2 to 3 years

Strangers can understand about half of what most children say by around 3 years, and most of what they say by around 4. Children vary a lot: some get there a year or more later.

Holding a pencil near the tip with the fingertips to draw usually comes in the third year. In a study in four countries, about half did so by about 2½ years, though countries differed a lot.

Putting some clothes on, like a jacket or skirt, usually comes well after taking them off. In a large study in four countries, about half of children did so by about 2½ years.

Most children are out of nappies during the day somewhere between about 2½ and 3½ years, but the age differs a lot between countries, families and generations. In some communities, babies are trained in their first year.