Developmental milestones describe what most children are capable of doing at a particular point in time. Developmental milestones also provide a snapshot of the new skills many children will be starting to master in the upcoming months or year. Knowing what children are capable of, and what they will be practicing, can help you provide appropriate experiences to enhance your child's development. Remember, developmental milestones only provide benchmarks. Each child develops at his or her own pace. So, in any particular child some skills may emerge early, while others may appear later. If you have any concerns about your child's development, consult your child's physician.
Social | | Typically Can:Respond to her own mirror imageOffer a toy to another personSmile socially at another personTry to imitate facial expressions and gestures | | Emerging Skills:Being disturbed by strangersRecognizing the word "no"Being able to "call out" to her parent for helpEnjoying interactive games, like peek-a-boo |
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Intellectual | | Typically Can:Enjoy examining and banging objectsRemain alert for 2 hours at a timeCreate changes in objects by looking at them upside down or further away | | Emerging Skills:Searching for a toy that is covered upRemembering that an object is hidden, and searching for itLooking for a dropped objectBeginning to enjoy clowning aroundUsing several senses at once |
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Language | | Typically Can:CryCoo, chuckle and gurgle when he is happyBegin to make vowel and consonant combinationsUtter consonants, such as f, v, th, s, sh, z, m and nVary volume, pitch and rate of utterance | | Emerging Skills:Beginning to babbleResponding to some words (for example, "no no")Imitating two or three familiar gestures, such as pat-a-cakeTurning in response to his name |
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Emotional | | Typically Can:Begin to quiet down on her own after getting upsetExpress many emotions: sadness, anger, happiness and excitementCheck out her parent and touch his face as if memorizing itShow mood changes that tend to be rapid | | Emerging Skills:Having a special toy that always goes to bed with herSleeping for longer periods at night |
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Gross Motor | | Typically Can:Lift his head and pull himself to a sitting position when his hand is heldTurn from his back to stomach and from stomach to backTurn his head freelySit with slight supportSit in a chair and bounce | | Emerging Skills:Taking weight on his feet when he is held in standing positionTaking early stepping movementsGetting into creeping or crawling positionAppearing to be dancing when he straightens one leg at a time in upright position |
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Fine Motor | | Typically Can:Move a toy from hand to mouthHold toys placed in both his handsBang a spoon placed in his handGrasp a tableReach for and grasp objects with his whole hand | | Emerging Skills:Transferring a toy from one hand to the otherReleasing a toy by droppingThrowing a toy purposefullyHolding two blocks, and looking for a thirdRotating his wrist to turn and manipulate an object |
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