Behind the Common Sense Media ratings system

What's age appropriate for a 2-year-old?

The way our kids consume and create media profoundly affects their social, emotional, and physical development. That's why, when we make assessments about age appropriateness, we rely on developmental criteria from some of the nation's leading authorities to determine what content and activities are best suited for each age and stage. Below you will find the developmental guidelines we use in establishing our age ratings and recommendations. But even as we rely on experts, we know that all kids grow and mature differently. Our age-based reviews and ratings are a guide -- but ultimately, you're still the expert when it comes to your kids.

What's going on at age 2

Cognitive development: At this age, children are capable of using one object to represent another and can follow simple directions. They begin to express feelings and desires and enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes. As any parent of a 2-year-old knows, they have their own opinions and can express them strongly.

Social and emotional development: Two-year-olds enjoy make-believe -- with themselves at the center of the play. They still haven't mastered how to control their emotions, and they aren't good at sharing; they'll play next to but not with other children. Kids this age enjoy imitating others, especially adults. Their feelings are easily hurt, and they frighten easily.

Physical development: Two-year-olds' movements become broader and more refined, although not they're not always fluid and can still be quite awkward at times. They talk, run, climb, and take things apart and put them back together. They love finger play and can do simple, whole-piece puzzles. That said, their fine motor skills still aren't fully developed.

Technological/digital savviness: Two-year-olds intuitively understand how to push buttons and tap on screens that turn things on. They love smartphones and tablets and can perform basic functions on remote controls. They know how to turn on devices, put a DVD into a DVD player, and even use an iPod.

What's age appropriate at age 2

	Educational value: The most appropriate media for this age helps kids build an understanding of basic vocabulary and numbers. Toddlers will memorize songs and words, but just because they can say something doesn't mean they know what it means -- so it's best to select media that teaches simple messages.
	Positive messages: Since toddlers age soak up everything they see and hear, the media they consume should have pro-social messaging.
	Positive role models: Adult characters should be dependable. Media that showcases diversity of ethnicity and experience helps 2-year-olds better understand the world around them. Since they'll imitate what they see, choose media that reinforces good behavior. Media with anti-social actions isn't appropriate at this age.
	Violence and scariness: None. At this age, anything that involves physical or emotional peril or separations of parents and kids (human or animal) can be scary and upsetting. Also avoid emotional intensity, loud/sudden noises, and situations with violence as the only means of conflict resolution.
	Sexy stuff: None.
	Language: No profanity is appropriate. Children this age don't yet understand "bad" or hurtful words, but they learn the words they hear spoken around them at an amazing rate -- which means they shouldn't be exposed to language they shouldn't repeat.
	Consumerism/commercialism: Kids this age are too young to understand the "persuasive intent" of advertising, so commercial programming -- including product tie-ins -- should be avoided. Brand extensions have become a fact of life for young children, so toddlers will gravitate toward everything from cereal to stuffed animals that has characters they recognize from television or movies.
	Drinking, drugs, and smoking: None.
	Online privacy and safety: All online activities for kids this age should be supervised by parents.