Your child is moving and developing quickly! Around this time, they may remember the names of familiar people, follow simple instructions, and run around (and fall sometimes). Your toddler loves to learn from you, so you’ll also notice them copying you!
Learn more about your toddler’s development, explore options for free or low-cost child care, and find free activities in NYC.
The Early Childhood Family Toolkit
The Early Childhood Family Toolkit is a growing collection of our favorite resources for families with young kids. Discover learn-at-home tips and activities, health support, and more—all chosen by the NYC Department of Education.
Explore our favorite family resources
Brain Building
Learn through life's everyday moments
See what your child is learning
Talking back and forth about what your child sees, hears, and feels helps them connect their world to words. It also adds new words to their vocabulary. When you bring it up again later and think back, you help them get better at remembering.Milestones
Skills toddlers develop as they play, learn, speak, act, and move are called milestones. Learn about milestones to help you understand your toddler's development and act early if you have concerns.
Around 2 years old, many toddlers:
-
Social
- Copy others, especially adults and older children
- Get excited when they're with other children
- Show more independence, doing more on their own
- Sometimes do what they've been told not to on purpose
- Mostly play alone next to other children, but begin to include them
-
Communication
- Point to things or pictures when they're named
- Know names of familiar people and body parts
- Say sentences with 2 to 4 words
- Repeat words overheard in conversation
- Follow simple instructions, like "pick up your shoes and put them here"
-
Learning
- Find things even with 2 or 3 layers covering them
- Begin to sort shapes and colors
- Complete sentences and rhymes in familiar books
- Play simple make-believe games
- Build towers with 4 or more blocks
- May start to use one hand more than the other
- Name things in a picture book, such as a cat, bird, or dog
-
Physical Development
- Stand on tiptoe
- Begin to run
- Climb onto and down from furniture without help
- Walk up and down stairs holding on
- Throw ball overhand
- Make or copy straight lines and circles
-
Health
- Have 3 ounces of grains daily, including whole grains (1 ounce equals ½ cup oatmeal, ½ cup of rice, 5 whole wheat crackers, 1 slice of whole wheat bread, or ½ cup cooked pasta).
- Have 1 cup of vegetables daily (such as ½ cup baby carrots and ½ cup broccoli or ½ avocado).
- Have 1 cup of fruit daily (such as ½ large banana and ½ cup chopped berries). Fresh, frozen canned or dried all count.
- Have 2 ounces of protein foods daily (1 ounce equals 1 egg, ¼ cup of beans or lentils). Protein foods include beans, lentils, tofu, poultry, fish, eggs and meat.
- Have 1.5 to 2 cups of dairy or suitable substitute daily. This includes whole cow’s milk, whole plain yogurt, or unsweetened fortified soy beverage.
- Drink water between meals for thirst.
Act early by talking to a doctor, teacher, or social worker if your child:
-
Act Early
- Doesn't use 2-word phrases (for example, "drink milk")
- Doesn't know what to do with common things, like a brush, spoon, or fork
- Doesn't copy actions and words
- Doesn't follow simple instructions
- Doesn't walk steadily
Programs
Find the support your family needs to thrive
The Early Intervention Program (EIP)
NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
Help for infants and toddlers with disabilities
Early Intervention is a voluntary program for infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays with support for families.
Infants and Toddlers
NYC Department of Education (DOE)
Free or low-cost child care for children six weeks to two years old
Early child care and education services for up to 10 hours a day.
3-K
NYC Department of Education (DOE)
Early education for three-year-olds
Free, full-day and high-quality education for New York City three-year-olds.