Baby development
Child development at 2–3 years
Speech grows into sentences of three and four words, and the questions begin: “what’s that?”, then “why?”. The child knows their name and age, names colours and can tell what happened at kindergarten in their own way.
Playing next to other children turns into playing with them. The child jumps, climbs, rides a tricycle, draws circles and lines, and wants to dress and eat alone.
Play
Role play, simple board games, sand and water, music and dancing, helping in the kitchen, longer stories at bedtime.
Potty
Most children are ready to start between 2 and 3 years, when they stay dry for a couple of hours and can tell you. Starting later is better than starting with pressure.
Routines
A fixed evening routine — bath, pyjamas, a story, a song — helps the child fall asleep and makes evenings easier for everyone.
Talk to a doctor if
by 3 years strangers cannot understand most of what the child says, the child does not play pretend or with others, does not use sentences, or falls very often.
This is general information about typical development, not medical advice. Every child develops at their own pace. If something worries you, talk to your paediatrician.
Month by month in the Oror guide
In the app, the right card opens by itself every week, and you can tick what you have tried.
- Month 25
Pretend play
Your child “cooks” in a toy kitchen and puts a doll to “sleep”. Pretend play grows thinking and language.
Try this
- Play shop or doctor
- Make “dinner” in toy dishes
You may notice
- Pretends — feeds a doll
- Uses one thing as if it were another
Good to know
- Let them lead the game, and follow along
Talk to a doctor if
- Doesn’t play pretend
- Month 24
Two years old
Congratulations! At two many children use two-word phrases, run and kick a ball. Doctor’s visit as scheduled.
Try this
- Kick a ball together
- Ask in a book: “What’s the cat doing?”
You may notice
- Says two-word phrases like “more milk”
- Kicks a ball
Good to know
- A first dentist visit, if you haven’t been yet
Talk to a doctor if
- Doesn’t use two-word phrases
- Doesn’t know what familiar things are for
- Month 26
Sharing is hard
Two-year-olds still find sharing hard. They’re learning to wait their turn.
Try this
- Play taking turns: “My go, now your go”
- Meet other children for short play dates
You may notice
- Plays alongside other children
- Notices when someone is sad
Good to know
- Put away the most treasured toy before guests arrive
Talk to a doctor if
- Doesn’t notice other children
- Month 27
First drawings
Your child scribbles with crayons and loves colours. It’s the start of writing skills.
Try this
- Give chunky crayons and big paper
- Draw lines and circles together
You may notice
- Scribbles with a crayon
- Copies a straight line you draw
Good to know
- Ask “Tell me about your drawing”, not “What is it?”
Talk to a doctor if
- Can’t hold a crayon
- Month 28
Colours and shapes
Your child begins sorting things by colour or shape and building taller towers.
Try this
- Sort red and blue toys
- Build a 4–5 block tower together
You may notice
- Sorts things by shape or colour
- Builds a tower of 4 or more blocks
Good to know
- Name colours in daily life: “a green apple”
Talk to a doctor if
- Shows no interest in toys — only throws them
- Month 29
“What’s that?”
Your child starts asking questions. New words arrive every week.
Try this
- Answer questions short and simple
- Ask them “Who?”, “What?”, “Where?”
You may notice
- Asks questions like “What’s that?”
- Knows 50 or more words
Good to know
- Explain new words with a picture or by showing
Talk to a doctor if
- Nobody outside the family understands any of their words
- Month 30
Two and a half
Many children jump with both feet, use about 50 words and play with other children. Doctor’s visit as scheduled.
Try this
- Jump together on a soft mat
- Open boxes and twist off lids together
You may notice
- Jumps off the ground with both feet
- Uses phrases with an action: “dog runs”
Good to know
- Active play every day — at least an hour
Talk to a doctor if
- Doesn’t jump and falls often
- Doesn’t speak in phrases
- Month 31
Dressing themselves
Your child tries taking clothes off and putting them on. Start simple: hat, shoes, trousers.
Try this
- Let them choose between two T-shirts
- Play dressing up a doll
You may notice
- Takes off some clothes alone
- Washes hands with help
Good to know
- Allow time in the morning for dressing themselves
Talk to a doctor if
- Shows no interest in doing things themselves
- Month 32
Stories
Your child loves stories and can tell you what happened today. A bedtime story is the best moment of the day.
Try this
- Read a bedtime story in Oror
- Ask “What did you do today?”
You may notice
- Tells you what happened
- Knows their own name
Good to know
- After a story, ask “What happened next?”
Talk to a doctor if
- Can’t follow a simple story
- Month 33
First friends
Your child starts playing with other children, not just next to them.
Try this
- Arrange a short play date with a friend
- Play games that need taking turns
You may notice
- Plays together with other children
- Shows concern for others
Good to know
- In a squabble, help them find words: “Say — it’s my turn”
Talk to a doctor if
- Doesn’t play with other children at all
- Month 34
Circles and more
Your child can draw a circle and moves their fingers more precisely.
Try this
- Draw circles and a “sun” together
- Thread big beads onto a string
You may notice
- Draws a circle when shown how
- Turns book pages one at a time
Good to know
- Scissors only child-safe and watched
Talk to a doctor if
- Can’t copy a simple line
- Month 35
Nearly three
Your child chats, tells stories and plays with friends. A doctor’s visit comes at three, as scheduled.
Try this
- Talk about the day in two or three sentences
- Let them help make a simple dish
You may notice
- Has a conversation with at least two back-and-forths
- Says their own name
Good to know
- Your daily story and hugs matter most
Talk to a doctor if
- Even family can’t understand their speech
- Loses skills they had