At a stage where your preschooler can name people around him and distinguish between various objects, his 27-month-old developmental milestones are no longer restricted to his dexterity.
His actions are proof of his intellectual growth and give away the fact that he is picking up on things quickly. This means that he can now better satisfy his curiosity about people and objects around him.
You'll notice that small and colorful toys continue to fascinate him. So to keep him occupied you can give him shells or small, vibrant objects to play with. But make sure that they are bigger than 3cm to avoid any choking hazard.
At this point, his ability to do things on his own like pulling out his shoes, or holding his own glass of water will make life easier for him as well as for you. His will equal dexterity with small objects and big movements. So by this month, your little trooper is well-versed with the heel-to-toe motion and might even try to jump or stand on just one leg.
Rest assured, your 27-month-old toddler will enjoy trying new physical activities with your help. So come rainy days and you can both enjoy a bit of puddle hopping together.
Cognitive development
Two of the most common 27-month-old development milestones are attention span and complex play. You'll notice that your toddler is able to solve a few simple puzzles and problems through a trial and error method.
He might be at an activity till he is satisfied that it is done to the best of his ability. You can also give him crayons and books to create his masterpiece. His gripping reflexes are getting stronger and this is an activity he will surely enjoy. This is a great time to observe your growing little bub and celebrate his small moments of achievements.
You can also introduce visual books to your preschooler as it will help him identify objects and animals. Interestingly, he may also name inanimate objects and toys as though they are living beings. So don't be alarmed and let his imagination get to work.
Social and emotional development
By this age your energetic toddler will exhibit strong emotions, anger and irritation being at the top of that list. Although he may try to control these emotions, chances are that he may become slightly aggressive and may even throw things around.
He might even resort to yelling, throwing tantrums, shoving and pushing those around him. But worry not, it's all normal and part of the growing up process.
When you notice that your toddler to throw a fit, try to distract him with games or colorful toys. Or, you can point at something outside the window, basically anything that distracts him at that moment. You'll notice that he will immediately calm down. And that indicates that he wasn't really angry but perhaps wanted attention or a distraction.
This is also an age where kids experiment with their tantrums. They trow a fit just to see if they'll get what they want and if you give in it'll simply solidify this belief. And that would mean more tantrums. So don't give in after just the one "No."
Instead, remain calm and patient with your toddler. It can be particularly tricky if he throws a fit in public, but just hand in there because this too shall pass.
Speech and language
At 27 months, your not-so-tiny tot has an approximate 400-word vocabulary. But he can only verbalize a minimum of 200 right now. However, he does know his name as well his surname and can identify singular and plural words.
One of the 27-month-old developmental milestones is also that at this stage your child can also use possessive pronouns such as "I," "Me," or "Mine" and name the objects they most commonly see or use. All of this helps them to express themselves better both through words and their gestures.
It is a good time to start singing nursery rhymes to them. You'll be surprised by how quickly they learn them and are able to imitate syllables, even if they are not properly pronouncing many of them.
But this is also the time to be mindful of your own words. Kids are like parrots at this age and will repeat every word you say. So it's a good time to work beyond "thank you" and "please" and teach them etiquettes. You can also incorporate the important of kindness and respect into your lessons.
Health and nutrition
Another one of the 27-month-old developmental milestones is that by this age, your toddler will be able to verbalize his like or dislike for a particular food group or food item.
So it's a good idea to keep things interesting by cutting his food in different shapes and sizes and well as making his platter a lot more colorful. Puree the items that he wouldn't necessarily eat but are important for his growth. But if he still refuses or eats a bit less, don't force it on him.
Since at this stage he loves to observe you, it'll also help to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Also remember that at this stage his pudgy belly and baby fat will soon vanish. His head will become more proportionate and smaller than his torso.
Tips for parents
While there are many 27-month-old developmental milestones to celebrate, there are also a few that will truly irritate you. Tantrums being one of them. However, consider this your testing time and remain calm and patient with your child.
Don't worry about your toddler making a mess as he eats or scribbles away. This is his time of trial and error for your kid. Let him enjoy and learn at his own pace.
Also, some of you might even wonder if your child is right-handed or left because of the different ways he may hold an object. Don't try to push it and let him develop this on his own. It may take a few more months for him to finally realize what he may be most comfortable with-using his right hand or left.
If you feel that your kid is not able to achieve these 27-month-old developmental milestone, we suggest you consult with a doctor. It may be due to slow growth spurt or a developmental disorder. Either way, it's best to remain calm and help your toddler understand the world around him. Try to lead by example and encourage to him to adapt an equally healthy lifestyle.
Most of all, enjoy this time with your little one. Because this too shall pass, quickly.
Your toddler’s previous month: 26 months
Your toddler’s next month: 28 months
Do you have questions on this 27 month toddler development guide? Share with us in the comments!
Sources: Mayo Clinic, NHS
Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore