Development
Milestones
Why Is this Important?
One of the most beautiful and magical aspects of childhood is child development – the concept that children change as they grow in how they play, learn, speak and act. Child development is often divided into categories: social/emotional, language/communication, cognitive/intellectual and movement/physical.
As parents when we understand what to expect about child development at each age, it can help us to understand our children’s behaviors. When we better understand our children’s behaviors we can better support them.
What to know?
Developmental milestones are the time range we expect the majority of children to attain the ability to do a specific component of child development. If children do not reach a milestone within the expected age range we consider this to be a developmental delay that should be evaluated.
There are many reasons children can have developmental delays. Some reasons for developmental delays can be addressed and the child may catch-up with their peers. Other reasons for developmental delays may relate to health or mental health conditions and children can be supported to reach their own best potential.
During infancy
(0-12 months)
Infants are learning while they are growing in the womb, and they continue to develop at a rapid rate in the first year of life.
Social/emotional: Infants will learn to be soothed by their caregivers within 1 month of age, and by 2 months of age they will be socially smiling at their parents. Cuddling and kissing your baby are important ways that they learn that they are safe and secure. You cannot cuddle your baby too much.
Language/communication: The initial cooing and babbling sounds that infants make are precursors to their first words around 1 year old. Reciprocal communication by parents to infants sounds, and narrating the family activities are important ways that infants hear wods to expand their vocabularies from infancy.
Cognitive/intellectual: Infants understand who their caregivers are before 6 months old, and they will begin to show displeasure when something that they like is taken away.
Movement/physical: By 6-9 months old infants can sit on their own unsupported, and by 1 year old they are pulling to stand. They can hold a bottle and begin to hold a cup at 6-9 months as well.
During toddlerhood
(13 months-2 years)
Toddlers physical growth slows some entering the second year of life, however, they continue to learn, play and act in new ways at a rapid pace.
Social/emotional: At this age infants may be come more ‘clingy’ to their parents, this is normal as they also start exploring the world more and see their parents as a secure base. They will play alongside other children but not with them.
Language/communication: Their ability to say words expands rapidly during this time period and they go form 10 words at age 1 to 100 words at age 2.
Cognitive/intellectual: Toddlers will understand one step questions at the start of this time period and will understand two step questions by age 2 years. At 2 years they will also be able to point to 5 body parts.
Movement/physical: By 15 months toddlers can walk independently, and shortly after they will start to run. Their fine motor development is also improving and they can start to draw one line with a crayon.
During early childhood
(2-5 years)
Social/emotional: They will begin to have the ability to recognize emotions in others and will also look at their caregivers faces to see how they are reacting. By age 3 years old they will begin playing with other children and be more interested in socializing by age 4 years old.
Language/communication: They will start to use more complex gestures to communicate like blowing a kiss. Their speech will expand from putting together 2 words at age 2 years to speaking in full sentences by age 4 years old, and over this time range the clarity of their speech to people outside the family will also substantially improve.
Cognitive/intellectual: By 2.5 years old they can follow simple routines to get ready for bed, and can use problem solving skills like using a skill to reach higher up. By age 4 they will recognize different colors of objects, and by age 5 years old they will be learning the alphabet.
Movement/physical: Children will begin to draw shapes at age 3 years and can draw a person by age 4. Their gross motor development also advance from running to jumping to the ability to catch a large ball.
During middle childhood
(6-11 years):
Children that are in school will begin to progress in complexity in every area of development.
Social/emotional: Children become increasingly focused on friendships at this age. This is an important time to support children through working through friendship challenges and continuing to build their self confidence.
Language/communication: Children throughout school age can have increasingly complex conversations, they also have significant vocabulary growth and increased complexity in grammar.
Cognitive/intellectual: They are understanding increasingly complex concepts related to all school subjects and the world around them; including their ability to tell stories.
Movement/physical: Children are increasingly coordinated and able to combine their understanding of complex concepts into more effectively playing sports, dancing or engaging in other physical activities. Their engagement in physical activity builds their strength and confidence.
During adolescence
(12-18 years)
Children approaching the transition to adulthood have many changes to their bodies and their brains.
Social/emotional: This is a time of increasing awareness of their own feelings and those of others. They often are increasingly social, and are learning to define their own identity. Adolescents will benefit from support in building their self confidence.
Cognitive/intellectual: Brain development is occurring even faster in adolescence than earlier in childhood. Adolescents are learning to think abstractly. Despite their ability to think in more complex ways, it is common to display egocentric behaviors and attitudes.
Movement/physical: This is often the time when males and females go through puberty leading to changes in their height, as well as in the appearance of their genital organs, and for females their menarche. Body changes at this age can be overwhelming and open communication about what to expect can ease stress.
What Actions to Take
☐ Remember that children learn and develop new skills at their own pace and there can be a wide range of time that new skills are learned.
☐ See your child’s doctor for regular check ups to ensure that your child is learning and developing new abilities at a typical pace. Their doctor can provide guidance on what is considered a typical range of developing a new skill, and when further evaluation is needed.
☐ If your child needs additional evaluation of their development, the support or advice of a professional can help your child reach their goals or provide additional support. It is very common for children to need additional support at some point in their lives.
☐ Create an environment where your child is celebrated for what they are learning and the new skills they are developing.
☐ For young children, child care centers can be an important place where children's development can be observed and they can help both share their observations, and partner with you to support child development
☐ For older children, school is an important place where other trusted and trained adults are making observations about your child’s development. They can partner with you to understand if what you are seeing at home is similar to their observations, and ot work together to help your child best achieve their milestones.
Key Resources
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