What is a key aspect of development when assessing a 2-year-old for potential delays?

A key aspect of development when assessing a 2-year-old for potential delays is their ability to say 50 words. At this age, language development is a critical milestone, and by 24 months, most children are typically expected to use about 50 words and begin to combine two-word phrases. This aspect of communication is essential for indicating cognitive development and social interaction, reflecting the child's growing ability to express their needs and engage with others.

While showing interest in reading, completing a 5-piece puzzle, and participating in parallel play are also important developmental indicators, they are not as specific to this age group as language skills. Reading interest usually develops a bit later, the ability to complete puzzles varies among children, and parallel play, common among toddlers, does not necessarily indicate a delay on its own. Therefore, assessing verbal expression through word count is a more direct measure of developmental progress for a 2-year-old.