Cognitive Development Between Ages 2 and 3

Normal Development

• Sees the connection between an actual object and a picture of that object

• Completes puzzles with three or four pieces

• Sorts objects by shape and color

• Starts “fibbing”

• Plays more complicated pretend games

• May develop fears

• Can remember what happened yesterday

• Acts out stories

• Is becoming a logical thinker

What You Can Do

• Ask for your child’s opinions, ideas, thoughts

• Talk with your child about their day. This builds memory and language skills.

• Encourage your child to use logic in everyday situations (“It’s raining outside, what do we need to stay dry?”)

• Suggest ways to solve problems (“If we move this chair, you’ll have more room.”)

• Help your child to understand how others are feeling

Our Advice

• Try not to feel pressured to start formal teaching, videos, flashcards, or memorization—it isn’t helpful and can make learning seem stressful instead of fun.

• Children learn best from everyday experiences. It’s easier for kids (and most adults!) to learn things that they can relate to their daily lives.

• Remember that your child is still very young—try not to expect them to be able to do things beyond what’s normal for their age.

Try not to compare yourself to other parents, or your child to other children. Every child develops differently and each family is unique.

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