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Child development: Know what's ahead
By Mayo Clinic staffEvery child grows and develops at his or her own pace. Still, child development tends to follow a fairly predictable path. Find out what language, social, cognitive and physical milestones to expect from ages 2 to 5.
Age 2
At age 2, your child might have completed these skills:
- Language skills. Speak at least 50 words. Link two words together, such as "my cup" or "no juice". Speak clearly enough for parents to understand some of the words.
- Social skills. Show more independence. Become defiant. Copy others. Get excited when with other children.
- Cognitive skills. Play simple make-believe games. Begin to sort objects by shape and color. Find hidden objects.
- Physical skills. Stand on tiptoes. Climb on furniture and begin to run. Kick a ball.
Age 3
At age 3, your child might have completed these skills:
- Language skills. Speak 250 to 500 or more words. Speak in three-and four-word sentences. Correctly use pronouns (I, you, me, mine). State his or her first name. Speak clearly enough for strangers to understand much of the time.
- Social skills. Take turns. Express affection openly. Easily separate from parents. Get upset with major changes in routine.
- Cognitive skills. Turn book pages one at a time. Copy a circle. Do puzzles with three or four pieces.
- Physical skills. Walk up and down stairs, alternating feet. Climb, run and pedal a tricycle.
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References
- McInerny TK, et al. American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:354.
- Berkowitz CD. Berkowitz's Pediatrics: A Primary Care Approach. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2012. http://ebooks.aap.org/product/berkowitzs-pediatrics-primary-care-approach-4th-edition. Accessed Dec. 19, 2012.
- Shelov SP, et al. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books; 2009:325.
- Speech and language developmental milestones. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/speechandlanguage.aspx. Accessed Dec. 19, 2012.
- Developmental milestones. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2013.
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