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Developmental Milestones

child development milestones

2 Months

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Makes special cooing sounds.
  • Turns their head towards sounds.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Pays attention to faces.
  • Eyes begin to follow moving objects.
  • Recognizes people from a distance.
  • Shows boredom through actions, like fussing or crying.

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Holds head up when lying on their tummy and starts to push up.
  • Moves arms and legs smoothly.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Help your baby soothe themselves; they may find comfort in sucking on their fingers.
  2. Begin establishing a routine, such as encouraging more sleep at night.
  3. Understanding your baby’s likes and dislikes will help you feel more confident and happy as a parent.
  4. Show excitement when your baby makes sounds.
  5. Encourage your baby to imitate sounds and use clear language when talking to them.
  6. Pay attention to your baby’s different cries to understand why they are crying in various situations.
  7. Talk to your baby, read to them, play games like peek-a-boo, and engage in playful activities.
  8. Place a safety mirror in your baby’s crib so they can look at themselves.
  9. Look at pictures with your baby and talk about them.
  10. Place toys near your baby when they wake up to encourage exploration.
  11. Encourage them to lift their head and look up at toys placed at eye level.
  12. Talk and sing to your baby regularly.

4 Months

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Smiles spontaneously, especially at people.
  • Shows some expressions, such as smiling or frowning.
  • Enjoys playing with others and may cry when playtime stops.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Imitates sounds they hear.
  • Cries in different ways to express hunger, pain, or tiredness.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Can tell if you are happy or sad.
  • Responds to affection.
  • Uses hands and eyes together.
  • Tries to reach for toys when they see them.
  • Follows moving objects with their eyes from side to side.
  • Closely watches faces.
  • Recognizes familiar people and objects at a distance.

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Holds head steady without support when placed on a firm surface.
  • Rolls over from tummy to back.
  • Grasps a toy and plays with dangling toys.
  • Brings hands to mouth.
  • Pushes up on elbows when lying on their tummy.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Talk to your baby, smile, and express happiness.
  2. Establish regular routines for sleeping and feeding.
  3. Pay attention to your baby’s likes and dislikes.
  4. Try to understand how best to meet their needs.
  5. Imitate your baby’s sounds.
  6. Smile and show excitement when your baby makes noises.
  7. Find quiet time to read and cuddle with your baby.
  8. Provide age-appropriate toys such as rattles or colorful pictures to engage them.
  9. Play interactive games like peek-a-boo.
  10. Place toys nearby so your baby can reach or kick them.
  11. Give toys to your baby and help them learn to hold them.
  12. Provide safe opportunities for your baby to reach for toys and explore their environment.

6 Months

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Recognizes familiar and unfamiliar people.
  • Enjoys playing with others, especially parents.
  • Responds to others’ emotions and is often happy.
  • Enjoys looking at themselves in a mirror.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Responds to sounds with vocalizations.
  • Combines vowel sounds, and parents take turns “talking.”
  • Responds to their name.
  • Makes sounds to express joy and displeasure.
  • Begins to use consonant sounds, such as “ma” and “ba.”

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Looks at objects nearby.
  • Shows curiosity, such as trying to reach for objects.
  • Brings objects to their mouth.
  • Transfers objects from one hand to another.

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Rolls over in both directions.
  • When standing, supports weight on their legs and may bounce.
  • Sits without support.
  • Rocks back and forth while playing.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Play with your baby on the floor every day.
  2. Pay attention to your baby’s mood; comfort them if they are upset and continue if they are happy.
  3. Show your baby how to self-soothe (e.g., sucking their fingers).
  4. Imitate your baby’s smiles and sounds.
  5. Repeat your baby’s sounds and add simple words, such as “cat” if they say “ka.”
  6. Read books to your baby daily and engage them with the pictures.
  7. Talk to your baby about the things they are looking at.
  8. Play games like dropping toys and picking them up to teach cause and effect.
  9. Show colorful picture books to your baby.
  10. Point to objects and say their names.
  11. Show bright pictures in magazines and name them.
  12. Place toys nearby when your baby is lying down to encourage reaching.

