Childhood Milestones For Singapore Kids: What's Normal And When To Worry

You may wonder if your little one is developmentally “normal” for a Singapore child, but when should you actually worry? We poll the experts for what to look out for during the preschool years.

- Sasha Gonzales

2 years old

WHAT TO EXPECT Your little one would have started to talk by now and is curious and inquisitive, says Dr Cynthia Lim, a senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

He is physically active and keen to explore the world around him. At this age, he can also point to pictures in books and make connections between these and real-life objects.

He enjoys make-believe play and his symbolic understanding is developing – for example, he may hold up a banana to his ear and pretend it’s a phone.

PARENTING CHALLENGES

Two year-olds aren’t aware of some of the dangers associated with playing, so you have to keep a close watch on them, Dr Lim says.

They may want to do things on their own, but they’re also dependent on you, so it’s important to try and strike a balance between the two.

“Other parenting challenges include learning how to handle your two-year old child’s temper tantrums, dealing with separation anxiety, and introducing them to new activities, foods and experiences,” adds Dr Low Kah Tzay, a paediatrician at Pediatric Doctor by Anson International Paediatric & Child Development Clinic.

BOOST YOUR KID’S DEVELOPMENT

Social interaction with adults is crucial because this is how they learn, says Dr Lim.

It’s also important to do things with them rather than just show or tell them what to do. At this age, you should let your child play freely and explore nature.

“As your child is picking up new words every day, I suggest talking to him normally instead of using baby talk,” says Dr Lim.