The browser you are using is too old for our website. Please visit www.cgbabyclub.co.uk from Chrome and you will be able to browse normally.

Toddler

      Your toddler’s incredible brain development from 2-3 years

      Eating apple

      Your toddler’s emotional and brain development 2-3 years

      Your toddler’s third year is an exciting time of learning about the world, and also about their own emotions and feelings. Their memory skills continue to develop, helping them absorb and remember more words, and you’ll soon have a right little chatterbox on your hands! All this learning needs plenty of brain boosting nutrients, and we’ve got lots of advice to help you get the balance just right. 

      A time of new discoveries

      Between the ages of 2 and 3 your toddler’s brain power increases at an astonishing rate. The improvements in their thinking, learning and memory skills give them all kinds of new ways to play, explore and express their opinions, not to mention demands for cuddles.

      It can be quite a surprise when your toddler asks for something by name that you didn’t realise they knew. And it’s not just words they’re taking in. At this stage their brains are like sponges, absorbing the way people act towards each other; remembering places and faces they’ve seen before; learning how toys work and games are played; and recognising familiar noises, songs and rhymes – sometimes joining in with the words and actions. 

      Another big development during this time is their happiness to play on their own, with their imagination helping to create a make-believe world. Although, they’ll still love it when you play along and join their pretend games of horses, castles, capes and anything else they can think of.

       

      Playing

      Some big brain milestones between 2 and 3

      These are some of the developments you’re likely to notice as your little copycat toddles towards their third birthday:

      • Starting to tell simple stories.
      • Arranging things in groups and pairs, like toy cars, animals and shoes.
      • Putting things in size order.
      • Remembering what they did yesterday, and sometimes even something exciting from months ago.
      • Recognising themselves in the mirror.
      • Saying please and thank you, sometimes without a reminder.
      • Knowing what comes next in their favourite books – and telling you when you’ve missed a page!

      A healthy brain needs healthy fats

      Your toddler’s growing brain needs a wide variety of nutrients to fuel all their learning during this important year. One of the most essential for brain development is omega-3 – a healthy kind of fat found in salmon, mackerel and other oily fish, as well as certain oils like rapeseed oil.

      For more articles on what’s happening at this stage, take a look at our toddler development pages. And if you’re looking for inspiration for mealtimes, our recipe section includes lots of tasty, healthy ideas for growing appetites.

      pink laptop

      Join the club

      Ready to stop worrying about what other people think and do what feels right to you? We’ll give you the support you need to follow your instincts and enjoy parenthood to the max:

      *Weaning is recommended at around 6 months. Please speak with a healthcare professional before introducing solid foods.

       

      Join the club

      Ready to stop worrying about what other people think and do what feels right to you? We’ll give you the support you need to follow your instincts and enjoy parenthood to the max:

      email-icon-white.png
      Helpful emails
      chat-icon-white.png
      Non-judgemental support
      broccoli-icon-white.png
      Free weaning plan*
      love-dont-judge-white.png
      Tips from real parents

      *Weaning is recommended at around 6 months. Please speak with a healthcare professional before introducing solid foods.

       

      More from toddler

      Looking for support, not judgement?

      #LoveDontJudge

      Your privacy is important to us and therefore we would like to explain how we use cookies on this website. With your consent, we will use cookies to measure and analyse how our website is used (analytical cookies), to tailor it to your interests (personalisation cookies), and to show you relevant advertising and information (targeting cookies) we think you will like. For more information please read the cookie statement.

      Privacy Settings

      You can choose your preferences anytime for cookies and tracking. For more information please read our cookie policy.

      • Strictly necessary

        They are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services (setting your privacy preferences, logging in, filling in forms, etc.). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.

      • Analytical cookies

        They allow us to count visits and traffic sources, to measure and improve the performance of our site. They show us which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

      • Personalisation cookies

        They enable website’s enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

      • Targeting cookies

        They may be set through our site by our advertising partners, to build a profile of your interests and to show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.