2-year-old - Milestones

Social/ emotional Language/ Learning, thinking,

Physical development
communication problem solving
Copies others Points to things or pictures Can find hidden objects even Can climb on and get off
Gets excited being when named from under 2-3 layers from the furniture without
with other children help
Shows increased Knows the names of Begins to distinguish between Can walk up and down the
independence familiar people and body shapes and colours and can sort stairs with support
parts them from one another
Shows defiant Can say sentences with 2– Can complete sentences and Can throw ball overhand
behaviour 4 words rhymes from familiar books
Can follow simple Plays simple make-believe Can make or copy straight
instructions games lines and circles
Repeats words overheard Can build towers of four or
in conversation more blocks
Might use one hand more than
the other
Can follow two-step
instructions such as “Pick up
your toys and put them in the
closet.”
Can name items in a picture
book such as a cat, bird, or dog

3 years

LEARNING,
SOCIAL/ LANGUAGE/ PHYSICAL
THINKING, AND
EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING
MILESTONES MILESTONES MILESTONES
MILESTONES

 Copies others  Can follow 2–3 steps  Can operate toys with buttons,  Runs and climbs well
 Is affectionate toward instructions levers, and moving parts  Can pedal a tricycle
friends without prompting  Can name most familiar things  Plays make-believe with toys and  Can use the stairs using one
shows concern for a crying Can understand words like “in,” objects foot on each step
friend “on,” and “under”  Can do 3–4 piece puzzles
Takes turns in games and  Can say the first name, age, and Copies a circle with pencil or
understands the idea of gender crayon
belonging – “mine” and  Can name a friend  Can turn book pages one at a time
“his” or “hers”  Can say words like “I,” “me,”  Can build a tower of more than six
 Shows variations in “we,” and “you” and some blocks
emotions plurals (cars, dogs, and cats)  Can screw and unscrew jar lids or
Does not have separation  Can communicate using 2–3 turn the door handle
anxiety from mom and dad sentences
 LEARNING,
SOCIAL/ LANGUAGE/ PHYSICAL
THINKING, AND
EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING
MILESTONES MILESTONES MILESTONES
MILESTONES

May get upset with major

changes in routine
 Can dress and undress
himself/herself

4 years

LEARNING,
SOCIAL/ LANGUAGE/ PHYSICAL
THINKING, AND
EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING
MILESTONES MILESTONES MILESTONES
MILESTONES

 Enjoys doing new things

Enjoys role playing games
 Can name some colours and numbers
Is more creative with make-
 Knows basic grammar rules,  Has an idea of counting numbers
believe activities, but often  Can stand on one foot up to
such as correctly using “he” and Starts to understand the concept of
cannot tell the difference two seconds
“she” time
between real and make-  Can hop
 Can sing a song or rhyme from  Remembers parts of a story
believe  Can catch a bounced ball
memory  Understands the idea of “same” and
 Cooperates with other most of the time
 Can tell stories “different”
children and plays with  Can mash his/her own food
 Can say the first and last name  Starts to copy some capital letters
them rather than by himself
 Can play board or card games
 Talks about his/her likes
and dislikes

5 years

LEARNING,
LANGUAGE/
SOCIAL/ THINKING, AND PHYSICAL
COMMUNICATIO
EMOTIONAL PROBLEM- DEVELOP
N
MILESTONES SOLVING MILESTON
MILESTONES
MILESTONES

 Wants to please friends and be  Can speak clearly  Can count 10 or more things  Can stand on one
like them  Can tell a simple story using  Can copy some letters or numbers 10 seconds or lon
 LEARNING,
LANGUAGE/
SOCIAL/ THINKING, AND PHYSICAL
COMMUNICATIO
EMOTIONAL PROBLEM- DEVELOP
N
MILESTONES SOLVING MILESTON
MILESTONES
MILESTONES

 Agrees with the rules most of the

time
 Likes to sing, dance, and act  Can hop and may
full sentences  Can copy a triangle and other
 Can distinguish between real and  Uses spoon
 Can use future tense, for shapes
make-believe  Can use the toilet
example, “Papa will be here.”  Knows about things used every
 Shows more independence (can own
 Can say the name and address day
go nearby to play by himself)  Can swing and cl
 Is sometimes demanding and
sometimes very cooperative

As preschoolers have high nutritional needs at this stage of life, the overall child
development and timely reaching of milestones is dependent on their balanced
nutrition. So, ensure an adequate supply of nutrient dense food for their small tummies
to prevent any delay in reaching these