2 year old milestones
Milestones are reference points for what most children do. We never score or compare.
Feelings & Comfort
- Recovers after separation within about 10 minutesBy 36 months
- Shows they care when someone is upset, like bringing them a toyBy 36 months
- Calms down with your help, like a hug or slow breaths togetherBy 36 months
Limits & Cooperation
- Plays beside other children and sometimes with themBy 30 months
- Follows a familiar routine when toldBy 30 months
- Notices other children and joins their playBy 36 months
- Stops when you warn them about something hotBy 36 months
- Waits a short time for a turn, with your helpBy 36 months
Talking & Understanding
- Follows a two-step directionBy 30 months
- Says about 50 wordsBy 30 months
- Combines words oftenBy 30 months
- Uses two or more words with an action wordBy 30 months
- Uses plural wordsBy 30 months
- Uses verb endings such as “-ing” and “-ed”By 30 months
- Gives a simple reason for somethingBy 36 months
- Talks in a conversation with at least two back-and-forth exchangesBy 36 months
Speaking Clearly
- Uses the speech sounds p, b, m, h, w, d, and n in wordsBy 30 months
- Produces most vowel sounds correctly in wordsBy 30 months
- Speech becomes clearer in conversationBy 30 months
- Is understood by other people most of the timeBy 36 months
Early Literacy
- Points to four named picturesBy 30 months
- Names at least two picturesBy 30 months
- Turns book pages one at a time during shared readingBy 30 months
- Names the action shown in a picture or bookBy 36 months
- Names 4 pictured objectsBy 36 months
- Notices letters, especially the first letter of their own nameBy 36 months
- Tells parts of a favorite story in their own wordsBy 36 months
- Sings songs and says rhymes on their own, like while playingBy 36 months
Exploring & Discovering
- Asks “why” and “how” questionsBy 36 months
- Keeps asking “why” when an answer doesn't explain enoughBy 36 months
Logic & Numbers
- Shows understanding of at least one colorBy 30 months
- Solves simple problems, like standing on a stool to reach somethingBy 30 months
- Gives you just one when you ask for oneBy 36 months
- Notices patterns and arranges things in patternsBy 36 months
- Counts things in everyday life, sometimes skipping numbersBy 36 months
Pretend & Imitate
- Uses objects in pretend playBy 30 months
- Pretends to care for a doll or stuffed animalBy 30 months
- Links pretend actions, like pouring pretend cereal and then feeding a stuffed animalBy 30 months
Doing It Myself
- Takes some clothes off, like loose pants or an open jacketBy 30 months
- Puts on some clothes, like loose pants or a jacketBy 36 months
- Uses a forkBy 36 months
- Gets ready for what's next, like fetching a coat to go outBy 36 months
Knowing Myself
- Uses early pronouns such as “me,” “mine,” “you,” “I,” or “we”By 30 months
- Gets another person’s attention with words such as “look at me”By 30 months
- Says their name when askedBy 36 months
- Notices and asks about differences between people, like skin color or hairBy 36 months
Nara is educational and doesn’t assess or diagnose. If you’re worried, talk to your child’s doctor.
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