Four Areas of Development and Milestones: 2 months to 5 years

Developmental Milestones Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age There is a strong connection between the development a child undergoes early in life and the level of success that the child will experience later in life.

Four Areas of Development Physical Development: the change in size, shape, and physical maturity of the body Includes physical abilities and coordination

Four Areas of Development Emotional Development: feelings and emotional responses to events Changes in understanding one’s own feelings and appropriate forms of expressing them

Four Areas of Development Social Development: the process of gaining the knowledge and skills needed to interact successfully with others

Four Areas of Development Cognitive Development: the learning and use of language; the ability to reason, problem solve, and organize ideas it is related to the physical growth of the brain

Two months Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy Makes smoother movements with arms and legs Can briefly calm herself (may bring hands to mouth and suck on hand) Tried to look at parent Begins to smile at people Pays attention to faces Begins to follow things with eyes and recognizes people at a distance Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change

Four months Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Holds head steady, unsupported May be able to roll over from tummy to back Can hold a toy and shake it When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows Smiles spontaneously, especially at people Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling and frowning Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops Lets you know if he is happy or sad Responds to affection Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance Babbles

Six months Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front) Begins to sit without support When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce Likes to play with others, especially parents Likes to look at self in a mirror Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger Responds to sound by making sounds Responds to own name Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure Moves objects from hand to hand

Nine months Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Stands, holding on Sits without support Pulls to stand Crawls Has a favorite toy May be afraid of strangers May be clingy with familiar adults Looks for things you hide Plays peek-a-boo Picks up things like cereal between thumb and index finger Watches the path of something as it falls Babbles “mama” and “dada”

One Year Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Gets to a sitting position without help May take a few steps without holding on May stand alone Cries when mom or dad leaves Has favorite things and people Shows fear in some situation Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story Is shy or nervous with strangers Repeats sound or actions to get attention Finds hidden things easily Copies gestures Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy” Says at least one word

18 Months Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Walks alone Pulls toys while walking Can help undress herself Drinks from a cup Eats with a spoon May have temper tantrums Shows affections to familiar people May cling to caregivers in new situations Explores alone but with parent close by Likes to hand things to others as play Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll Knows what ordinary things are such as a telephone, brush, spoon Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed Scribbles on his own Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures “sit down” Says at least 15 words

Two Years Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Stands on tiptoe Kicks a ball Begins to run Throws a ball overhand Walks up and down stairs holding on Shows more and more independence Shows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to) Gets excited when with other children Copies others, especially adults and older children Finds things even when hidden under two or three covers Begins to sort shapes and colors Plays simple make-believe games Might use one hand more than the other

Three Years Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Climbs well Runs easily Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step Shows affections for friends without prompting Understands the idea of “mine” and “his or hers” Shows a wide range of emotion May get upset with major changes in routine Copies adults and friends Takes turns in games Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts Does puzzles with 3-4 pieces Understands what “two” means Copies a circle with a pencil or crayon Builds towers of more than 6 blocks

Four Years Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Hops and stand son one foot up to 2 seconds Catches a bounced ball most of the time Pours and mashes own food Pedals a tricycle Enjoys new things Often can’t tell what’s real and what’s make-believe Talks about what she likes and what she is interested in Plays “mom” and “dad” Is more and more creative with make-believe play Would rather play with other children than by himself Cooperates with other children Names some colors and some numbers Understands the idea of counting Starts to understand time Remembers parts of stories Plays board games or card games Uses scissors Draws circles and squares

Five Years Physical Emotional Social Cognitive Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer Hops and may be able to skip Can do a somersault Can use the toilet on their own Swings and climbs Gets dressed More likely to agree with rules Likes to sing, dance, and act Shows more independence Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very cooperative Want to please friends Want to be like their friends Is aware of gender Can now tell what’s real and what’s make-believe Counts 10 or more objects Can print some letters or numbers Knows about things used every day like money and food Tells name and address

Physical Development at Two to Four Months Two Months Four Months Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy Makes smoother movements with arms and legs Holds head steady, unsupported Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface May be able to roll over from tummy to back Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys Brings hands to mouth When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows

Physical Development at Six to Nine Months Six Months Nine Months Rolls over in both directions Begins to sit without support When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward Stands, holding on Can get into sitting position Sits without support Pulls to stand Crawls

Physical Development at Twelve Months Gets to a sitting position without help Pulls up to standing, walking holding on to furniture (“cruising”) May take a few steps without holding on May stand alone

Social / Emotional Development at Two to Four Months Two Months Four Months Begins to smile at people Can briefly calm himself (may bring hands to mouth and suck on hand) Tries to look at parent Smiles spontaneously, especially at people Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling and frowning

Social / Emotional Development at Six to Nine Months Six Months Nine Months Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger Likes to play with others, especially parents Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy Likes to look at self in a mirror May be afraid of strangers May be clingy with familiar adults Has favorite toys

Social / Emotional Development at Twelve Months Is shy or nervous with strangers Cries when mom or dad leaves Has favorite things and people Shows fear in some situations Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story Repeats sounds or actions Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”

Cognitive Development at Two to Four Months Two Months Four Months Pays attention to faces Begins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distance Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change Lets you know if she is happy or sad Responds to affection Reaches for toy with one hand Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it Follows moving things with eyes from side to side Watches faces closely Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance

Cognitive Development at Six to Nine Months Six Months Nine Months Looks around at things nearby Brings things to mouth Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach Begins to pass things from one hand to the other Watched the path of something as it falls Looks for things he sees you hide Plays peek-a-boo Puts things in her mouth Moves things slowly from one hand to the other Picks up things like cereal between thumb and index finger

Cognitive Development at Twelve Months Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing Finds hidden things easily Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s names Copies gestures Starts to use things correctly; for example drinking from a cup, brushing hair Bangs two things together Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container Lets thing go without help Pokes with index finger Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy”