Typical Development Through the Lens of a Therapist: 2 years – 2.5 years old

Typical Development Through the Lens of a Therapist: 2 years – 2.5 years old

Speech and Language:

Receptive Language (what you understand):

• Comprehends action words (i.e., jump, throw, kick, slide)
• Follows simple 1-step instructions (i.e., sit down)
• Points to familiar items in a book when asked
• Understands prepositions as (in, on, under)
• Understands simple wh-questions (who and what)

Expressive Language (what you say):

• 2-3 word combinations are used
• Using -ing with verbs (i.e., mommy eating)
• Uses the prepositions “in” and “on”
• Expresses movement (up/down), disappearance (all gone)

Play/Social Development:

• Around age 2, children participate mostly in solitary play
• Around 2.5 years, parallel play (side by side) without exchanges emerges
• Uses objects symbolically (i.e., puts pretend phone to ear and says “hello”)

Articulation (production of sounds):

• Correct production of sounds (t, n, k, g, p, b, d, m, and h) at the beginning of words
• Correct production of n, p, s, d, f, and k at the end of words
• May continue to leave off ending sounds
• Strangers may have difficulty understanding child

Occupational Therapy:

Fine/Visual Motor:

• Snips with scissors
• Folds paper creating a crease
• Imitates circular strokes
• Creates cube designs
• Removes lid from screw bottle

Gross Motor:

• Attempts to catch ball with proper form
• Walks backwards
• Jumps down from an object
• Walks up and down stairs with little support

Self-Help skills:

• Pulls down pants
• Begins to show interest in toileting
• Participates in grooming tasks
• Removes coat when unfastened

Cognition:

• Sort by shape and color
• Matches pictures
• Plays out scenarios in imaginative play