfaces.
• Walks up and down stairs holding on to something.
• Stands on tiptoe.
• Begins to run.
• Climbs on to furniture and gets down on their own.
• Kicks or throws a ball. 

Everyday Skills 

At this stage your child is prone to do things on their own. They can wash themselves, or wash their hands, change clothes, feed themselves. They are still learning but with your help they can learn faster. 

Your child might be ready to potty train at this point. How to know if they're ready to potty train? 

• If your child can do things on their own.
• Lets you know when they do a poo or a wee in their diaper
• If they can follow simple instructions. 

Watch whether your child is ready for potty training. If they are not don't push it. Potty training takes a lot of skills and sometimes might be confusing to your toddler. If you try to teach them earlier than necessary it might take a long time for them to learn. 

What can you, as a parent, do to help your child through these developments? 

• Give your toddlers the chance to play with other children. This is a great way for your child to make friends and how to be with other children.
• Encourage everyday skills like using a spoon or putting on clothes. This helps their thinking skills.
• Talking with your toddler can help with their language skills. Also listen and give meaning to what your toddler says. 
• Read to your toddler constantly. Reading helps their language kills and develops their imagination. 

These developments can sometimes be delayed in some children, it is important to understand that each child is different. And always follow your instincts and your child's cues.