What ability do children typically develop by the age of 2?

By the age of 2, children typically develop the ability to imitate sounds of known animals, which reflects their growing understanding of language and their ability to mimic sounds they hear in their environment. This ability is not only a demonstration of their speech development but also an indicator of their engagement with the world around them.

At this stage, children are actively exploring their environment and are eager to communicate, which often leads them to copy familiar sounds, including those made by animals. This imitation is a crucial aspect of language development, as it helps them begin to associate sounds with meanings.

While the other options represent skills that young children may develop or cultivate at different ages, imitating animal sounds is particularly characteristic of the language milestones reached by many children around the age of 2. Some children may ask simple questions or turn towards sounds as well, but imitating animal sounds is a more defining trait of their linguistic capabilities at this early stage.