Why does my 2-year-old ask "why" about everything?
When your toddler asks you "why," he or she is expressing a child's natural curiosity. Toddlers quickly learn that asking "why" provides them with information about a world that they are trying desperately to understand.

While you may sometimes be tired of explaining every little thing by the end of the day, remember that responding to your toddler's curiosity will keep him or her motivated to explore and learn.

You can also help your child learn (and give yourself a bit of a break) by trading roles-ask the questions sometimes. Ask about the pictures in a book, such as "Where is the child going?" and "Why do you think the child is happy?" This will help develop your toddler's conversation and thinking skills.

Why is make-believe play so important for my 2-year-old?
Make-believe play helps develop thinking skills that will benefit a child later in school. Through pretend play, a child learns to separate thoughts from actions, which is essential to later development of abstract thought. Abstract thought-the ability to think about or visualize a concept without it really being there to recognize-is an important component of math, logic, and creativity.

How much will my toddler remember about these years?
Your toddler is gradually developing the ability to retain memories over several weeks and months. But because the brain's limbic system-which stores long-term memories-isn't completely developed yet, children may not remember much about their toddler days a few years from now.

Keep in mind that even though specific memories may linger only for the short term, all of these experiences are accumulating and helping your toddler to make sense of the world.

How can I help my 2-year-old to develop memory skills?
You can help your toddler build memory skills by talking about past events. As your child becomes accustomed to your questioning, he or she will start to develop the capacity to remember things.

How can I help my 2-year-old develop superior thinking skills?
The most helpful thing that you can do is create an environment that is filled with language-reading, talking, and singing. Studies have shown that toddlers who are spoken to a lot and urged to communicate have larger vocabularies and higher academic achievement scores once they enter school.

When should my toddler be able to follow directions?
Most 2-year-olds should be able to follow a 2-step command ("Pick up that toy and put it in the toy box.") at least some of the time. Of course, recognize that a toddler's normal stubbornness will sometimes get in the way of following your directions.

To help your child learn this skill, try to keep directions simple and specific. Break down a large task, such as "clean your room" into a series of smaller tasks, such as "put your books on the shelf," "put your shoes in the closet," etc. Be sure that the tasks are within your child's capabilities and try to give the tasks one at a time.

Is it normal for my 2-year-old to have an imaginary friend?
Yes. Many older toddlers find imaginary friends to be ideal companions-they're always there and always willing to do what their "creator" wants. It's estimated that two out of three children have an imaginary friend at some point during early childhood.

Research shows that children with imaginary friends are just as sociable with real friends, as well as creative and independent. They also tend to have a rich vocabulary.

Accept and welcome your child's imaginary friend. Play along with your toddler, just as you might join in other pretend play. As long as an imaginary friend doesn't completely replace real playmates, that friend can be good company for your growing toddler.

I want my 2-year-old to do well in school. Should I start teaching my child to read and write?
While you should certainly encourage any interest that your child has in letters and books, experts tend to recommend against "early teaching." While some young children may be capable of being taught early to read and write, research suggests that pushing children to achieve when they aren't developmentally ready does more harm than good in the long run.

Your child may benefit more from activities that encourage learning and exploration. Consider these:

• Read aloud to your child every day. Hearing the sounds of words and seeing the letters in print will help develop pre-reading skills.
  
  
• If your child shows an interest, write the child's name on his or her drawings, saying each letter as you write it.
  
  
• As your toddler starts to recognize letters, provide your child with alphabet books and look for opportunities during the day to point out letters.
  
  
• Keep books within easy reach so that your child can explore the page alone. You may eventually hear your child tell himself or herself stories-another important pre-reading skill.
  
  
• Keep crayons and markers close at hand so that your child will have the chance to practice the fine motor skills that will eventually help in writing alphabet letters.