As your child’s first
teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development. Try these
simple tips and activities in a safe way. Talk with your child’s doctor and
teachers if you have questions or for more ideas on how to help your child’s
development.
• Encourage “free play,” where your child
can follow her interests, try new things, and use things in new ways.
• Use positive words and give more
attention to behaviors you want to see (“wanted behaviors”), than to those you
don’t want to see. For example, say “I like how you gave Jordan the toy.”
• Give your child food choices that are
simple and healthy. Let him choose what to eat for a snack or what to wear. Limit
choices to two or three.
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Tips and Activities
• Ask your child simple questions about
books and stories. Ask questions, such as “Who?” “What?” and “Where?”
• Help your child learn how to play with
other children. Show him how by helping him share, take turns, and use his
“words.”
• Let your child “draw” with crayons on
paper, shaving cream on a tray, or chalk on a sidewalk. If you draw a straight
line, see if she will copy you. When she gets good at lines, show her how to
draw a circle.
• Let your child play with other children,
such as at a park or library. Ask about local play groups and pre-school
programs. Playing with others helps him learn the value of sharing and
friendship.
• Eat family meals together as much as you
can. Give the same meal to everyone. Enjoy each other’s company and avoid
screen time (TV, tablets, and phones, etc.) during meals.
• Limit screen time (TV, tablets, phones,
etc.) to no more than 1 hour per day of a children’s program with an adult
present. Children learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
• Use words to describe things to your
child, such as big/small, fast/slow, on/off, and in/out.
• Help your child do simple puzzles with
shapes, colors, or animals. Name each piece when your child puts it in place.
• Play with your child outside. For
example, take your child to the park to climb on equipment and run in safe
areas.
• Allow your child to eat as much or as
little as she wants at each meal. Your job is to offer her healthy foods and
it’s your child’s job to decide if and how much she wants to eat.
• Ask your child’s doctor and/or teachers
about toilet training to know if your child is ready to start. Most children
are not able to toilet train until 2 to 3 years old. Starting too early can
cause stress and setbacks, which can cause training to take longer.
• Let your child play with large boxes. He
can pretend it is a car, bus, train, or house. Let him color, paint it, and put
stickers on it.
• Play with your child outside by playing
“ready, set, go.” For example, pull your child back in a swing. Say “Ready,
set…”, then wait and say “Go” when you push the swing.
• Encourage your child to name colors,
body parts, and pictures in books.
• Kick a ball back and forth with your
child. When your child is good at that, show her how to run and kick the ball.
• Have steady routines for sleeping and feeding. Create a calm, quiet bedtime for your child. Put on her pajamas, brush her teeth, and read 1 or 2 books to her. Children this age need 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day (including naps). Consistent sleep times make it easier.
30-Month-Old weight and
height
Average weight for a
30-month-old is around 28.8 pounds for girls and 29.9 pounds for boys. Average
height is around 35.6 inches for girls and 36.0 inches for boys.
30-month-old milestones
Speech.
At 30 months old, speech development is happening fast. It's normal for a
30-month-old’s vocabulary to be around 200 to 1,000 words; your child may also
be using two- or three- word phrases. A 30-month-old who’s not talking may need
to have a hearing evaluation and/or may need some help from an early
intervention program. Discuss any concerns you may have about your child's
speech development with your pediatrician.
Motor
skills. Thirty-month-olds can usually walk up and down
stairs, kick and throw a ball, jump and build a tower of at least eight blocks.
Teething.
In a 30-month-old, teething may be happening. Also known as the 2-year molars,
second molars tend to erupt between 23 and 33 months. And since they're big, it
can be a painful process. The good news is they're the last teeth to come in
until around age 6, when kids can better deal with the discomfort, so soon,
you'll be done with teething woes.
Potty
training. Some 30-month-olds are fully potty trained, and
some aren’t ready to start yet. It all depends on your child's interest level
and abilities. To potty train a 30-month-old boy or girl, your child must be
able to recognize when they have to go to the bathroom and must be able to pull
their pants up and down. A weekend at home without training pants could help
along the process; if it doesn't, that may mean your child just needs more
time. Take a break before trying again later.
30-month-old behavior
Tantrums.
At 30 months old, tantrums are still common. But take heart: The peak time
frame for tantrums tends to be between 18 and 36 months, so soon you might
notice a decline in their frequency. If your child has several tantrums a day,
discuss it with the pediatrician; some kids need extra help learning to calm
themselves down.
DIY. Your child can
probably undress themselves now; some 30-month-olds pull on their own pants and
socks too.
Fickleness.
Your kiddo is torn between wanting to be a big kid and wanting to be a baby.
Some days, they might do things on their own, and others, they insist you do it
all. Some parents find that their 30-month-olds are well behaved at school or
daycare but wild at home. They may be anxious or shy around strangers too.
