Physical, Emotional and

Social Development of
2-3 year olds
Abbey Cook, Courtney Davis,
and Kenzie Johnson
Activity
● Tasks
○ Draw a picture of a house with your eyes closed
○ Cut out the house with the opposite hand you usually use
● Discussion
○ How did you feel after completing these tasks?
○ How does this relate to a 2-3 year old and their behavior?
○ Connection to physical, emotional, and social development?
Physical Development Timeline
● At 2 ½ years, the child should...
○ run smoothly
○ climb on and off play equipment
○ self-feed using a spoon and drink from a cup
○ softly kick a large ball, though often not in the intended direction
○ walk up stairs
○ throw a large ball in the intended direction
○ undress himself and is beginning to learn how to dress himself
Physical Development Timeline
● By 3 years old, the child should...
○ independently walk up and down stairs
○ pedal a ride-on toy such as a bike
○ balance and walk on tippy-toe
○ kick a ball with force
○ throw a ball, and attempt to catch one, with two hands
○ begin toilet training - although some toddlers won't attempt it until they
are close to 4 years
○ self-feed using a spoon and fork
 Social Development Timeline

● At 2 years, the child…

○ Says sentences with 2 to 4 words
○ Begins using words to communicate
○ Watch other children in play, and join them briefly
○ Prefers to spend most of their time playing alone
○ Follows simple instructions
○ Points to pictures in books that are named (early recognition)
Social Development Timeline

● At 3 years, the child…

○ Begins to play with other children
○ Begins to separate more easily from parents
○ Can begin to follow multi-step instructions
○ Begins to adjust to new situations
○ Develops friendships, at preschool for instance
Emotional Development Timeline
● At 2 years, the child...
○ use words like “I, you, me”
○ Imitates adults’ behaviors and actions
○ Have tantrums
○ Share with others, but it is difficult
○ Develop self-awareness
○ Verbally express feelings
○ Show empathy
Emotional Development Timeline
● At 3 years, the child...
○ is able to hold short conversations
○ Learns to take turns when talking to other people
○ Takes turns when playing with others
○ Shows a wide range of emotions
○ Have less tantrums
○ Toilet training
○ Strives for independence
○ Egocentric

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRxdWR7AvpU
Works Cited
“2 - 3 Years Physical Development.” Kidspot, Kidspot Australia, 3 July 2017,
www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/toddler/toddler-development/2-3-years-physical-develop
ment/news-story/832a5cef0631e0575678dabac8f148f3
.

“Toddler Developmental Milestones.” Children's Therapy and Family Resource Centre,

Children's Therapy and Family Resource Centre, 2011,
http://www.kamloopschildrenstherapy.org/social-emotional-toddler-milestones.

“Kamloopschildrenstherapy.org Competitive Analysis, Marketing Mix and Traffic.”

Children's Therapy and Family Resource Center , 2011,
www.alexa.com/siteinfo/kamloopschildrenstherapy.org.”