Childhood milestones and development
Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move. However, every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Therefore, it is important to remember that these milestones are not rigid rules or deadlines, but rather general guidelines that can vary from child to child.
Some of the common milestones for different age groups are:
- 2 months: Begins to smile at people, coos and makes gurgling sounds, follows things with eyes, holds head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy
- 4 months: Babbles with expression, likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops, reaches for toys with one hand, rolls over from tummy to back
- 6 months: Responds to own name, shows curiosity about things and tries to get them, passes things from one hand to the other, sits without support
- 9 months: Understands “no”, copies sounds and gestures of others, uses fingers to point at things, stands holding on
- 1 year: Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”, explores things in different ways like shaking or banging them, crawls and may take a few steps without holding on
- 15 months: Says several single words, follows simple directions like “sit down”, scribbles on paper, walks alone
- 18 months: Says and shakes head “no”, points to show someone what they want, knows what ordinary things are for like a spoon or a brush, runs
- 2 years: Says sentences with 2 to 4 words, gets excited when with other children, sorts shapes and colors, kicks a ball
- 30 months: Names items in a picture book like a cat or a dog, shows affection for friends without prompting, does simple puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces, jumps with both feet
- 3 years: Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences, plays make-believe with dolls or animals, turns book pages one at a time, climbs well
- 4 years: Tells stories, plays cooperatively with other children and shares toys, names some colors and numbers, catches a bounced ball most of the time
- 5 years: Speaks very clearly and tells a simple story using full sentences, knows the difference between real and make-believe, counts 10 or more things, hops and stands on one foot
If you have any concerns about your child’s development or notice that they have not reached some of the milestones for their age group, you should talk to your child’s doctor or health care provider. They can help you find out if your child needs further evaluation or intervention. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference in your child’s development and well-being.
You can also use some of the tools and resources available online to learn more about childhood milestones and development. For example:
- CDC’s Developmental Milestones website provides checklists for different ages that you can print or complete online. You can also download CDC’s free Milestone Tracker App to track your child’s progress.
- UNICEF’s Your baby’s developmental milestones website offers information on what to expect during the first two years of life. You can also watch videos of parents sharing their experiences of using these resources.
- Children’s Health Orange County’s Child Development Guide: Ages and Stages website gives an overview of the physical, cognitive, social-emotional and language development of children from birth to adolescence.
Childhood milestones and development are an exciting part of your child’s journey. By observing and supporting your child’s growth and learning, you can help them reach their full potential.
summary :
This blog article explains what childhood milestones and development are, gives examples of common milestones for different age groups, and provides resources and tips for parents and caregivers.
