It's fun to see new parents shine with excitement about what is to come. Thankfully, today's online information and prenatal medical support arm parents with an arsenal of tools to tackle parenthood. While many say they are not ready, most feel they have a good grasp on the basics. That is, until that beautiful baby comes along, and before you know it, it's been days or months since you remember your last good night's sleep. Life has changed!
As parents wrap all their efforts and energies around caring for their child at all phases, they often experience the anxiety of the job. Am I doing this right? Is this good for my child? Is my child doing what they should be doing? Sometimes, a little information is just what you need to set your mind at ease. Take a moment to review the early child development stages and some common things to expect during these stages*.
Newborn: 1 - 2 months
First Month:
- Reacts to sights and sounds
- Starts to make facial expressions
- Moves arms and hands, and alertness increases
By 2 Months:
- Turns head or upper body to sounds
- May make babbling/cooing noises
- May start social smiling
- May hold head up or start doing "push-ups" when on tummy
Infant: 3 - 12 months
By four months:
- Copies sounds, movements, and facial expressions
- Smiles and plays with others
- Coordinates hand-eye movements
- Recognizes faces, toys, and other familiar objects
- Reaches, holds, and shakes toys
- Pushes down with legs when feet are on a hard surface
- Better control of head movements
By six months:
- Can bounce when standing with support
- Makes more sounds and gestures with their arms and hands to communicate
- Shows more curiosity about things around them
- Rolls over on their own
- Sits on their own without support
- Begins responding to their name
- Teeth begin to grow
By nine months:
- Crawls and stands with help
- Plays with toys and interactive games like peek-a-boo
- Points at objects that interest them
Toddler: 12 months - 3 years
By 12 months:
- Stands on their own or with support
- Walks with assistance
- May start saying simple words or phrases
- Uses gestures like waving to communicate
By 18 months:
- Says several words
- Follows simple instructions
- Plays with toys
- Walks on their own
- Feeds self with fingers, spoons, cup
- Helps with dressing and hand-washing
By two years:
- Recognizes other's facial expressions and feelings
- Talks more and can say simple phrases
- Recognizes objects (i.e., can point when you ask where something is)
- Plays with multiple toys at a time
- Begins running
Preschooler: 3 - 5 years old
By three years:
- Wants to play with other children
- Holds simple conversations with you
- Understands ideas like "where," "what," "mine," etc.
- Starts dressing on their own
- Uses a fork on their own
- Shows a wide range of emotions
- Can says their name and the name of a friend
By four years:
- Plays pretend
- Recognizes and avoids dangerous situations
- Sees other's emotions and may comfort others who they think are sad or upset
- Can sing, and recite rhymes or tell stories
- Understands ideas like time, colors, and numbers
- Potty training process; well underway or completed
- Holds crayons or pencils between fingers and thumb rather than a fist
By five years:
- Can communicate well by talking
- Sings, dances, acts, and enjoys playing pretend
- Can do simple counting and reciting of the alphabet
- Can follow the rules and play nicely with others
- Does simple chores around the house
- Holds conversations well and retells stories
- Understands simple rhyming
- Begins writing and recognizing letters, may be able to write their name
*Information provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood
Remember that every child is unique and will develop at different rates. Talk with your pediatrician and daycare, childcare, or early learning center providers if you have any concerns. They may have highly insightful information. Embrace developmental screening, as the earlier a delay is found and intervention can begin, the better a child's chance of significant improvement.
At Little Jewels Learning Center, we provide developmental screening services two times per year for all the children under our care at all locations. Working with parents to give children of all ages and in all phases the best possible early education experience is a pleasure.