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Developmental Skills and Activities 2 to 3 years

Developmentally Delayed Pre-K

Developmental Skills and Activities 2 to 3 Years

Development during the preschool years encompasses a broad range of normal. The following checklist of skills depicts what we expect most children to develop during a specific range. Remember that children develop at different rates and this is only a guide to help you determine what skills are appropriate to work on with your child.

Personal and Social Skills

Developmental Skills
  • Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
  • More aware of herself as separate from others
  • More excited about company of other children
  • Demonstrates increasing independence
  • Begins to show defiant behavior
  • Separation anxiety increases toward midyear then fades
Supporting Activities
  • Continue to provide a comfort and safe, peaceful environment.
  • Praise child when a child indicates toilet needs.
    Play simple games with child (Ring around the Rosie).
  • Help child play dress up.
  • Develop special interactions or "I love you" rituals (special tickle, special nickname).
  • Respect child's expression of independence, but with limits (allow child to paint with water on sidewalk but not on inside walls).

Language and Understanding Skills

Developmental Skills
  • Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
  • Uses simple 2-4 word phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
  • Begins to make choices (which shirt to wear, whether to play inside or outside)
  • Points to object or picture when it's named for him
    Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
  • Repeats words overheard in conversation
Supporting Activities
  • Listen to and talk with your child.
  • Read picture books for 10 minutes each day with your child and talk about the pictures.
  • Point out colors of objects in pictures.
  • Give simple answers to child's questions.
  • Label shelves and toy boxes/bins with pictures and name of toy.
  • Sing songs and nursery rhymes.

Small Muscle Skills

Developmental Skills
  • Uses spoon and cup independently
  • Turns handle to open door
  • Completes simple insert puzzles (4-6 pieces)
  • Unscrews lids
  • Builds 6 to 8 block tower
  • Snips paper with scissors
  • Scribbles on his or her own
  • Turns over container to pour out contents
  • Might use one hand more often than the other
Supporting Activities
  • Provide simple puzzles for child to complete.
  • Provide child with small safety scissors and paper to snip.
  • Provide sand, pudding, or finger paint for writing with finger.
  • Provide many containers with toys to open and close.
  • Provide a busy box or purse with simple hooks to undo, compartments to open and other things for children to manipulate.

Large Muscle Skills

Developmental Skills
  • Rides and steers wheeled toys
  • Pushes or pulls door open
  • Walks up stairs holding rail
  • Pulls toys behind her while walking
  • Carries large toy or several toys while walking
  • Begins to run
  • Stands on tiptoe
  • Kicks a ball
  • Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
Supporting Activities
  • Arrange for child to play games with others (London Bridge is Falling Down, Tag).
  • Encourage child to practice throwing balls and beanbags.
  • Provide practice in riding a tricycle.
  • Show child how to jump over a chalk mark or a hose laid flat on the ground.
  • Run with the child in safe places.
  • Let child roll on grass or sand.
*Welcome to the World: An Overview of Your Growing Child
Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)

*Center for Disease Control and Prevention- Learn the Signs. Act Early

Contact Info

Leigh Austin
Director
407-317-3200 x 2763

Kathie Anderson
Program Specialist
407-317-3503