24 months old: Physical, motor, cognitive and emotional development

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Dang Huy Toan - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital


Your baby's independence and skills continue to develop at 24 months of age. At this stage, children learn many new games and even know how to pretend to be angry to get what they want. However, this is only a small part of the child's development at this stage.

1. Physical and motor development of 24-month-old children

Weight and height of 24-month-old babies increased significantly. The average child's weight is about 12kg, the height is 87cm and the baby teeth are relatively complete. At this stage, children are increasingly hyperactive, especially boys. At this time, the child's mobility is relatively good, he can run and jump whenever he wants.
However, most children prefer to run than walk. Children enjoy doing everything on their own without any help. If the child can reach it, he or she can open the door on his own or even latch the door. One of the special hobbies of 24-month-old babies is going up and down stairs by themselves.
Children can run and jump, walk backwards, keep balance when standing on one leg, people sway to the music.....Now, not only hands and eyes but children can coordinate hands, feet, eye.
While walking the child can hold or pull the toy. Children can build a tower of blocks, turn the pages of a book, or scribble a few lines. Children have begun to prefer using one hand over the other.

2. Cognitive and emotional development of 24-month-old babies

24 months old baby can understand the common gestures of people around, at this time, the child's cognitive ability also reaches a high level. Compared to the previous months, children's memory ability is also better.
Mothers can play jigsaw puzzles with their babies or stick paper on books to improve their baby's memory during this period. Children still need your help to find the right pieces, even though they can turn the books on their own. This is also a way to help children develop hand-eye coordination skills. Children will absorb more information through their senses and notice how you do.
Children often ask a lot of questions and want to be answered immediately by adults. Don't get upset or angry if you don't want to answer your child, take some time to reply or promise to answer, this helps children form the habit of being responsible, and caring about others' business. other.
Children enjoy talking on the phone and imitating the actions of others. Some children often hold an object by themselves and treat it like a phone, creating a story on their own. Parents' attitudes and ways of talking on the phone are very accurately imitated by children.
One of the hallmarks of a child at this stage is stubbornness. Children may nag, whine when they want something until the mother agrees. In order for their mothers to fulfill their wishes, many children even know how to pretend to be angry.
24-month-old babies often have sudden emotional changes and have a hard time controlling their anger. As if to test the patience level of parents, this is the period when children begin to show a little resistance and irritability. Children are also often easily upset but immediately return to normal. At this age, parents need to help regulate their children's emotions and help them understand the world around them. Children will understand that parents are always there to support them in all emotional situations when their mother gently comforts them.
Although it is still quite difficult these days children are more ready to share their toys with others, they already enjoy making friends. Although they can lend you something, your child will immediately find a way to get it back. Children are also easily irritated and impatient. However, the mother should only help the child if the child cannot solve it on his own, let the children solve it by themselves while playing.

24 months old baby's speech and communication skills also improve. Children can already sing a song they like, tell their parents a little story. Every time a child tells a story or sings, parents should give praise to the child. This will keep children interested and excited, helping them continue to develop in the future.
24-month-old babies can already say short sentences of 2-3 words or more. Children's vocabulary now ranges from 50 to 75 words. Children can name objects they see often. Common foods that children often eat are also given their own names and children can even request specific foods such as cakes, milk... At this time, children understand less and more, so If the child sees less food on his plate or has eaten it all, he talks more.
Listen to the imaginary conversations your child has with his toys and pets during playtime. You will discover that these conversations are similar to how you would talk to your child on a daily basis. Children continue to demonstrate themselves increasingly independent and may continue to show separation anxiety.
Children can arrange objects by color and shape, even when the object is out of sight, the child can still find the object.

3. Nutrition of 24 months old children

The digestive system of a 24-month-old baby is relatively complete. Thanks to the development of teeth, children can get used to and eat many foods like adults. Compared with the adult's diet, the average child's portion size is 2⁄3.
Parents still need to pay special attention to their children's daily nutrition because children are still in the process of growth and development. It is necessary to have a full range of essential nutritional groups for the growth of children such as proteins, lipids, minerals, vitamins, minerals... in the child's daily diet.
In addition to familiar foods that children find interesting, children are often not interested in unfamiliar foods. Therefore, when you want your child to experience new foods, parents need to practice giving them a small amount of food, occasionally coming often to avoid food allergies or unpalatable food.
When the child does not want to eat anymore, do not force the child to eat to avoid fear in the next meal. Children should not drink fruit juice containing too much vitamin C, do not exceed 120-180ml/day, encourage children to drink filtered water.
Avoid letting children eat hard candies, gum, nuts. To encourage the all-round development of children, parents need to:
Read with your child every day and when you reach an object, encourage your child to point to Sing happy songs with your child What you doing, such as when bathing, eating....you need to name things in a consistent way. A second language can be introduced to children if used in the family Some children may go to preschool at this time Maintain hygiene for children to prevent some easy diseases.

24-month-old children need 5mg of elemental zinc/day to eat well, reach the correct height and weight and exceed the standard. Zinc plays a role in affecting most biological processes taking place in the body, especially the breakdown of nucleic acids, proteins... Organs in the body when zinc deficiency can lead to a There are a number of diseases such as neurological disorders, irritability, etc. Therefore, parents need to learn about the role of zinc and guide them to appropriate zinc supplements for their children.
In addition to zinc, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... errands.
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.

Reference source: whattoexpect.com