By 2 years: milestone checklist
We often call this the “word explosion” age — new words seem to turn up by the day. Here’s what plenty of two-year-olds are doing.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team · medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS (GMC 8023727) · Last reviewed July 2026
How to use this checklist
- Go through each list and tick off every skill your child can already do.
- Try not to worry about a few “not yet”s — children grow at their own pace, and this is a gentle guide, not a test.
- Use the Ways to help ideas below to gently nudge along the skills that are still coming.
- If several skills are missing, or your child has lost skills they once had, have a look at the “when to seek advice” box and book a free check.
What most children do by their second birthday
Communication & language
- Uses 50 or more words
- Joins two words together (“more milk”, “daddy go”)
- Follows simple two-step instructions
- Is understood by family at least half the time
- Points to pictures or objects when named
Social & play
- Shows interest in other children
- Copies actions and words of others
- Enjoys pretend play
- Can be defiant — testing independence (normal!)
Movement & self-care
- Runs and kicks a ball
- Walks up and down stairs with help
- Builds a small tower of blocks
- Starting to show toileting awareness
Ways to help your child grow
Two-year-olds pick things up fast, and mostly through ordinary moments at home. Here are easy ways to help their words and confidence grow.
Join their words into little sentences — if they say “dog”, you say “big dog running” to show the next step.
Play “where is it?” — ask them to find the ball, the spoon, or Baba, and clap when they do.
Set up simple pretend play — cooking with empty pots or putting teddy to bed — and follow their lead.
Kick and roll a ball back and forth, and let them jump with two feet — great for balance and turn-taking.
Let your child try to pull off their own socks and wash their hands — small independence builds big pride.
Stay calm through the “no!” stage — name the feeling and offer a simple choice to help them cope.
Try today: Sing a familiar rhyme but leave off the last word — pause and let your child fill it in.
When it’s worth having a chat
- Fewer than 50 words or not combining words
- Can’t follow simple instructions
- Little interest in other children or pretend play
- Speech only you can understand
If several of these feel familiar, an early, gentle check can bring real clarity — and support at the point where it helps most.
Seek help straight away if your child loses skills they once had; doesn’t respond to sounds or your voice (ask for a hearing test — don’t wait); doesn’t look at faces or make eye contact; or isn’t sitting on their own by 9–10 months, or walking by 18 months. If your child is ever in immediate danger or has hurt themselves, call your local emergency number or go to your nearest emergency department now.
This checklist is a general guide and not a diagnosis — children develop at their own pace. For a clear answer, speak to a professional near you, follow a home program at home, or book an online session with us from anywhere in the world.
Questions parents ask
What should a child do by their second birthday?
We often call this the “word explosion” age — new words seem to turn up by the day. Here’s what plenty of two-year-olds are doing. This checklist covers communication, social, movement and self-care milestones, ways to help at home, and signs it’s worth seeking advice.
My child has missed a few of these — should I worry?
Not necessarily — every child develops at their own pace and one or two “not yet”s are common. A cluster of missed milestones, or any loss of skills, is worth a friendly check.
Not sure what the checklist is telling you?
Send us your child’s age and what you’ve noticed — we’ll help you make sense of it, gently and without pressure.
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