What Can You Expect From A Two Year Old?

I visited my friend’s daughter, who was celebrating the birthday of her 2 year old; she was happy, but was at the same time worried if her child was normal. I just then remembered what my friend who is a pediatrician in San Diego told me. 

Here are some of the points worth considering: 

• A 2-year old is too young to understand how to share his/her toys and play cooperatively; he/she will at the most play on his/her own or side by side with another friend, at the same time keeping an eye on what his/her friend is doing.

• Your child at two would be able to organize categories and arrange things in order; he/she would love things to be right and would devote time to sorting.

• It is significant to note that he/she would be able to point out items like cats and balloon that he sees in the real world from the page you are reading out to him/her. However the 2-year old would not understand abstract terms like nice and heavy.

• Your 2-year old could have conversations of two to three sentences with you; he is able to identify himself/herself as a separate person and is able to talk about his/her likes and dislikes and what he/she is doing. The conversation may not be clear always, but do not worry so long as he/she talks.

• He/she will not only express more complex ideas, but would also be able to follow simple instructions. He/she will also understand when you ask him/her to do something and give the reasons for it. He/she would understand when told, "Come here and sit down so I can do up your shoes".

• You could expect your kid at two to listen for short spells to conversation with others, but he/she will soon lose interest and start wanting you to give him/her attention.

• There is no need to worry if your child is not toilet trained by 2 years; most kids toilet train between the broad age range between 18 months and 3 years. Watch out for signs when he/she is ready to toilet train; he/she will show interest when you visit the toilet, he/she will indicate one wants to use the toilet or may get uncomfortable when ones nappy is wet or dirty.

• Your kid at two enjoys asking questions; these questions may be asked just for an explanation, out of curiosity or just because he feels pleased to ask a question. It is very necessary that parents be very patient in answering the questions of their 2-year old; sometime a why question could also be answered back with a why question that would soon give you a clue about what he/she wants to know. 

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