Parenting Your Child In Their Second Year Of Life

Parenting Your Child In Their Second Year Of Life

Your child is off and running and now the challenge is for you to keep up!  Increasing curiosity is probably what you are seeing each day as your child  explores their world.

Running, jumping, stairs, throwing, kicking and riding scooter bikes (bike without pedals) are the emerging skills that should be mastered by age 2.  Provide plenty of opportunities for your child to increase balance and coordination with movement.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#TuesdayTip ? Gross motor skills are large movement skills our body develops throughout our growing years! These are just a few of the milestones by age. Want to learn more? Check out our link in our bio??‍♀️

A post shared by ABC Pediatric Therapy (@abcpedtherapy) on Dec 10, 2019 at 4:14pm PST

Your child will grow more independent with their use of hands as well.  Present opportunities to:

• Look at books
• Do crafts like painting, coloring, play doh
• Build with small blocks

When dressing and undressing, encourage your child to help.  Your child should be able to:

• Take off own clothes
• Zip / unzip if zipper is latched for them

At mealtimes, your child will want to feed themselves.  Let them!  Encourage drinking from an open cup or with a straw to develop strength in the lips and tongue that will help with  forming sounds for words.

Did you know by the age of 2 years your child should be able to say 100 words!?

Here are some tips to increase word development:

1. Read books together. Name everything in the book and ask your child to say each word.
2. If your child uses a partial word like wa-wa for water, be sure to model the whole word for them “water” so that they learn the whole word.
3. Name everything in their world….dog, couch, door, car….this will add to their word bank.
4. Be specific when naming items. For example, do not call all shoes, shoes.  There are boots, sandals, slippers, flip flops, heels, etc.

Be sure to talk to your child and require they use the words that they have to talk.

Model and encourage your child to use 2 word phrases like “more please”, “no more”, “all done” and “want more”.

Be sure to not let others speak for your child.  Sibling think they are being helpful but encourage the sibling to teach the younger sister/brother to use their own words.

Encourage your child to follow 2 step directions.

What might I see if my child is behind in their language skills?

1. Delays in language are often demonstrated by a child throwing a temper tantrum.

Your child is communication by acting out because they do not have the words to tell you how they feel.

2. Your child may bite other children

Your child learns quickly that if I bite my friend they will drop the toy and I can have it.

A child that is frustrated due to not being able to think of the words or say the words to request the toy will just bite.

3. Lack of Attention

Children become uninterested if they are not able to use words to participate in a conversation.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Elliot is one of our newest graduates! We’re so proud of her for working so hard and getting to this point! #congrats #goodjob #ABC #ABCkids #playtherapy #Progress

A post shared by ABC Pediatric Therapy (@abcpedtherapy) on Dec 9, 2019 at 6:07am PST

Educate yourself as a parent.  Know what your child should be doing and when.  Know what toys your child should have so they can master skills by the appropriate age level.  Take the FREE developmental screening tool at www.checklist.abcpediatrictherapy.com to get educated and know how to challenge your child.

Visit www.abcpediatrictherapy.com for more information.