Your toddler''s development (27 to 28 months)
Approved by the ParentCenter Medical Advisory Board
By the ParentCenter editorial staff
Physical development
Your child can now handle small objects with ease. He can stack blocks, knock over towers, pull off his shoes, turn book pages, and hold a cup with one hand. He might even be able to balance on one foot for a second or take a big jump forward with his feet together.
Controlling impulses and negative behavior
Your child is slowly developing the ability to control his actions — but at this age, he''s still prone to a fair amount of pushing, shoving, yelling, and tantrums. You can''t expect perfect behavior from him all the time. Keep reminding him that talking gets better results than acting out — and make sure you praise him when he makes an effort to communicate with words.
Making rules make sense
Helping your child understand the "why" of rules will make it easier for him to follow them. Explain that we do some things to stay safe — such as holding hands while crossing the street, and wearing shoes outside. Keep your rules reasonable, clear, and consistent, and be patient while he learns to follow them. Most kids will need a lot of gentle reminders.
Intense concentration
Your child''s attention span is lengthening, and sometimes he''ll be so absorbed in his play that he''ll resent your interruption. You can make transitions easier by warning him in advance, as in "You can play with the blocks for five more minutes, but then it''s dinnertime." When you can, be flexible with your timing. And keep in mind that some kids might need a couple of warnings to ease their transition away from play.
