Understanding Two- and ThreeYear-Olds
Three-Year-Olds – try to please and conform
Learning Targets
• I can identify developmental changes that
occur in the growth of toddlers.
• I can identify specific characteristics of
toddlers.
Two-Year-Olds
Active, demanding, curious
Physical Development
• 2-3 inches in height
• Digestive system matures slowly
• Center of gravity shifts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4
EhtoCv4NXk
Gross-Motor Skills
• Improved Coordination and body control
• Control in leg and foot muscles
Fine-Motor Skills
• Rapidly learning developing finger
dexterity and control
• Children using writing tools
• Become skilled at building with blocks
Self-Help Skills
• Cooperate in dressing
• Drink from a cup
• Toilet learning
Cognitive Development
• Language Comprehension - Understanding
of language
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20-month-old can follow directions
24-month-old can identify at 6 body parts
Pronouns – I, my, mine, me
30-month-old can flow two-step commands
• Expressive language – ability to produce
language forms
• Johnny hurt, tom dog
• Two Strategies for teaching language
• Feeding in
• Expansion
• Vocabulary
• 50-200 words
• Math Readiness
• Can understand size concepts
• Big, small
• Awareness of shapes, forms and colors
• http://youtu.be/YcgWV_TUYUk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5hIBWRS
2WY
Social Emotional
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Play next to each other, not cooperatively
Act out adult experiences
Do not want to share
Usually affectionate
Like to control their surroundings
Anger may arise with tough tasks
Afraid of being hurt
Fear from their imagination
Cannot separate reality from fiction
Egocentric
Three Year-Olds
Physical Development
• Gross-Motor
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Throwing, jumping and hopping improve
Better Coordination
Catch large balls
Ride tricycles
Walk heel-to-toe
Balance on one foot
• Fine Motor Skills
• Cutting becomes more refined
• Better drawing skills
• Copy Shapes
Self-Help Skills
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Wash hands
Brush Teeth
Dress themselves
Use Knives – spread jelly
Cognitive Development
• Language Comprehension
• Who, whose, why, how
• Answer questions in a story
• Space concepts – up, down, top, toward
• Expressive Language
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900 words
Four or five word sentences
Talk in past tense
Possessive nouns – Mommy’s car
Use questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCl3LSEJRig
Math Readiness
• Size concepts – more full, less
• Counting Skills begin
Social Emotional
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Eager to help others
Play with others
Not as possessive
Gender Roles – behaviors that are expected
by boys or girls
• Begin to express emotions in appropriate
ways
• Begin building a self-concept