35 months

(this follows the format from a development board 'Early Milestones' I've belonged to since Esme was 13 months old)

That board takes a more 'realistic' view of milestones in that they happen whenever the particular child is ready for them, especially when one or more of them is before the 'average' and other moms would be hard to talk to about that particular thing without feeling competitive. And not everything has to be 'ahead' - Esme was ahead in physical but not in language when we joined. She was 13 months and had been walking for months, had started running and was really into everything just as other moms were posting 'first steps' on my 'same-age' board. The forum we belong to also varies and suggests ideas for activities based on things the child already does and is interested in, not on the 'age-appropriate' scales. The kids there are 'all over the board' in a very good way. For me, it cuts down 'competition' by putting everything back in the perspective of 'What is SHE interested in? What does SHE want or need more help with?'

Age : 35 months - three next month! Wow where did that time go!?

Physical abilities: Still terrifically strong for her age, lifts heavy toys etc. Climbed the metal slide ladder at the park over and over a few weeks back and the round-rung ladder as well. Can do a lot more for herself now, pull off pants, shoes, socks and get halfway out of shirt etc... get into and out of the vehicle without help and a lot of other 'big girl' things. Is willing and able to do a lot more things like wash and dry her hands mostly by herself (she gets on her chair and we turn on the water, but she does the rest), carry a mostly full cup across the room, find socks and other clothes and bring them to me in the morning while I collect drink cups and find my shoes etc. Pulls her wagon with Daddy when trash bags are in it on Monday mornings.

Language: Much more descriptive language and phrases. Uses her name and all the names of people and animals she knows. Was passing out french fries to the dogs the other day and used her 'version' of each name correctly. Has more adjectives and verbs now. Goes from general to specific: 'Want FOOD. Applejacks, in a bowl, with milk.' etc. Will ARGUE now about things. Can say things when asked instead of refusing outright. Asks us 'what is it' to everything. Wants the dogs and cats to talk to her, too.

Letters/numbers: : Has less interest in the idea that letters make up specific words than she did three months ago - still trying to encourage it again. Plays 'PAIRS IN PEARS' (letter pear) with me often matching letters, finding letters, working with some sounds etc. Better recognition of all the numerals. Counts more accurately now up to six and sometimes beyond. Still plays 'birthday' with three candle type items.

Puzzles, reasoning, etc: A lot more independence and confidence in her own abilities is creeping in: Will climb up on the changing table herself when she needs a new diaper. Will go and climb into her bed when she wants to sleep or rest on her pillows to watch TV etc. Can/will fetch items from other rooms that she would never actually try before. Example: drag a chair to the bathroom, get up on the chair to pull a towel off the towel rack in the bathroom to bring into the kitchen and clean up a mess etc.. Or going upstairs to get herself a new pair of pants or socks when she spills something etc. I find that really useful!

She is understanding and making more connections between things she observes and the outcome etc. Already learned that she could SEE if there was soap in the bubble wand and know if it would blow a bubble or not. She learned that from watching us peer at the wand and telling her if it had soap in it or not. Then she learned all by herself that the bubble wand will blow out like usual- but if she catches a bubble and blows it off, she gets another 'free' bubble blow without a dip. She has been doing this one over and over and then finally will dip again 'now the soap' etc.. I thought that was pretty smart!

Creativity: Makes impressive block patterns with alternating colors and repeats patterns she remembers we have done hours or days earlier... thinks in balance and symmetry relationships easily and loves to pretend things are houses, cars, food, bathtubs etc.

Imagination: Plays with her animal toys and little people and makes up stories and reasons for them to do things. Increasingly thinks up 'abstract' ideas like a set of blocks being a 'choochoo' because they are close together rectangles, or a balloon on a string being a doggie she is walking on a leash etc.

Social: Played with lots of kids at the park nicely but called them all 'baby'. Wants to see Grandma and Grandpa daily, and often tells me all the things she'll do up there and when she wants to do it etc etc.. Downright bossy with some of the animals, a 'puppy' to a few others of them following them around like she does us etc etc.. Carries the cats into her room and forces them to participate in watching TV and conversations etc... Is really understanding social relationships in her TV shows as well - understanding and being happy/sad/worried/scared etc for them.

Character/personality: Shows more annoyance and demanding us to cooperate than ever lately -- expressions of disappointment and arguing etc etc... Tells me to do things she used to do cheerfully when asked (find her drink cup, throw trash away, etc..) No MUMUM do it, etc.. I'll ask her a question she doesn't like and get a new 'not that NOW Mumum' expression from her lately. But she is also once again very very sweet when she wants to be and always full-on energy always busy.