Development of a two year old

[sleepybeck]

Hello,

My son turned two recently. His cousin (a girl) who is 6 weeks older than him seems to have developed more than my son and I was wondering if that is normal. For instance, he can use a spoon and fork but he is still somewhat of an amateur. When it's savory food like his supper, he just move it around the plate and makes a lovely mess (not surprisingly he doesn't have much trouble with sweet food). Whereas his cousin seems to be a bit of a pro and makes no mess with the food at all. Also, she loves building towers with blocks, with great intricacy; my son has absolutely no interest in that sort of thing. His speech is very good however. He likes lego figures and lego vehicles that are already assembled as well as other toy figures and vehicles. He doesn't find puzzles fun and just moves on to something else. He likes play dough and painting so I try to encourage the things he does like. I guess I'm not sure what sort of things I should be doing with him?
We have not yet approached the subject of toilet training as I still don't think he is ready, but as he has just turned two, should I be making an effort to do so?
TIA

well I wouldn't worry. 6 weeks difference is actually quite a long time anyway, and also girls tend to develop faster than boys.

Just keep doing what you're doing!

I really wouldn't push the toilet training if you don't think he's ready.

I think most of what you're describing is personality/interests as opposed to development.

Doesn't sound worrying/behind at all. Enjoy him.

And potty training is best attempted when ready.

My ds sounds exactly the same at 2.7 although he is now toilet trained but only recently. The food thing... my ds makes a horrendous mess when eating the simplist things and usually half way through every meal he dives up and uses his fingers. I just leave him to it! Everything you discribe sounds perfectly normal. My ds has no patience for puzzles or building things. He can build impressive looking structures with his megablocks but does so very rarely, he's much rather get us to build things so he can destroy them .

My DS is 2 and I have many friends with DCs all around the same age. The differences can be quite big still. My friend's DS is a week older than mine and the difference in speech is huge. My DS talks loads, all the time but her DS says odd words that are all pronouned as beginning with D. Another friend's DD can completely dress herself without help, whereas my DS only just takes his socks off.

They all catch up in the end.

I'm also not going to toilet train yet. I know DS isn't ready. Going to have a go in the summer when he is about 2.5. If he still isn't ready, then I will wait until he is.