Developmental Milestones: Language and Movement

Samuel isn't 2 anymore. It was a jump in the past couple weeks that we realized (especially since our birthday "season" has just begun) that we have passed through calling Samuel "2" in any form. You know, around March/April of last year, he was "almost two", then he was just plain old "two" (although, there is clearly nothing 'plain old' about being two), then he was almost 2 and a half, then 2 and a half.

But now, he really isn't anything related to two anymore. He is very clearly ALMOST THREE.

What are some of the indications?

Loco*motion: Samuel is a "toddler" no more. There is nothing remotely toddle-like about his movements. He quite literally moves in leaps and bounds. He can gallop, though he hasn't learned to skip quite yet. Though he clearly can get anywhere he would like to go, he still prefers to be carried everywhere beyond his immediate desires**.

He has also acquired the desire to be watched while he performs his impressive physical feats. Not a day goes by that we don't hear many, many times "Mommy/Daddy, watch this! Watch this! No, look!"

Language: His leap in language has really been extraordinary recently. He is speaking in full sentences, using pronouns, articles, and prepositions, but what I am finding the most enchanting at the moment is his lack of "inner voice". He has entered the stage where he has enough language that he is capable of speaking all of his thoughts, and he has no inner monologue, it all comes out. It reminds me that I really need to refresh myself on Vigotsky and Piaget to keep myself up on the different stages he is going through. Guess I should check out Erikson, too, while I'm at it.

Locomotion: Shira is working on some locomotion herself. She currently is trying to get into the crawling position from the seated position. She does a little scooting, but nothing very deliberate at the moment. I am amazed at her reach, however. She manages to grab toys by sheer force of will that are nowhere near her.

Language: She isn't verbalizing much yet, though we have found that if we eat in front of her, and don't provide her with anything, she will scream at us until we do. Obviously, she knows how to get her point across, and isn't shy about being heard. Steve swears that she has called him "Dada" a couple of times now.

*In this case the "loco" in "locomotion" refers to the Spanish for crazy, rather than the Latin for place.

**Translation: If he wants to go look at something, retrieve a toy, do something he knows he probably shouldn't, he has absolutely no trouble sprinting any distance required. But if we're talking about walking the 100 feet to the car, down the block, or just about anywhere else, he attaches himself to my legs, insists that I pick him up, and tearily moans, "I can't do it." I really want to encourage him to be a walker, but perhaps I am being silly. When I remember that he has plenty of time to learn to transport himself, I revel in the luck I have at having one of the most cuddly, loving, physically attached children on the planet.