Typical Development Through the Lens of a Therapist: 2.5 – 3 years old

Typical Development Through the Lens of a Therapist: 2.5 – 3 years old

Speech and Language:

Receptive Language (what you understand):

• Understands words through function (e.g., what you cut with)
• Can carry out 2-3 step directions
• Understands why questions
• Understands pronouns such as I, you, and he
• Attends to a book or toy for 2-3 minutes

Expressive Language (what you say):

• Beginning to use plurals and past tense verbs (e.g., babies, played)
• Uses preposition under
• Begins to request clarification when needed
• Tells “stories” with a common theme but no clear plot

Play/Social Development:

• Use of language in play increases
• Plays well with 2-3 children in a group
• Associative play predominates
• Recognizes self in photographs
• Recognizes the needs of others

Articulation (production of sounds):

• Correct production of sounds listed above plus s and w at the beginning of words
• Correct production of t, r, b, l, and g at the end of words
• Speech is about 75% intelligible by 36 months

Occupational Therapy:

Fine/Visual Motor:

• Draws a circle
• Cuts across a piece of paper
• Begins to lace through holes
• Begins to start copying a cross

Gross Motor:

• Rides tricycle
• Stands on one foot for 3 seconds
• Catches a ball
• Can walk on tip toes
• Jumps over small objects

Self-Help skills:

• Washes hand independently
• Indicates need to go to bathroom
• Can wipe after urinating
• Helps put on clothes
• Unbuttons large buttons

Cognition:

• Understands same and different