An overview of child development
Infant: newborn to 12 months
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Physical developmentIMG_6240
Gains control of hands – bats, reaches and grasps objects (3 months)
Rolls over (4 to 6 months)
Discovers feet – brings feet to mouth and explores with feet (5 months)
Supports own head (6 months)
Gets into a sitting position (6-8 months)
Crawls (6-9 months)
Develops pincer grip (thumb and one finger) and begins to hold objects with one hand while manipulating them with the other (6 to 9 months)
Pulls self up to a standing position (9 to 12 months)
Moves around by holding on to furniture for support (9 to 12 months)
Stands alone for 1 or 2 seconds (10 to 12 months)
Begins to take first steps (12 months)
Walks alone (10 to 16 months)
Social development_MG_8348
Shows interest in people, especially faces and voices (2 to 3 months)
Smiles and laughs at voices and own image in mirror (3 months)
Talks baby talk or babbles (3 to 4 months)
Distinguishes among familiar people – has preferences (3 to 4 months)
Listens to voices and tries to imitate sounds (5 months)
Acts shy with new people (6 to 9 months)
Waves and plays games like peek-a-boo (6 to 9 months)
Watches and may imitate others (6 to 9 months)
Recognizes own name (9 months)
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Mental development
Explores by putting things in mouth (3 months)
Learns to let go of and drop objects (5 months)
Remembers people, objects, games and toys (7 months)
Begins developing interest in picture books (8 months)
Learns to open and empty cupboards, drawers and other containers (9 months)
Begins to point to named objects and obey simple commands (9 to 12 months)
Toddler: 1 and 2 years
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Physical
Drinks from a cup
Walks well (younger toddler); runs well (older toddler)
Dresses self (with lots of supervision and help)
Feeds self (with hand at first, with small spoon later)
Washes and dries hands (if able to reach the sink safely)
Walks up steps but needs help to be safe (by 1 ½ years)
Walks down steps but needs help to be safe (by 2 years)
Starts potty training (around 2 years, success may vary)
Strings beads and turns knobs (by 2 years)
Kicks and catches a large ball (by 2 ½ years)
Social
Becomes easily frustrated
Uses language to express wishes to others
Has strong desire for independence
Shows pride in accomplishment
Relates better to adults than to children but will relate to other children under adult supervision
Tries to imitate adults
Shows affection for others
Has favorite soft toys or dolls
Likes being read to and looking at picture books
Mostly plays alone (under supervision) (until 1 ½ years)
Enjoys games like tag (after 1 ½ years)
Plays cooperatively with other children (beginning at 2 ½ years)
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Mental
Recognizes and names favorite people and objects
Shows interest in mechanisms and objects that move or can be moved
Combines objects with other objects to make simple block structures
Is very curious; constantly experiments with objects
Shows interest in hidden-object toys; finds most hidden objects easily
Is able to sort objects by shape and color
Identifies objects by pointing including pictures in a book
Makes marks on paper and scribbles
Shows interest in the physical qualities of things – texture, shape, size and color
Begins to solve problems (by 1 ½ years)
Learns to talk (goes from using single words to speaking in simple sentences with a vocabulary of over 50 words by 2 years)
Preschooler: 3 and 4 years
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AN9A4471Physical
Has more control of own toilet routine (may wear diaper or training pants at night)
Washes hands and face
Takes off shoes, socks and pants; puts on simple clothes
Dresses, undresses and laces shoes with supervision (by 4 years)
Runs, jumps, climbs and balances with increased skill
Likes to take risks and demonstrate strength and skill
Cuts with safety scissors, strings beads and holds a pencil
Presses buttons on phone keypad
Catches bouncing ball (can throw a ball overhand by 4 years)
Rides a tricycle (can ride bike with training wheels by 4 years)
Social_MG_4619
Begins to share and take turns
Is learning the concept of fair play but not ready for competitive play
Engages in cooperative play with others
Understands and knows the difference between what is mine, his and hers
Negotiates solutions to conflicts
Is increasingly independent
MentalDSC_9833
Speaks well and asks lots of questions; memory improving
Understands most sentences
Understands counting and knows several numbers
Is able to tell stories (at about 4 years)
Is familiar with common shapes and primary colors
Shows interest in simple number and alphabet play
Is able to copy letters and simple shapes
Is able to make things with construction materials, such as building blocks or construction paper
Younger school-age child: 5, 6 and 7 years
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Physical_MG_4546
Is becoming more coordinated as arms and legs are growing
Dresses, bathes (with supervision) and eats on own
Loses baby teeth; permanent teeth coming in
Operates electronic devices such as computers, TVs and iPads on a regular basis
_MG_7813Social
Becomes aware of gender – boys and girls in society
Develops growing interest in belonging – enjoys secret languages and passwords
Wants to be liked by and please friends
Prefers to play with children of the same sex
Enjoys group activities – great increase in ability to play cooperatively
Has strong sense of fair play
Begins to follow rules and enjoys games with rules
Mental
Understands the difference between real and make-believe
Develops interest in nature and simple science
Develops interest in reading, spelling activities and games
Develops interest in simple arithmetic activities and games involving time, calendars and value of coins
Develops interest in the line between fantasy and reality
Learns to tell time
Makes first attempts at learning to play music