9 Months

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Shows fear of strangers.
  • Prefers familiar people.
  • Has favorite toys.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Understands “no.”
  • Makes different sounds, like “mama” and “ba.”
  • Imitates others’ sounds and gestures.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Watches where objects go when they fall.
  • Looks for things they see you hide.
  • Enjoys playing peek-a-boo.
  • Easily transfers objects from one hand to another.
  • Picks up small objects, like grains, using their thumb and index finger.

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Can stand while holding onto something.
  • Crawls.
  • Can sit up independently.
  • Pulls to stand from a sitting position while holding onto something.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Observe how your baby reacts to new situations and people; make them feel safe and comfortable.
  2. Stay close when your baby is exploring, so they know you’re nearby.
  3. Start simple routines and play games like “taking turns.”
  4. Talk about your baby’s emotions, for example, “You seem sad,” and try to comfort them.
  5. Describe what your baby is looking at, such as “red ball.”
  6. Imitate your baby’s sounds and words.
  7. Encourage positive behaviors, like saying “Let’s sit” instead of “Don’t stand.”
  8. Teach cause and effect by rolling balls, pushing toy cars, or dropping and picking up blocks.
  9. Read books and talk to your baby.
  10. Give your baby plenty of opportunities to explore in a safe environment.

1 yeAr

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Shows shyness or fear of strangers.
  • Cries when mom or dad leaves.
  • Has favorite things and people.
  • Brings a book to listen to a story when they want to hear one.
  • Repeats sounds or actions to get attention.
  • Offers a hand or leg to help with dressing.
  • Plays games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Responds to simple words.
  • Uses gestures such as nodding and waving “bye-bye” to make requests.
  • Mimics speech with sounds, e.g., “wa” for water, “amma,” “achha,” “uppa.”
  • Makes exclamation sounds, like “oh!”
  • Tries to say the words you say.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Explores objects in different ways, like shaking, hitting, or throwing.
  • Easily finds hidden objects.
  • Looks at the correct picture or object when its name is said.
  • Imitates gestures.
  • Puts and picks up objects in a container.
  • Plays with two objects at once.
  • Starts using objects correctly, like drinking from a cup or combing hair.
  • Points with their index finger.
  • Follows simple commands, like “pick up the toy.”

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Can stand up without assistance.
  • Walks while holding onto things.
  • Walks a few steps without help and stands alone.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Give your child time to get comfortable with a new caregiver.
  2. Offer a favorite toy for comfort.
  3. Give your child a stuffed animal or blanket for comfort.
  4. Use a firm “no” for unwanted behaviors—don’t scold or give long explanations.
  5. Offer lots of hugs, kisses, and praise for good behavior.
  6. Focus more on encouraging good behaviors than punishing bad ones (aim for four times more encouragement).
  7. Talk to your child about what you’re doing. For example, “Mom is washing her hands with soap.”
  8. Read with your child every day, helping them remember pages and name pictures.
  9. Build on what your child says, tries to say, or points to. For example, if they point to a bus or say “bus,” say, “Yes, it’s a big blue bus.”
  10. Provide crayons and paper for your child to draw freely.
  11. Show them how to draw lines and praise them when they try to copy.
  12. Encourage play with blocks, shapes, and toys that develop hand coordination.
  13. Hide small toys and help your child find them.
  14. Ask your child to name body parts and objects you see.
  15. Sing action songs together.
  16. Provide bowls, boxes, or small musical instruments like a drum and encourage making noise.
  17. Ensure there are plenty of safe places for your child to explore.
  18. Secure tools, cleaning products, and dangerous items.
  19. Use safety gates to block off unsafe areas.
  20. Provide toys that can be pulled along.

18 months

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Likes to hand things to others playfully.
  • May throw temper tantrums.
  • Shows fear of strangers.
  • Displays affection for familiar people.
  • Engages in pretend play, like feeding a doll.
  • Adapts to new caregivers and situations.
  • Points to interesting things to show others.
  • Explores new things independently but prefers to stay near parents.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Says several single words.
  • Shakes their head and says “no.”
  • Points to indicate what they want.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Recognizes common objects like a phone, brush, or spoon.
  • Points to body parts.
  • Shows interest in dolls and feeds them.
  • Tries to get the attention of others.
  • Scribbles on their own.
  • Follows simple commands, like sitting down when told to.

