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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

What can your 2-year-olds do?

46 replies

emkaren · 06/01/2004 22:21

Another recent thread has made me wonder about my daughter's development - she's two years 7 months and absolutely wonderful, and I am in no way concerned that she may be 'behind', but I'm nevertheless curious what other children her age can do! So - tell me (if you want to!):
What can your children draw? (dd only scribbles) Have your children any knowledge of letters? (dd isn't interested)
Can your children count? (dd can count to ten, sort of)
Do they know colours? (yes, though she often confuses green/yellow, blue/black)
What can yours do particularly well? (dd can sing very well and remembers all the lyrics and movements to loads of songs and nursery rhymes. Also, she grows up bilingually, and is getting better and better at expressing herself in both German and English)
Thanks for your answers!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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collision · 07/01/2004 13:44

I live in Italy and children here only go to school at 6 years. Up til then they are encouraged to play and to get on with each other. My ds is 21 months and is speaking Italian and English without any problems at all. The Italian education system does get tougher though and the child only gets to move up to the next year if they pass exams (from age 11, I think up to college age.)

All children are different though and it is impossible to compare. My ds chats and tells us stories in mixed languages but doesnt like drawing or writing and takes the pens off us. He knows his animals and parts of the body. They all catch up in the end.

Jimjams · 07/01/2004 15:32

Sykes- in most areas you can self refer to SALT. I would be wary about waiting 6 months as if at the end of that time you decide you do want to see a SALT you'll be waiting another 6 months.

I'm a bit concerned that ds2 has verbal dyspraxia (written about this before). He's 2 at the end of next week and starts nursery the week after. I have asked nursery to refer him to SALT as soon as he joins. Not because I think anything needs doing now (they do bugger all with verbal dyspraxia until they're 3 anyway) but just because by referring now I know that the help will be in place if he needs it at the correct time. I kepot being put off with ds1 and it meant that he didn't receive any regular SALT until he was 4. (and he is still pretty much non-verbal).

Don;t mean to worry you- just want to help you "play the system". If your dd doesn't need it whe your appointment comes up you can always cancel.

zebra · 07/01/2004 15:36

On the 'They are all different' theme... DS is 4 and only just half-heartedly showing interest in what letters might be about. But he can climb every tree in the park, little monkey. First started shimmying up them at 2y+7 months. I'm sure that ought to be on the milestone chart, somewhere. Just to give credit where credit is due, you know.

sykes · 07/01/2004 15:40

Thanks, Jimjams, sorry to ask you this question and realise it's virtually impossible to reply to, but do you think there might be a problem? Also, could you direct me to any postings/sites on verbal dyspraxia/should I just do a quick search under those words?

Jimjams · 07/01/2004 15:50

Well she's still young- so not speaking at her age isn't really a worry as such, especially if she gestures, points, shows you things that interest her, has the beginnings of pretend play (very tied up in language development).

My soon to be 2 year old does all those things so I know he doesn't have a langugae problem-or if he does its very subtle- however his speech is very behind. Esepcially his speech sounds- so he'll copy me as best he can (which is another great sign- copying) but he'll say "b" for "p" and he can't say ee for example. I don't really know whether its a problem or not, I'm kind of 50:50 about it. However I do know that if he's still doing that in 6-8 months time I will be concerned, and I know that if we refer him to SALT now he may get seen by them, or will be on some SALTs list by then. So I'm referring just in case.

I know that you've posted before and I tend to think its easier to refer on and know that its done and then you can stop worrying about whether to refer and just relax iyswim. Otherwise you live with a "should I , shouldn't I" iyswim. Having been through it, and having got caught up in a waiting list I would always suggest to refer asap with a view to cancelling if the appointment wasn;t needed.

Can I post the verbal dyspraxia sites after the boys have gone to bed. I need to find them again tonight as I need to buy some more fish oils, but it'll take me a while to find them.

aloha · 07/01/2004 15:50

Absolutely Zebra. Mind you, my ds would undoubtedly fail any tree climbing test . Mind you the other day I pointed out a new sapling planted down our street and called it a 'baby tree'. Ds asked 'Where is his mummy?" and I pointed to a tree in the next garden and ds said, "Oh, they will cuddle and the mummy tree will say, "look baby, look at the moon and the star'. I loved it but have to admit, he is a right Fotherington-Thomas.

Jimjams · 07/01/2004 15:51

google will brng up lots if you search. Use apraxia as well as that's what its called in the states.

