Ages 2 Years

Communication Skills

• Understands basic size concepts (big/little)
• Understands simple number concepts (just one, one more)
• Puts two words together
• Names pictures in a book
• Uses action words (eat, sleep, go)

Fine Motor Skills

• Strings four large beads
• Snips with scissors on a line
• Stacks four blocks

Gross Motor Skills

• Easily steps over things
• Walks up/down stairs, may put both feet on one
  step or alternate feet
• Climbs over furniture

Personal Social Skills

• May start to show interest in using potty, your child
  wants to imitate others
• Takes turns in games
• Begins to dress/undress self
• Showing independence by wanting own way

Problem Solving Skills

• Begins to sort shapes and colors
• Uses common household objects during imaginative
  play
• Showing understanding of “same” and “different”

Communication Activities

• Repeat new words
• Talk about what you are doing; describe actions,
  point out new objects/places
• Sing familiar songs/nursery rhymes
• Offer choices along with words (“Do you want milk or
  water?”)
• Praise your child for telling you something he/she
  saw, heard, felt

Fine Motor Activities

• Encourage play with puzzles, blocks, nesting toys
  and drawing materials
• Provide safety scissors to practice cutting, cutting
  Play-Doh is fun at this age
• Introduce lacing activities using objects like buttons
  with large holes to push string through

Gross Motor Activities

• Play with various size balls, give directions to throw,
  push, roll, bounce, and catch
• Take walks jumping over cracks in sidewalk

Personal Social and Problem Solving Activities

• Provide a “dress-up” box with old clothes, hats, shoes
• Give child choices each day, helping child choose
  what to wear each day and choices of food at snack
  or mealtime
• Show your child how to group things in one, twos,
  threes and sort by color and shape
• Play games like Simon Says to teach words; on,
  under, behind, in front
• Help your child “write” their own book by writing their
  words and letting them draw the pictures