24-36 Month Developmental Milestones

Home
For Families
Early Childhood Development
Early Childhood Milestones
24-36 Month Developmental Milestones Current Page

Movement and Physical Development

Normal Development

Climbs well
Runs easily
Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
Can copy a circle
Can string multiple 1-inch beads on a string

Possible Challenges from Treatment

May regress in previously mastered skills
May have fewer opportunities to achieve physical milestones due to treatment

Ways to Help

Provide opportunities for activities such as coloring, large puzzles, and musical toys
Encourage fun physical activities when possible

Encourage fun physical activities when possible.

Language and Communication

Normal Development

Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
Can name most familiar objects
Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
Says name and gender
Names a friend
Says words such as “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Possible Challenges from Treatment

May have difficulty expressing themselves
Hearing problems may be possible in some cases.

Ways to Help

Read books that include rhyming words and repetition
Continue to introduce new words such as identifying colors, shapes, animals, etc. as you point to them
Follow directions for proper hearing aid use if prescribed.

As part of normal communication development, your child may be able to names a friend, talk well enough for strangers to understand most of the time, and carry on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences.

Social and Emotional

Normal Development

Copies adults and friends
Shows affection for friends without prompting
Takes turns in games
Shows concern for crying friend
Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
Shows a wide range of emotions
Separates easily from mom and dad
May get upset with major changes in routine
Dresses and undresses self

Possible Challenges from Treatment

Difficulties in maintaining schedule
Limited choices in hospital and lack of control
Limited opportunities for social interactions

Ways to Help

Maintain routines as much as possible to increase feeling of security
Offer choices when possible to give sense of control and promote independence
Provide opportunities for group play when possible with other children

Provide opportunities for group play when possible with other children.

Thinking and Learning

Normal Development

Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
Understands what “two” means
Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
Turns book pages one at a time
Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Possible Challenges from Treatment

Imaginary thinking causes misconceptions and fears

Ways to Help

Provide opportunities to explore medical equipment with play
Provide varied toys, experiences, and games to promote cognitive development

Provide varied toys, experiences, and games to promote cognitive development.