Preschoolers Ages 2 – 4

Terrible Twos

Most people think of the “Terrible Twos” as something that instantly starts when your child turns 2 and turns off when your child turns 3. However, each child is different, and some start this phase of their development as early as 15 months, and it doesn

Preschool

Depending on your work schedule, children usually attend some kind of preschool around 3 to 4 years of age. This usually occurs on an every other day schedule for 3 around 3 hours a day. There is no agreed upon age for children to start preschool, but it is highly suggested that they attend a year of preschool before entering kindergarten to let children adjust to the idea of being away from their parents for on a regular basis, along with being in a more structured setting with other children their age.

Talking after Two

Around two years of age, a child’s speech ability will expand drastically. They will go from saying around 50-100 words, to a vocabulary that is uncountable! They should also be able to form small, 2-3 word sentences. By 3 years of age, they will be able to understand directions such as “put it on the table.” And know concepts such as big vs. little.

Potty Training

Potty training can occur anywhere from 18 months to 30 months, depending on when the child shows signs of being ready. These signs may include longer periods of dryness during the day, expressed interest in going potty like adults do, and expressed awareness of their own body functions.

Big Kid Beds

Toddlers usually transition to a “big kid” bed around the age of 3. This can be a difficult time as the child realizes that they have the ability to get out of bed when they don’t want to be there. Make sure that the bedtime routine is consistent, and when the child gets out of bed, calmly take them back to their bed and say it’s bed time, no matter how many times you have to do this, the more you stay consistent and stay calm, the sooner they will give up and go to sleep.