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Development Two To Three Years

Between the ages of two and three years old, children experience significant physical, cognitive, language, and social/emotional development. Physically, they learn to use their hands and grasp objects independently, and can walk, run, climb and go up and down stairs alone. Cognitively, their language skills grow rapidly as their vocabulary increases by about 50 new words per month. Socially, negativism and temper tantrums are common as children assert their independence, though this is a normal part of development. Toilet training is also a focus, as most children can verbalize their needs and gain control of their bowels and bladder by ages 2 to 3.

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13 views2 pages

Development Two To Three Years

Between the ages of two and three years old, children experience significant physical, cognitive, language, and social/emotional development. Physically, they learn to use their hands and grasp objects independently, and can walk, run, climb and go up and down stairs alone. Cognitively, their language skills grow rapidly as their vocabulary increases by about 50 new words per month. Socially, negativism and temper tantrums are common as children assert their independence, though this is a normal part of development. Toilet training is also a focus, as most children can verbalize their needs and gain control of their bowels and bladder by ages 2 to 3.

Uploaded by

elyaskhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE PARENTING

CHILDREN'S
grasp, and as children approach three
years of age, they will begin to use a
more mature grip (between the thumb

DEVELOPMENT and first two fingers) of a crayon or


pencil. They will probably begin to draw
TWO TO THREE pictures, too, instead of scribbling. By
three, many children will be able to use
YEARS scissors, and they may be able to
perform tasks like threading beads onto
While reading this information, please keep in a string. Between two and three years,
mind that all children are unique. While the most children can take off their
sequence of development is practically the same
clothes, such as pajamas or pants, by
for all children (for example, most children learn
to crawl before they learn to walk), each child's themselves.
rate of development is different. There is a
wide variation in normal development. Some *Standing/Walking. During the period
children reach developmental milestones earlier from two to three years, most children
than others. Some reach them later than others.
become very mobile, and they begin to
Rarely does a delay in reaching a developmental
milestone mean that there is a problem. In most use this new mobility to explore the
cases, delays turn out to be normal. Remember world around them. Many children this
that premature infants generally reach age love to climb up and down furniture,
developmental milestones later than other
and also in and out of objects such as
infants of the same birth age. Parents with any
questions or concerns about their children's
big boxes. It is also at this time that
development should contact their children's many children will begin to run. Some
health care provider. can even walk up and down stairs alone,
while holding onto a rail.
Highlights in
Physical Development Highlights in Cognitive/
Language Development
*Hands/Grasp. By two years of age,
most children can turn the pages of a Language is usually well developed in
book one at a time. Children this age most two-to-three-year-old children,
are often learning to twist or turn but they may speak so quickly that they
objects with their hands. As a result, are difficult to understand. Many
they may be able to turn a doorknob to children will now begin to use language
open a door. As children approach three to ask questions and give directions.
years of age, they get increasingly Vocabulary is increasing rapidly, and the
better at using their hands. At two two-and-a-half-year-old will be learning
years of age, most children will probably about 50 new words each month. By
use a crayon by holding it in a fist-like three years of age, most children will

Written by Kristin Zolten, M.A. & Nicholas Long, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Artwork by Scott Snider
©1997, 2006 Page 1
have a vocabulary of about 900 words,
and they will speak in sentences of Toilet Training
three to four words. Many will begin to
use pronouns, including the personal Between the ages of two and a half to
pronoun “I.” Most children will be able three years, most children develop
to repeat short rhymes and sing short better control over their bowels and
songs. bladder. By this time, most children are
able to verbalize their toileting needs.
Highlights in Some children may be in full control of
Social/Emotional Development their bowel movements, but will
probably still need help with wiping.
Negativism, which usually begins
sometime after fourteen months of age, Children become toilet trained at a wide
is still present in many children during variety of ages. It is important that
the period from two to three years. parents not be too disappointed if their
Temper tantrums are quite common children develop bladder and bowel
during this time. Most children this age control later than other children. Some
assert their independence by saying children simply develop these abilities
“no,” by throwing temper tantrums, and later than others. Patience and
by demonstrating stubbornness. This understanding on the part of parents
negativism is a normal and important will make toilet training an easier
part of development. This is simply how process for all involved.
children let the world know that they
have ideas of their own, and that they
want to make some decisions for
Center for Effective Parenting
themselves. Many children protest just
Little Rock Center: (501) 364-7580
for the fun of finding out how it feels
NW Arkansas Center: (479) 751-6166
to say “no.” Parents should be careful
not to overreact to the minor rebellions www.parenting-ed.org
of their two to three year old children,
because if they react too strongly to
these rebellions, they run the risk of
reinforcing rather than discouraging the
negativism.

As children approach their third


birthdays, they will begin to play with
other children. Group play will require
adult supervision.

Written by Kristin Zolten, M.A. & Nicholas Long, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Artwork by Scott Snider
©1997, 2006 Page 2

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