Talking & Reading
- Asks questions like “what” or “who?”
- Uses “me” or “I” when talking about themself
- Uses 3-4 word sentences
- Uses the word “no”
Be Ready by 5: Age 2 - 3
The following information will help you as you interact with your child from age 2 to 3 and have learning experiences that will not only help them be ready for Kindergarten, but that will help develop a special bond between you and your child!
What to Look For
Connecting & Feeling
- Makes a choice – between colors or objects
- Recognizes self in mirror or pictures
- Begins to identify core emotions like happy, sad, and mad
- Can end one activity and begin another
Counting & Measuring
- Describes sizes of objects like big, small, or heavy
- Looks for more of something like handing out napkins at meal time
- Begins to recognize and name basic shapes like circles, squares, triangles
- Sorts similar objects together
Playing & Problem Solving
- Tries a few times to complete tasks when challenged
- Tries more than one way to solve a problem
- Uses familiar rules in new settings – whispering or saying hello
- Plays with familiar toys in new ways
Growing & Developing
- Visits their doctor/pediatrician for a well-visit at age 3
- Receives appropriate vaccinations
Get Them Ready
You can help your child be ready for Kindergarten and beyond by working on skills with them. Here are some helpful and easy ways to engage with your child!
Encourage Questions!
- Answer questions with short, factual answers
- Talk often with your child using open ended questions
- Point out what’s happening in stories, and ask what they think will happen next
Encourage Making Choices!
- Allow your child to get things ready for routines
- Make faces in the mirror and talk about emotions
- Give your child choices
Problem Solve!
- Say out loud what your child is doing while trying to solve a problem or puzzle
- Play with them using different levels of noises that are loud or quiet
Additional Things to Consider: Age 2 – 3
Your child is learning independence during this time. Children will push boundaries as they learn who they are and what they can do. Offering them choices will encourage healthy learning while they develop independence.
Provide opportunities to play with other children. This will help develop early social skills. Looking for local events or toddler focused activities is a great way to help your child learn how to play with others.
This is a great time to start thinking about preschool. While attending preschool officially is a couple years away, start thinking about the location of the preschool you’d like your child to attend, and start doing research on your favorite options.
Check Eligibility
Fill out our eligibility screener to learn about all the resources you qualify for based on your needs.
Ensuring that every child in Montgomery County, Ohio is healthy and ready for success in Kindergarten and beyond.
