Physical and motor skill markers:

• Able to turn a door knob
• Can browse through a book one page at a time
• Can build a tower of 6 to 7 cubes
• Can kick a ball without losing balance
• Can pick up objects while standing, without losing balance (often occurs by 15 months, and would be cause for concern if you don't see it by 2 years)
• Can run with better coordination, although the stance may still be wide
• May be ready for toilet training
• Should have the first 16 teeth (the actual number of teeth can vary widely)
• At 24 months, they are about half their final adult height

Sensory and cognitive markers:

• Able to put on simple clothes without help (often better at removing clothes than putting them on)
• Able to communicate needs such as thirst, hunger, need to use the restroom
• Can organize phrases of 2 - 3 words
• Understand 2-step command ("give me the ball and then get your shoes")
• Increased attention span
• Vision fully developed
• Vocabulary has increased to about 50 - 300 words (healthy children's vocabulary can vary widely)

Play recommendations:

• Allow the child to help around the house and participate in the daily family responsibilities.
• Encourage and provide the necessary space for physical activity.
• Encourage play that involves building and creativity.
• Provide safe copies of adult tools and equipment.
• Read to the child.
• Try to avoid watching television at this age (recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics).
• Control both the content and quantity of television viewing. Limit television viewing to fewer than 3 hours per day, and preferably 1 hour or less. Avoid programming with violent content. Redirect the child to reading or play activities.
• Control the type of games played.

Feigelman S. The second year. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 9.