This page provides you with a guide only as to what developmental milestones typically are achieved at this age and stage. If you have any concerns about your child see you child and family health nurse or doctor. 

Social and Emotional Development 

• will seek pride in their own achievements and tends to resist help
• will tend to resist change (if prior warning not given) eg: from play to bath time
• will begin to be aware of and follow simple rules and routines
• will separate easily from parent in familiar surroundings
• will play alongside peers, copies their play, takes turns in games
• will play interactive games such as 'tag'
• will show affection and concern for friends without prompting
• understands the idea of 'mine' 'his' or 'hers"
• will say their name, age
• is able to name a friend

Language and Communication Development

• uses words for most needs and can name most familar things
• uses past tense, negatives and plurals
• uses "Why, When, How, Where" questions
• uses preposition words such as: "in, on, under"
• says words like "I, me, we, and you"
• is beginning to relate experiences within a  sequence and ending
• follows 2 and 3 step instructions
• talk well enough for strangers to be able to understand most of the time
• carry on a 2 or 3 turn conversation (using sentences)

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving) 

• answers questions about needs such as: What do you do if you are tired? 
• tells you about the function of each body part such as: eyes, nose, mouth
• is able to say if objects for pictures are the same or different
• understands the concept of two. For example will give you two objects on request
• engages in pretend plays with props such as: dolls, animals or people

Movement and Physical Development

• beginning to cut with scissors
• draws a person with a head and scribbled parts
• is able to tread beads 
• when running can stop suddenly and change directions
• jumps forward with both feet
• walks up and down stairs (one foot on each step)
• catches a large ball with straight arms
• climbs a ladder
• pedals a tricycle (3 wheel bike)

Self care

• Verbalises need to use toilet (has some accidents, still needs help with wiping and remembering steps)
• Undresses and beginning to dress self (eg: can pull on pants)
• uses spoon and fork at mealtimes, begins to pour liquids
• helps wash themselves at bath time

Areas that may warrant further investigation

• falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
• drools or has very unclear speech
• Can't work toys such as: peg boards, puzzles, turning a handle 
• doesn't speak in sentences
• doesn't understand simple instructions
• doesn't play pretend or make-believe games
• doesn't seem to want o play with other children or with toys
• doesn't seem to make eye contact
• your child seems to have lost skills they once had