Regression. It's normal for a 2-year-old to regress in some ways, such as starting to tantrum more or having more potty accidents. Maybe your child asks for an old lovey or pacifier. This is often just a normal part of growing up, but tell the doctor about any setbacks that concern you.
30-Month-Old Health
Bring up any health questions or concerns to the doctor at the 30-month checkup. Some common health questions parents of 30-month-olds have are:
30-Month-Old Food
While your kid might wish they could eat the same three foods all the time, continue to offer new flavors, textures and styles of cooking. While they may not always love it, just getting them used to having new things on their plate may help your child warm up the idea of trying out different dishes.
How much should my
30-month-old be eating?
Two-year-olds should continue to eat three meals per day, plus one or two snacks. Offer a variety of foods in all food groups—vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy—daily. Portion size isn't big at this age: Expect your kid to eat only ¼ to ½ as much as an adult.
Your 2-year-old can now drink 1 percent or skim milk; talk to your doctor about which milk is right for your toddler. Try to offer low-fat dairy products too, such as yogurt and cheese. Doctors recommend kids ages one to 3 get 700 mg of calcium per day. Fat should account for 30 to 35 percent of your toddler's daily calories.
What to feed my
30-month-old
Picky eating may still
be a big food issue at this age. The 30-month checkup with your pediatrician is
the perfect time to bring up any worries you may have about your child's eating
habits. The doctor will weigh and measure your child to be sure they're growing
at a healthy rate and may check for an iron deficiency. Their findings may give
you peace of mind that everything's A-okay, or they may prompt them to
prescribe a vitamin supplement. The doctor may also give you advice on how to
get your child to eat more nutritious foods.
30-Month-Old Sleep
Sleep is super important for any kid, not just 30-month-olds. Kids need sleep for growth and brain development and to keep their mood in check.
How much sleep does a
30-month-old need?
Most 2-year-olds need
around 11 to 12 hours of nighttime sleep, plus a nap of about 1.5 to 3 hours,
for a total of about 13 to 14 hours of sleep per day.
30-month-old sleep
schedule
Every kid is different, but your child's schedule may look something like this:
30-mos-toddler-sleeping-chart
For a 30-month-old,
sleep regression can happen. If your child was previously sleeping just fine at
night but is suddenly waking, it can disrupt the whole family's routine. Some
kids become fearful of the dark and some just miss their parents. If there
isn't a health concern that's waking your kid, it's good to be firm about
bedtime boundaries. Calm your child down, put them back to bed and try to stick
to the routine as much as you can.
Activities for
30-Month-Old
In a 30-month-old's
eyes, playtime is just fun—but it's also helping your child develop. So what to
do with a 30-month-old? Some fun activities, games and toys for a 30-month-old
include:
Puzzles.
Step back and let your child have a feeling of accomplishment by putting the
pieces together on their own. Of course, you can step in and help if they're
getting frustrated.
Coloring. Your child's
dexterity is improving. They may even be able to draw some simple shapes.
Clay or Play-Doh.
Working with their hands can help keep a wiggly toddler busy on a rainy day.
30-Month-Old Baby
Checklist and Tips
Take your toddler to
their 2.5-year (30-month) checkup. Many pediatricians like to see kids around
30 months for a well-child visit. That’s because a lot of development occurs
between ages 2 and 3, and it's important to check things out at the midpoint.
The doctor will probably ask how many words your child says. They’ll also ask
about motor skills and may even ask your child to demonstrate some of them,
such as walking and jumping.
There aren't typically
shots at this visit, but your child may get any vaccinations they didn't get at
previous appointments. The doctor may also do a blood test for iron-deficiency
anemia and/or lead poisoning if this was not done during the 24-month visit.
Schedule your child's
3-year checkup.
Don’t underestimate the
power of reading to a 30-month-old. Toddlers at this age will likely have a
favorite book and will want you to read it over and over again. Even if you’ve
read the same book a million times, do it again! Reading to toddlers can help
them develop more advanced and complex vocabulary and set them up for learning
to read on their own (eventually).
It’s never too early to
start teaching toddlers the concept of responsibility. The 30-month mark is the
perfect time to begin introducing chores. And believe it or not, many toddlers
will love the opportunity to help you do “grown-up” tasks. Start off with easy
tasks, like cleaning up toys and throwing trash away.
Along with
incorporating responsibility comes instilling rules. Yes, a toddler is likely
to ask a lot of questions and push boundaries, but it’s important to stay firm
and consistent. Remember, children love (and crave) routine and repetition, so
continue repeating rules until your child learns.
Did your little one
just crack a joke? Yes! Toddlers at this age are beginning to explore and
develop a sense of humor. Encourage your 30-month-old baby to tell silly tales
and use their imagination to make up funny scenarios. Don’t be surprised if you
have a little comedian on your hands.
Your toddler is likely surprising you every day with new skills as they hit those 30-month-old milestones. It might feel like if you blink you’ll miss something, but don’t worry, you have plenty of time to enjoy your toddler’s growth and development over the coming weeks and months.
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