Original poster

emkaren · 07/01/2004 15:54

Last night's 'Child of our time' made me think again - that little girl Helena spends an hour in the car every day to be driven back and forth to her private nursery school (which, incidentally, isn't far from us). I just don't see the point of that at all, surely the local nursery school would (or should) be just as good for what a child needs at this stage - creative play in a safe environment as well as socialising with other children?
#Marialuisa, I don't think you're a pushy mum either! Your post just freaked me out a bit because it sounded a bit as if you were saying 'dd can blend letter sounds, but in drawing she's really behind because she can only just draw tadpole people' and I thought WHAT? My daughter doesn't draw anything whatsoever apart from scribbles!' So I just wanted to find some reassurance from fellow Mumsnetters... I can understand everybody's point about not comparing, but I brought it up here because I'd much rather compare here on Mumsnet than with my friends who have children of similar age. Isn't that partly the point of Mumsnet - that you can talk about things that you wouldn't talk about with your 'real' friends/aquaintances?

OP posts:

Sonnet · 07/01/2004 15:56

Sykes - try not to worry too much. My DD2( 3 at the end of Jan) sounded very similar to your DD at her age. All of a sudden she took off - at about 2.5. I mentioned it to my HV when she was about 2.5 and was just starting to improve. Her response was to see how it went and to go back and see her in September. That we did. Her speech is still not always clear ie the endings of the words were missing - but she does attempt complex sentances/big words according to HV.

sykes · 07/01/2004 15:56

Thanks, Jimjams, I'll search myself tonight - so please don't spend any time doing it. I think I'm obsessing as I've read posts of yours before and she does pretend play, takes me by the hand to show me things, pretends to read, will play with other children/adults who she likes etc just doesn't really make an awful lot of intelligible sounds. Says ease (for please) anks (thanks) daddy and no VERY clearly. Drives me bonkers that she won't say mummy. Maybe it's her sense of humour. Thanks and I'll have a look/search this evening.

sykes · 07/01/2004 15:58

Thanks, Sonnet, it's nice to be reassured. Feel I'm comparing her to elder dd (at the same age re speach etc) which is very stupid of me.

Jimjams · 07/01/2004 16:02

From that description language development sounds fine, and her speech sounds far more advanced than ds2's (who I'm not particularly worried about). Speech problems are nowhere near the pain in the backside that language disorders are so I wouldn't worry too much even if her speech is delayed). I'd still refer on though if I was you just so you'll have an appointment ready and waiting if you need it. Anywhere else in the world I would say leave it for longer iyswim.

sykes · 07/01/2004 16:10

Thanks, Jimjams - really appreciate your advice and will get referred just in case. Thanks.

dot1 · 08/01/2004 09:26

sykes - sorry, I haven't scrolled down to see how old your dd is, but our ds, who's just turned 2 and has about 200 words (most of which only me and dp can understand) also won't say Mummy - and he's got 2 of them!! I think it's his sense of humour aswell - he calls us by our initials, (T and J), and also says "daddy" beautifully (because he knows he's got a daddy who helped make him - he sees him very occasionally), but absolutely refuses to even try to say Mummy. Same with Grandma, Grandad and other people's names he sees a lot. Very frustrating but I really think it's stubborness on his behalf - he can see how much it would mean to us if he did say Mummy, so he won't (I wonder which Mummy he gets that stubborn streak from??!).

sykes · 08/01/2004 09:35

Thanks, dot, one day .....

bloss · 08/01/2004 09:45

Message withdrawn

dot1 · 08/01/2004 10:45

bloss - little girls can be so precocious with language can't they! If that was our ds (re: toy in the bath) he'd just pick up his toy and either fling it in, or hover it over the bath and look at us, pointing and going "mmm, mmm, mmm"...! Friends of ours have described him as sounding like a car alarm, 'cos he's always checking stuff out with us (he's very good!) but by pointing at various things and using the same sound "mmm, mmm" over and over again...!

sykes · 08/01/2004 10:51

Thanks, Bloss.

Paula71 · 08/01/2004 23:25

No worries, I am not going ballistic tonight folks!

JimJams, Boots have a special offer on their fish oils, 3 for 2. Also I have that book on order!

Aloha, what I said about the boys annoying people. Sometimes if I am on my own, or even with DH and we are in a shop or shopping centre there are people who generally let it be known that I should be staying at home and not bothering them. This because boys will be boys and they chatter away, not coherently to anyone but them and give the occassional ear-piercing squeal! They are very well behaved but that feeling when people act that way...how are children supposed to learn how to act in public if there are people like that about. Most recent incident was at the Gyle shopping centre in Edinburgh when one cretin scratch ds twin1's eye with their plastic bag as they rushed by! It was busy so I didn't even catch who it was but felt guilty at putting them in that situation.

Having said that there are people who come up and fuss over them which they love. Must focus on the positive, eh?

Issymum · 09/01/2004 10:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

aloha · 09/01/2004 21:45

Paula71, I hope you don't think I was implying that your boys were annoying - quite the contrary! I've just never, ever come across this (or else am deluded and blinded by love for ds!). Maybe I just notice the doting old ladies etc. I think though, that you may be a bit oversensitive. Who gives a stuff about stupid people like that?

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