Developmental Milestones by the End of 2 Years

Movement

• Walks alone
• Pulls toys behind her while walking
• Carries large toy or several toys while walking
• Begins to run
• Stands on tiptoe
• Kicks a ball
• Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
• Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Hand and Finger Skills

• Scribbles spontaneously
• Turns over container to pour out contents
• Builds tower of four blocks or more
• Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language

• Points to object or picture when it's named for him
• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects and body parts
• Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
• Uses simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
• Uses two- to four-word sentences
• Follows simple instructions
• Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive

• Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
• Begins to sort by shapes and colors
• Begins make-believe play

Social

• Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
• Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
• Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children

Emotional

• Demonstrates increasing independence
• Begins to show defiant behavior
• Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear then fade

Developmental Health Watch

Because each child develops at his own particular pace, it's impossible to tell exactly when yours will perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if he takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician; however, if he displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

• Cannot walk by 18 months
• Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks exclusively on his toes
• Does not speak at least 15 words by 18 months
• Does not use two-word sentences by age 2
• By 15 months, does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, spoon)
• Does not imitate actions or words by the end of this period
• Does not follow simple instructions by age 2
• Cannot push a wheeled toy by age 2

Excerpted from Caring for Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, Bantam 1999