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Walks alone.
  • Climbs stairs and starts running.
  • Pulls toys while walking.
  • Helps to undress themselves.
  • Drinks from a cup.
  • Eats with a spoon.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Provide a safe and loving environment with stability and predictability.
  2. Praise good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior.
  3. Label your child’s feelings, e.g., “When we read this book, you feel happy.”
  4. Encourage pretend play.
  5. Foster empathy by encouraging your child to comfort others, e.g., giving a hug to a sad friend.
  6. Read books with simple words and short sentences.
  7. Imitate your child’s words to encourage language development.
  8. Use words to describe feelings.
  9. Speak in simple and clear sentences.
  10. Ask simple questions to encourage conversation.
  11. Hide toys under blankets or pillows and help your child find them.
  12. Play with puzzles, books, and toys that teach cause and effect.
  13. Name pictures in books as you read together.
  14. Provide toys that encourage pretend play, such as dolls or toy phones.
  15. Allow your child safe spaces to walk and explore.
  16. Provide toys they can safely push or pull.
  17. Give them balls to kick, roll, or throw.
  18. Encourage your child to drink from a cup and use a spoon.
  19. Teach your child how to blow bubbles.

2 YEARS

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Imitates others, especially adults.
  • Gets excited when around other children.
  • Becomes more independent.
  • Shows defiant behavior and often does the opposite of what is asked.
  • Plays with other children and encourages them to join.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Points to objects when they are named.
  • Knows the names of familiar people and body parts.
  • Forms simple sentences of two to four words.
  • Repeats words overheard in conversations.
  • Follows simple instructions.
  • Points to objects in books when named.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Finds objects even when hidden under two or three layers.
  • Begins to recognize shapes and colors.
  • Completes sentences and familiar songs from books.
  • Engages in simple pretend play.
  • Builds towers with four or more blocks.
  • Shows a preference for using one hand over the other.
  • Follows two-step instructions, such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the box.”
  • Names animals in picture books, such as cat, bird, and dog.

Movement and Physical Development Milestones:

  • Stands on tiptoes.
  • Kicks a ball and begins to run.
  • Walks up and down stairs with assistance.
  • Climbs onto and off furniture without help.
  • Throws a ball overhand.
  • Draws or copies straight lines and circles.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Encourage them to help with simple chores like sweeping or cooking, and praise their efforts.
  2. Understand that children at this age may not play directly with others but observe closely. Provide plenty of toys and monitor their play without intervening unless necessary.
  3. Praise your child for following instructions, focusing on positive reinforcement rather than punishment.
  4. Teach your child to identify and name body parts and animals.
  5. When your child mispronounces a word, model the correct pronunciation by repeating the sentence correctly rather than pointing out the mistake.

3 YEARS

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Imitates adults and friends.
  • Shows affection for friends without prompting.
  • Takes turns during play.
  • Shows concern for a crying friend.
  • Dresses and undresses independently.
  • Understands the concept of “mine,” “his,” and “hers.”
  • Displays a variety of emotions.
  • Can distinguish between mother and father easily.
  • Upset by major routine changes.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Follows two- or three-step instructions (e.g., “Pick up the ball and bring it to me”).
  • Can name familiar objects.
  • Understands words like “above” and “below.”
  • States their name, age, and gender.
  • Knows a friend’s name.
  • Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand most of the time.
  • Uses pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “we.”
  • Often uses some plurals, such as “cars,” “dogs,” and “cats.”
  • Engages in conversation using two to three sentences.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Operates toys with buttons and levers.
  • Engages in pretend play with toys, animals, and people.
  • Completes three- or four-piece puzzles.
  • Understands the concept of “two.”
  • Traces a circle with a pencil or crayon.
  • Turns book pages one at a time.
  • Builds towers with more than six blocks.
  • Opens and closes containers or turns door handles.

