Your Child at 25-30 Months

Gross Motor/Large Muscle Development
He can imitate standing on one foot for several seconds.  He can climb onto and off a small wheeled toy (scooters, Big Wheel) and may begin to climb on and off the toilet. He can push himself forward/backward on a riding toy to move.  He will walk up and down steps, alternating his feet, if one of his hands is held.  He is brave now and will jump from a higher step or curb (12 inches), and both feet will land at the same time with good control and balance.  He can catch, kick and throw a large ball with fair to good accuracy.

Fine Motor/Small Muscle Development
He manipulates increasingly difficult objects (fasteners in self-care, cutting with a scissors, drawing, puzzles, beginning arts and crafts activities).  He has a lot of wrist action and movements now and can unscrew jar lids, turn the television or radio knobs, etc.  He will now build simple things with construction toys like Legos and blocks.  He can put six shapes into a formboard (circle, square, triangle, etc.) without error.  He can cut short, random "snips" with a scissors.  When he is coloring he holds the paper with one hand to prevent it from turning and will imitate vertical, circular and horizontal strokes.  He can now feed himself with a spoon without turning the spoon or spilling.  He can undress himself if the difficult fasteners are undone.

Cognitive/Social and Language Development
He can imitate an adult putting an object in front of, behind, to the side of, under or on top of something (for example, putting the ball behind the chair, under the chair).  He may begin to use the potty during the day, with accidents.  He will insist on doing many things for himself--dressing, eating, fixing food.  He finally understands and stays away from common dangers at home such as open stairs, strange animals, sharp furniture corners, etc.  He can match a few colors and simple objects (his toothbrush to a picture of a toothbrush).  He can rote count to five and has the concept of "one," ex., "Give me one cookie."  He can identify by name and touch many body parts and can tell or show you what he can do with his body (for example, bend arm, wiggle toes).  He has a vocabulary of from 100 to 200 words and will now put three words together in a sentence.

Activities for You and Your Toddler

• Encourage him to help you and imitate you when you fold clothes, small washcloths or napkins. Make sure to tell him what a good helper he is.

• Let him color on some paper and then send his art work in the mail to a relative or friend. Let him fold the picture, put it in the envelope, etc. These are good fine-motor activities for his finger muscles.

• Let him use small kitchen tongs to pick up objects such as cotton balls, etc. This will give him practice with the opening and closing motions needed to use a scissors. If he uses a scissors, make sure it is the kind with rounded tips. Show him how to snip with a scissors and let him practice on narrow strips of paper.