Upon reaching 30 months, most toddlers have already developed the basics of walking and talking. This age is when they begin to utilize these skills for more complex social interactions and play activities. Their day-to-day activities can now include virtually joining in with your daily routines and engaging in make-believe play.
At the same time, your toddler may show increasing interest in playing alone, enjoying lengthy periods of solo play. However, playing alongside you continues to be beneficial for the development of her emerging social, verbal, cognitive and physical abilities.
Your toddler's development is marked by specific milestones, a combination of new skills and knowledge that they acquire as they grow. For instance, your little one is learning to identify colors, dressing herself, and so much more. Following these developmental milestones closely helps you keep track of your toddler’s progress.
It's important to remember that these developmental milestones serve as guidelines rather than strict benchmarks. Each toddler develops at their own unique pace. It's very common for toddlers to excel in some areas while taking a bit longer with others.
Your toddler is Rdeveloping numerous skills by this age. Socially and emotionally, she's interacting more with children of her age, keenly showing you her achievements and willingly following simple routines such as tidying up her toys during clean up time.
In terms of language and communication, your child has likely amassed a vocabulary of approximately 50 words. They've started to formulate two-word or longer phrases that include an action word like ‘dog is barking.' The ability to identify objects in a book and using personal pronouns accurately also emerge.
Your toddler uses toys to pretend play, showing signs of emerging cognitive skills. Examples could include pretending to feed a toy or solving simple problems, such as reaching a higher object using a tool. Playing with more than one toy simultaneously, following basic instruction like 'place your cup down and come here' and recognizing at least one color when prompted to are among the cognitive skills that your toddler is honing.
Physically, your 30-month-old begins to show off her gross motor abilities by jumping off the ground using both feet. Further, she has developed the dexterity to use her hands to accomplish tasks like unscrewing a lid or turning a doorknob. Your toddler may also display signs of early independence by removing loose clothing by herself and interacting with books during storytime.
Enhancing these skills doesn't need to be a chore for your toddler. Incorporating certain activities into their playtimes can prove to be a fun way to encourage their ongoing development.
Creating a contact paper collage is an engaging and straightforward activity. Tape clear contact paper sticky-side up and let your toddler place pieces of torn paper on to the sticky surface. This simple act can greatly engage your toddler's creativity and strengthen her fine motor skills.
Another activity could be pushing toy trucks along a road drawn out on the floor with painter's tape. Engaging in pretend play like this allows your toddler to process daily experiences while also teaching her about the concept of consequences.
Playdough is another favorite among toddlers. You could involve your toddler in the process of making homemade playdough - measuring the ingredients, mixing the dough and then making shapes with it. Activities like these help in developing your toddler’s early literacy, science, math skills and fine motor abilities.
Indulging in a game of 'I spy' with a favorite picture book can stimulate your child's language, communication, and motor skills. Reading out a page, pointing out pictures and allowing your child to do the same not only boosts vocabulary but also builds up your toddler's confidence in communication.
The activity of 'bean bag bowling' could be an innovative way to engage toddlers. Using empty plastic bottles or cups as bowling pins and beanbags or lightweight balls as bowling balls, this activity can improve your toddler's fine motor skills while adding the fun of a game.
Raising a 30-month-old could be an exhilarating experience, with a range of activities available to stimulate their cognitive, physical and social development. Whether it's making playdough together, reading a book, or playing an exciting game of beanbag bowling, opportunities for enriching your toddler's developing milestone are plenty.
Remember, ensuring that these activities are fun-filled and engaging is the most essential part. Always allow your toddler to explore, learn, and grow at her own pace.