Physical Development Milestones:

  • Climbs stairs well.
  • Runs easily.
  • Pedals a tricycle.
  • Walks up and down stairs, one foot per step.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Take your child to places where other children play.
  2. Encourage interaction with others.
  3. Help your child work through problems when upset.
  4. Talk to your child about their emotions (e.g., “You threw the toy because you were angry”) to help them identify feelings.
  5. Practice recognizing emotions of characters in books.
  6. Set clear rules and limits and stick to them. If your child breaks the rules, use a short time-out and then praise them for following the rules afterward.
  7. Give your child two- or three-step instructions (e.g., “Go to your room, pick up the book, and bring it here”).
  8. Read books with your child daily, asking them to point out pictures and repeat words.
  9. Provide a play area with crayons, paper, and coloring books.
  10. Draw and color with your child.
  11. Play matching games and ask your child to find specific objects, such as books.
  12. Play counting games (e.g., count body parts, steps, or everyday objects).
  13. Help your child walk up and down stairs, and encourage independence once they’re more confident.

4 YEARS

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Enjoys trying new things.
  • Engages in more creative pretend play.
  • Struggles to differentiate between reality and make-believe.
  • Plays more cooperatively with others, including parents.
  • Expresses their interests.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Tells stories and recites songs or rhymes (e.g., “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”).
  • Understands basic grammar rules, such as using “he” and “she” correctly.
  • Can say the first and last name.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Recognizes some colors and numbers.
  • Understands the concept of counting.
  • Begins to grasp the concept of time.
  • Remembers parts of a story.
  • Understands differences and similarities between objects.
  • Draws a person with two to four body parts.
  • Uses scissors.
  • Starts copying some capital letters.
  • Plays board games or other simple games.
  • Predicts what might happen next in a book.

Physical Development Milestones:

  • Can jump and stand on one foot for 2 seconds.
  • Pours liquids from one container to another, cuts fruits, and mashes food with a spoon.
  • Catches a ball most of the time.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Role-play with your child and let them take the lead.
  2. Act out possible future scenarios (e.g., going to school or staying overnight at a relative’s house).
  3. Allow your child to make choices about what to wear, play, or eat.
  4. Let your child solve problems with friends during play. Stay nearby to help if necessary, and encourage sharing and using words.
  5. Provide opportunities for imaginative play, such as playing with kitchen sets or building blocks.
  6. Use proper grammar when speaking to your child (e.g., say “I want you to come here,” not “I want ya to come here”).
  7. Use terms like “first,” “second,” and “last” when discussing daily activities to help your child understand sequence.
  8. Encourage your child to predict what happens next while reading books.
  9. Introduce games like “Simon Says” or counting games that involve movement and attention.

5 YEARS

Social and Emotional Milestones:

  • Finds joy in pleasing friends.
  • Wants to be like friends.
  • Shows an understanding of rules.
  • Enjoys singing, dancing, and performing.
  • Understands the difference between boys and girls.
  • Can tell what is real and what is pretend.
  • Shows more independence (e.g., can visit a neighbor under supervision).
  • Alternates between being demanding and cooperative.

Language and Communication Milestones:

  • Speaks very clearly.
  • Tells simple stories using complete sentences.
  • Uses the past tense correctly (e.g., “Grandma was here”).
  • Can say their name and address.

Cognitive Milestones (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving):

  • Counts 10 or more objects.
  • Draws a person with at least six body parts.
  • Copies triangles and other shapes.
  • Writes some letters and numbers.
  • Understands the everyday uses of objects like money and food.

Physical Development Milestones:

  • Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or more.
  • Hops and skips.
  • Can eat with a spoon.
  • Uses the toilet independently.
  • Plays on swings and climbs trees.

How to Support Your Baby’s Development:

  1. Allow your child more independence when choosing activities, such as park outings or playing with friends.
  2. Encourage your child to solve problems on their own.
  3. If your child speaks back to you, don’t take it too seriously, but praise them when they speak politely.
  4. Now is a good time to discuss body safety and appropriate touching. Explain that only doctors, nurses, and parents should touch private areas.
  5. Teach your child their address and phone number.
  6. While reading stories, ask your child to predict what happens next.
  7. Encourage your child to engage with the pictures while reading.
  8. Introduce time concepts like “morning,” “afternoon,” and “evening,” as well as days of the week.
  9. Explore your child’s interests through community activities (e.g., visit the zoo if they love animals or the library if they enjoy books).
  10. Provide materials for creative projects like crayons, paint, scissors, and glue.
  11. Engage your child in matching games and encourage them to complete tasks. Teach them how to swing by pumping their legs.
  12. Help your child climb playground equipment.
  13. Go on walks together and help your child drive toy vehicles or search for hidden objects.

October 29, 2024

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