Child Development Milestones

Children develop at different rates, and no two children are alike. While there is some room for variation when it comes to meeting developmental milestones, there are some major developments parents should be aware of and watch for.

Knowing what the developmental milestones are and whether you child is meeting them will help you to determine if his development is on track or whether you need to have his developmental progress evaluated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Learn the Signs. Act Early campaign was designed to help parents learn the developmental milestones appropriate for children from age three months to five years. While the CDC cautions that all children learn at their own pace, they do offer some general guidelines for parents.

According to the CDC, at three months babies should begin to smile socially and become more expressive and communicative with their bodies and faces. Babies this age should be watching faces intently, bringing their hands to their mouths, and grasping and shaking toys.

Much to parents’ delight, babies this age start to babble and smile at the sound of their parents’ voices.

At seven months, babies enjoy social play and respond to others’ expressions of emotion. Babies this age struggle to get to out-of-reach objects and respond to their own names. Babbling and using the voice to express joy – and displeasure – are hallmarks of this age.

At seven months, babies should be able to roll back to front and front to back, sit up, and transfer objects from hand to hand.

There are many one-year milestones; children are developing new social, emotional, cognitive, language, and fine and gross motor skills. Among them are an increasing anxiety around strangers, finger-feeding, and finding hidden objects.

At age one, children are increasingly interested in speech, trying to imitate words and being able to say “dada” and “mama” and expressions such as “uh-oh.”

Walking while holding furniture, standing for a moment without support, or walking a few steps without support are developmental milestones for this age. Fine motor skills are developing rapidly, too; babies are able to poke with their index fingers and use a pincer grip to pick up small objects.

Language development takes off at this age. At 18 to 24 months, toddlers use simple phrases and move on to two and four word sentences. Following simple instructions, repeating overheard words, and pointing to objects when named for him are other milestones.

Toddlers this age can walk alone and are beginning to run, and can kick a ball. Fine motor development includes scribbling on his own, and two year olds are beginning to play make-believe games and to sort colors and shapes.

Social and language development continue at this age. Three year-olds express affection openly, and can express a wide range of emotions. Other developmental milestones include completing two and three part puzzles, understanding of the concept of “two,” and playing imaginative games with dolls and animals.

Four and five word sentences are hallmarks of this age, as are an increased understanding of most sentences and of directional words like “in” and “under.” Strangers can understand most of the words a child speaks at this age.

Climbing well, peddling a tricycle, and running easily are other developmental milestones of this age.

Four year-olds can dress and undress themselves, cooperate with other children, and negotiate solutions to conflict. Children this age begin to have a clearer sense of time and can name some colors correctly.

Hopping, standing on one foot, and kicking a ball forward are physical milestones; copying square shapes and drawing a person with two to four body parts are fine motor skills of this age.

At age five, a child can say his name and address and count ten or more objects. Children this age like to dance and sing, speak sentences of more than five words, and use future tense.

Motor skills include dressing and undressing without help, using silverware, and being able to take care of bathroom needs. Five year-olds print some letters and can draw a person with a body.

All children develop differently, so use these milestones as a guide. Always consult your pediatrician if you have concerns about your child’s growth and development.