This page presents an overview of child development
from birth to five years of age. It is important to keep
in mind that the time frames presented are averages and
some children may achieve various developmental
milestones earlier or later than the average but still
be within the normal range. This information is
presented to help parents understand what to expect from
their child. Any questions you may have about your
child's development should be shared with his or her
doctor.
| |
Physical and Language
|
Emotional
|
Social
|
Birth
to
1 month |
Feedings: 5-8 per day
Sleep: 20 hrs per day
Sensory Capacities: makes basic distinctions in
vision, hearing, smelling, tasting, touch,
temperature, and perception of pain
|
Generalized Tension
|
Helpless
Asocial
Fed by mother
|
2
months
to
3 months |
Sensory Capacities: color perception, visual
exploration, oral exploration.
Sounds: cries, coos, grunts
Motor Ability: control of eye muscles, lifts
head when on stomach. Delight
|
Distress
|
Smiles at a Face Visually fixates at a face,
smiles at a face, may be soothed by rocking.
|
4
months
to
6 months |
Sensory
Capacities: localizes sounds
Sounds: babbling, makes most vowels and about
half of the consonants
Feedings: 3-5 per day
Motor Ability: control of head and arm
movements, purposive grasping, rolls over.
|
Enjoys being
cuddled |
Recognizes
his mother. Distinguishes between familiar
persons and strangers, no longer smiles
indiscriminately.
Expects feeding, dressing, and bathing. |
7
months
to
9 months |
Motor
Ability: control of trunk and hands, sits
without support, crawls about. |
Specific
emotional attachment to mother. |
Protests
separation from mother. Enjoys "peek-a-boo" |
10
months
to
12 months |
Motor
Ability: control of legs and feet, stands,
creeps, apposition of thumb and fore-finger.
Language: says one or two words, imitates
sounds, responds to simple commands.
Feedings: 3 meals, 2 snacks
Sleep: 12 hours, 2 naps Anger |
Affection
Fear of strangers
Curiosity, exploration |
Responsive
to own name.
Wave bye-bye.
Plays pat-a-cake, understands "no-no!"
Gives and takes objects. |
1
years
to
1 ½ years |
Motor
Ability: creeps up stairs, walks (10-20 min),
makes lines on paper with crayon. Dependent
Behavior
|
Very upset
when separated
from mother
Fear of Bath |
Obeys
limited commands.
Repeats a few words.
Interested in his mirror image.
Feeds himself. |
1
½ years
to
2 years |
Motor
Ability: runs, kicks a ball, builds 6 cube tower
(2yrs) Capable of bowel and bladder control.
Language: vocabulary of more than 200 words
Sleep: 12 hours at night, 1-2 hr nap
|
Temper
tantrums
(1-3yrs) |
Resentment
of new baby Does opposite of what he is told (18
months). |
2
years
to
3 years |
Motor
Ability: jumps off a step, rides a tricycle,
uses crayons, builds a 9-10 cube tower.
Language: starts to use short sentences controls
and explores world with language, stuttering may
appear briefly. Fear of separation
|
Negativistic
(2 ½ yrs)
Violent emotions, anger
Differentiates facial expressions of anger,
sorrow, and joy.
Sense of humor (Plays tricks) |
Talks, uses
"I" "me" "you"
Copies parents' actions.
Dependent, clinging, possessive about toys,
enjoys playing alongside another child.
Negativism (2 ½ yrs).
Resists parental demands.
Gives orders.
Rigid insistence on sameness of routine.
Inability to make decisions. |
3
years
to
4 years |
Motor
Ability: Stands on one leg, jumps up and down,
draws a circle and a cross (4 yrs)
|
Self-sufficient in many routines of home life.
Affectionate toward parents.
Pleasure in genital manipulation
Romantic attachment to parent of opposite sex
(3 to 5 yrs)
Jealousy of same-sex parent.
Imaginary fears of dark, injury, etc. (3 to 5
years) |
Likes to
share, uses "we"
Cooperative play with other children, nursery
school. Imitates parents.
Beginning of identification with same-sex
parent, practices sex-role activities. Intense
curiosity & interest in other children's bodies.
Imaginary friend. |
4
years
to
5 years |
Motor
ability: mature motor control, skips, broad
jumps, dresses himself, copies a square and a
triangle.
Language: talks clearly, uses adult speech
sounds, has mastered basic grammar, relates a
story, knows over 2,000 words
(5 yrs)
|
Responsibility and guilt
Feels pride in accomplishment |
Prefers to
play with other children, becomes competitive
prefers sex-appropriate activities |
