Ages 24‑30 Months

Social and Emotional Development

  • Provide chances for pretend-play with dolls and stuffed animals to help practise emotional responses.
  • Provide chances to play with other children, but keep it on a one-to-one basis.
  • Give lots of praise for positive behaviours: "I think you're doing a great job putting your toys in the toy box."
  • Encourage your toddler to show emotions and talk about them: "It's OK to cry. Can you tell me what's making you sad?"
What Your Toddler is Likely to Do
  • Try to do more independently. For example, your toddler may say, “No! Me do it!”
  • Enjoy playing near other children (parallel play). However, your toddler is probably not yet able to play with other children (co‑operative play). For more information on the types of play, click here.
  • Have trouble sharing. Say “no” and “mine.” May hit, push, and grab to keep toys.
  • Become aware of the difference between boys and girls.
  • Move back and forth between doing things by her‑ or himself and wanting help.
  • Demand his or her own way much of the time.
  • Want routines.
  • Connect feelings to language and pretend‑play. For example, your toddler may roar like an angry lion.
  • Have many strong feelings that she or he has trouble expressing.
Other Things Your Toddler May Do
  • Act shy around strangers.
  • Pull hair, hit, or bite other children when upset.
  • Willingly help put things away.
  • Accept new people, if you have talked to them.
  • Begin to start playing with others.
  • Show patience.
  • Show clear likes or dislikes for certain people, objects, or places.
  • Be more sensitive to other children and cry if they cry.
  • React to other people’s emotions.
  • Have a security toy or blanket.
  • Have tantrums.
How You Can Help Social and Emotional Development
  • Provide chances to play with other children, but keep it on a one‑to‑one basis.
  • Teach your toddler to practise sharing by using toys as examples: “Dolly’s sharing her blocks with Teddy.”
  • Explain how conflicts make other people feel sad, angry, or frustrated.
  • Share quiet times together by reading, telling stories, or cuddling.
  • Give lots of praise for positive behaviours: “I think you’re doing a great job putting your toys in the toy box.”
  • Provide chances for your toddler to do things without help.
  • Continue to breastfeed.
  • Encourage your toddler to show emotions and talk about them: “It’s OK to cry. Can you tell me what’s making you sad?”
  • Move your toddler to a quieter place when she or he is having difficulty coping with emotions.
  • Provide chances for pretend‑play with dolls and stuffed animals to help practise emotional responses.
  • Give your toddler chances to do things by him‑ or herself, such as getting dressed and helping with chores.
  • Read books that show how children or animals experience a range of emotions, such as jealousy, anger, and affection.
  • Talk about how your toddler’s behaviour may affect others:
  • “You took away Tommy’s toy, and now he has no toy to play with. I think this has made Tommy feel sad.”
  • Let your toddler know ahead of time when you will be interrupting play: “In five minutes it will be time to be put on our coats and pick up your sister from school.”