Your child is constantly learning and growing! Here are 5 new and exciting skills they'll gain this month.

At 35 months old, your toddler is at a lively stage of development filled with independence, curiosity, and personality. Many toddlers at this stage can form short sentences, and can express their needs more clearly. Your little one's imagination is blossoming, as they continue to engage in pretend play and storytelling. Socially, they may begin playing with other children, although they may still struggle with turn-taking. This month can be marked with a mix of excitement and new developments as well as frustration, as toddlers will push boundaries as they explore the world around them.

The milestones this month fall into five areas: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive Development, Social-Emotional Growth, and Communication development. Together, these skills help your toddler learn to move their bodies, think and ask questions, express themselves, and make sense of their surroundings.

Is your toddler appearing to be more stubborn?

At 35 months old, your toddler is beginning to better understand personal boundaries and how to assert their independence. This may present itself as stubbornness. They are still learning how to manage their big feelings as they continue to explore and be curious about the world around them. At the same time, they are also understanding how to ask for permission such as, "Can I have this?" and understanding other people's boundaries better. With clear guidance, consistent support, and patience, you can help encourage their self-control while still allowing them to express their independence.

Why 35-month milestones matter

This month is especially important in developing your little one's sense of independence, as their world expands. They will be growing in their ability to recognize objects they see in books, strengthen their fine-motor skills when they put on socks and shoes, and grow in their problem-solving skills. Show up for them in a consistent, and caring manner as they may appear to be more stubborn and have stronger boundaries as they test their independence. Your toddler is growing up fast!

What are the 35-month milestones?

This month, Gross Motor development involves the ability to walk on tip toes for 6 or more steps. They will be able to without losing balance most of the time. Being able to walk on tip toes for 6 or more steps shows coordination, leg strength, and body awareness. It's common for toddlers at this age to test different ways to move as they experiment with their growing motor skills.

Their Fine Motor skills continue to grow. By this month, your toddler will be able to successfully put on socks. This task shows their hand strength and body awareness, as well as problem-solving skills as they learn to adjust and orient their socks as needed. Vocalize your excitement when you witness your little one putting on their own socks, to help encourage their independence.

In addition to putting on their own socks, your toddler will now be able to put on their own shoes. They will be able to put on slip-on shoes without help most of the time. This skill highlights an ability to understand sequencing steps and balance. Be patient with them if they need extra time to put on their shoes or if they put their shoe on the wrong foot.

Your toddler will also be able to build a block tower of 9 to 10 blocks. This skill requires control and patience, and highlights problem-solving through trial and error when the block tower falls down. This form of play is very healthy as it helps increase spatial awareness. Encourage your child to continue building their block tower to it's highest.

In Cognitive development, your toddler will now be able to recognize when a toy is missing and search for it. This skill increases their memory and problem-solving abilities. This shows that the child can form mental representations of objects in their mind even when the object is not present. Searching for their missing toy shows problem-solving, as they learn to retrieve objects in hard to reach places and learn how to retrace their steps. Show your excitement and encouragement when you see your child find a missing toy to support their problem-solving skills and cognitive development.

In addition, they can now point to the correct picture when asked to identify it. This could include asking them, "Where is the dog?" in a picture or sticker book and having them point to the dog. This skill demonstrates the ability to understand the connection between spoken words and visual representations. This skill is a huge step in their cognitive development as it demonstrates an early building block to following directions and being able to read. Say something like, "That's correct. You did a good job pointing to the dog in the book!" when they accurately point to a picture of a dog.

As for Social-Emotional growth, your child can now ask for permission. This may include simple questions such as asking, "Can I use this?" to an adult before taking something. This skill shows growing social awareness. It also demonstrates early signs of self-regulation abilities, of being able to be patient instead of acting impulsively. Praise your little one when they correctly ask for permission to help them strengthen this skill.

Another social-emotional skill learned this month is being able to defend their possessions. This could include things such as saying "mine" when someone reaches out for their toy. Although this may appear to be stubbornness, it's actually a very important social-emotional skill for them to learn. Being able to be possessive increases their ability to create personal boundaries and take control over their environment.

Communication development in this month includes your child's ability to ask "what" or "where" questions. These questions demonstrate their curiosity of the world around them. This is also an important development as it serves as a base of understanding how conversations work, and builds the foundation for being able to ask more complex questions. Always encourage your child's curiosity when you hear them asking questions about their surroundings.

Additionally, this month they will be able to add "-ing" to some verbs. This could include simple verbs such as "going" or "playing." This development shows a deeper understanding of how words change when describing actions happening in the present. Show your excitement when you hear your toddler correctly using action words, such as "Yes Tommy, that man is running!"

How many of 35 month's milestones has your little one mastered?

Your soon-to-be preschooler is growing fast! Being aware of the 35-month milestones helps you celebrate progress as it happens. It also helps you keep track of what your child should be working on. Each new skill helps in building confidence and personality. With a Basic Membership for just $2 per month, you can track all 812 milestones your child is expected to reach by age 4. Stay on top of your little one’s progress and celebrate every exciting new skill along the way!

Create a free account with Fledglings' Flight and get access to 4,820 screen-free, play-based exercises. That is 200-300 exercises each month that you can start doing with your baby from the day that they are born to help them develop into the best version of themselves. In addition, your free account gives you access to over 1,200 articles on child development to keep you informed while you help to navigate your child's developmental journey with confidence.

FAQs

What milestones should a 35-month-old toddler be reaching?

At 35 months, toddlers often show growth in gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive development, social-emotional growth, and communication development. Common milestones include walking on tip toes for 6 or more steps, putting on socks on their own, putting on shoes, building a block tower of 9-10 blocks, recognizing when a toy is missing and searching for it, pointing to the correct picture when asked to identify it, being able to ask for permission, defending possessions, asking "what" or "where" questions, and adding "-ing" to some verbs.

What are the gross motor milestones for a 35-month-old?

At 35 months, many toddlers are able to walk on their tip toes for 6 or more steps. Show your excitement when you notice your toddler practicing this skill naturally, whether that be during play or other times.

What are the fine motor milestones for a 35-month-old?

A 35-month-old toddler may begin being able to put socks and shoes on their own, as well as building a tower of 9-10 blocks. Encourage these behaviors when you notice them because these skills will help build their hand strength and balance.

What cognitive milestones are common at 35 months?

At 35 months, toddlers will be able to recognize when a toy is missing and search for it, as well as be able to point to a picture in a book and identify it. Encourage your child to practice this by asking questions such as, "Where is the cat?" on their sticker page, so they can practice identification and matching words to visual pictures.

What are the social-emotional milestones for a 35-month-old?

Social-emotional milestones at 35 months often include the ability to ask for permission and defend their possessions. Encourage these skills by thanking your toddler for asking for permission such as, "Thank you for asking! Yes, you may have the smoothie."

How does a 35-month-old communicate?

At 35 months, many toddlers are able to ask "what" or "where" questions and be able to add "-ing" to the end of simple verbs. Show your praise when you hear them correctly using action verbs in their sentences.

How can I support my toddler’s 35-month milestones?

Parents can support 35-month milestones by encouraging independence and practice of their developing skills. Have them practice putting on their own socks and slip-on shoes, and offer them simple choices so they can ask "what" and "where" questions. Have your little one practice pointing to animals or objects in their book. Model simple sentences such as "We are going" or "She is playing" to help them understand the use of action verbs. Boost their sense of confidence by being consistent, kind, and patient as they navigate and continue to strengthen their new skills.