Older Toddlers (2 -3 Years)
Older toddlers are becoming more confident and are learning to assert their independence. No may be your older toddler's favorite word! Try not to get too frustrated. This is a time of great social, intellectual and emotional changes that will help your older toddler make sense of his or her world.
Development with Directions
During this time your older toddler will learn to:
- Follow two or three step directions.
- Drastically increase vocabulary.
- Name some colors and count objects.
- Develop a sense of right and wrong.
- Sort items by shape, color, size, etc.
- Help dress and undress him/herself.
- Learn simple songs and rhymes.
How You Can Help
Here are some things you can do to help your older toddler develop early literacy skills:
- Try not to overreact to minor rebellions. Your child is just trying to prove that they have ideas of their own and will want a say in some decisions.
- Play pretend and encourage your older toddler to tell you all about it.
- Play follow the leader to improve ability to follow directions.
- Read books with repetitive text or rhymes that your older toddler can memorize and reread favorites often.
- Teach your older child simple nursery rhymes, songs, and fingerplays such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider.
- Once your child has a favorite book or two and knows it well, ask them to tell you the story instead of reading it.
- Give your older toddler plenty of opportunity to scribble and pretend to read and write.