What usually appears
Motor: jumps with both feet, stands on one foot briefly, pedals a tricycle, climbs stairs alternating feet, holds a crayon with fingers (not a fist), draws a circle, dresses in loose clothes alone, and is usually ready for toilet training between 24 and 36 months.
Language: 3 to 4 word sentences, says name and age, uses “I”, “you”, “mine”, asks “what” and “why” endlessly, most speech understood by strangers, names colours and counts to three.
Social-emotional: plays with other children and begins taking turns, shows a wide range of emotions and starts naming them (“angry”, “sad”), separates from parents more easily, shows empathy when a friend cries.
Cognitive: elaborate pretend play with storylines, understands “two”, completes 3 to 4 piece puzzles, grasps “same” and “different”, remembers parts of a story.
How to support it
Answer “why” patiently and briefly, allow free play with peers, name the emotions they feel, cap screens at 1 hour a day of quality content watched together. The first dental visit should have happened by now.
When to be alert
At 36 months: falls often or struggles with stairs, constant drooling or very unclear speech, cannot form simple sentences, does not understand simple instructions, no pretend play, no interest in other children, extreme difficulty separating from parents, no eye contact, or loss of skills.
CDC milestones at 2 years
The CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklist (2022 revision) for 2 years, grouped by area.
Social/Emotional
- Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
- Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
Language/Communication
- Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
- Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
- Points to at least two body parts when you ask them to show you
- Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
Cognitive
- Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
- Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
- Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate
Movement/Physical
- Kicks a ball
- Runs
- Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- Eats with a spoon
CDC milestones at 30 months
The CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklist (2022 revision) for 30 months, grouped by area.
Social/Emotional
- Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
- Shows you what they can do by saying, “Look at me!”
- Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”
Language/Communication
- Says about 50 words
- Says two or more words, with one action word, like “Doggie run”
- Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
- Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”
Cognitive
- Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
- Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
- Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”
- Shows they know at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
Movement/Physical
- Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
- Takes some clothes off by themselves, like loose pants or an open jacket
- Jumps off the ground with both feet
- Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to them
CDC milestones at 3 years
The CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklist (2022 revision) for 3 years, grouped by area.
Social/Emotional
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them, like at a childcare drop off
- Notices other children and joins them to play
Language/Communication
- Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
- Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
- Says first name, when asked
- Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time
Cognitive
- Draws a circle, when you show them how
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them
Movement/Physical
- Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
- Puts on some clothes by themselves, like loose pants or a jacket
- Uses a fork
