Which developmental milestone is typically expected at the age of 2?

At the age of 2 years, children are commonly observed to engage in parallel play. This type of play involves children playing alongside each other with similar toys or activities, but not directly interacting or collaborating in the play itself. It reflects a developmental stage where toddlers are learning social skills and how to relate to others, even though they may not engage in cooperative play just yet.

This engagement in parallel play is crucial for their social development as it allows them to observe and mimic peers, which aids in their own play skills and understanding of social interactions. By this age, children are typically more aware of their surroundings and peers, making parallel play a natural and expected progression in their developmental timeline.

Other developmental milestones, such as jumping on one foot or completing puzzles, are expected at slightly older ages, while building a block tower of at least four blocks is usually achieved around 2 years but does not encompass the wider social aspect of development that parallel play does. Therefore, parallel play stands out as a key milestone that reflects not only individual child development but also the emerging social capabilities of toddlers.