Childhood has been described as the “longest shortest time.” That description of a child’s development fully captures the paradox of being a parent. On the one hand, each moment spent with an infant or toddler seems to lengthen as you watch them interact with the world. At the same time, the speed with which children grow and develop can seem to pass in an instant.
This contrast is particularly clear when parents are watching for and tracking their child’s physical development. Parents can feel anxious and excited as they watch their child learn and grow. When children reach developmental milestones early, they can feel elated. But, if a child has a delayed milestone, some parents may feel apprehensive.
As with any broad framework, it’s important to remember that every child is unique and reaches milestones on his or her own timeline. While a list of milestones can be used as a touchstone, it can’t account for the unique growth patterns of your individual child. Some children speak or read early, while others walk or crawl ahead of schedule. Some master gross motor skills early on, while others have an increase in early verbal development. Meeting these milestones at a slower rate doesn’t necessarily mean the child will struggle with that skill as an adult. (For example, some say Einstein didn’t speak until 3 or 4 years of age, and he certainly didn’t struggle with verbal expression!)
At The Gardner School, we observe children moving through these stages of development every day in our classrooms. Watching them achieve goals and master skills is one of the highlights of working with bright and curious children. We are diligent about tracking these milestones and communicating our observations to our students’ families. As you watch your own child change with each passing month, use this handy guide to track their development from infancy to age 5. These standards are based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a governmental agency dedicated to public health and safety.
2 Months
- Begins to smile at caregivers
- Can self-soothe by sucking on own hands or an object
- Initiates eye contact with caregiver
- Gurgles or coos
- Moves head toward visual or auditory stimuli
- Follows objects or faces with their eyes
- Can hold head up and pushes neck upwards when lying on stomach
- Arm and leg movements are smoother and less jerky than in the first month
4 Months
- Consistently smiles at caregivers
- Begins to copy parent movements and facial expressions such as smiling or frowning
- Babbles verbally
- Seems to have different cries for hunger, pain, or exhaustion
- Reaches for objects with one hand
- Can follow objects by moving eyes from side to side
- Can hold head steady without support
- May be able to roll from tummy to back
- Pushes up to elbows during tummy time
6 Months
- Can recognize familiar faces
- Engages in play enthusiastically
- Likes to look at self in mirror
- Responds to verbal stimuli by making sounds in return
- Repeats vowel sounds while babbling, and begins to say consonant sounds
- Reacts to own name
- Brings objects to mouth
- Passes objects from one hand to the other
- Begins to sit without support
- Rolls back and forth, sometimes crawling backwards before moving forwards
9 Months
- May prefer parents and familiar adults to new people
- Has identified favorite toys
- Understands “no”
- Increases verbal babbling, may repeat sounds like “mamamama” or “babababa”
- Copies sounds and gestures made by others
- Uses fingers to point at objects
- Watches objects as they fall
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Maneuvers into sitting position
- Pulls to stand
- Picks up small objects between thumb and index finger
- Crawls
1 Year
- Cries when parents leave, may be nervous with strangers
- Repeats sounds or actions to get parental attention
- Plays pat-a-cake
- Fulfills simple spoken requests or directions
- Shakes head to indicate “no” or wave goodbye
- Tries to imitate words adults say
- Explores objects by shaking, banging, or throwing them
- Identifies objects when they are named
- Drinks from a cup
- Likes to put objects into a container and take them out again
- Pulls to stand, walks while holding onto furniture or parents
- May take first steps
18 Months
- May cling to caregivers in new situations
- Points to indicate an object of interest or desire
- Uses several words correctly
- Says “no” and shakes head
- Can identify own body parts
- Follows simple verbal instructions or directions
- Walks alone
- May be able to run or climb steps
- Drinks from a cup and eats with a spoon
2 Years
- Enjoys being with other children
- Defies parent requests
- Says sentences with two to four words
- Repeats overheard words
- Points to things in books
- Finds hidden objects with ease
- Begins to identify shapes and colors
- Plays simple make-believe games
- Builds towers with four or more blocks
- Stands on tiptoes, can kick and throw a ball, runs
- Can draw straight lines or circles
- Can climb onto furniture without assistance
3 Years
- Shows concern for a crying friend
- Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
- Takes turns in game play
- Able to dress and undress self
- Follows multi-step instructions
- Understands and uses prepositions
- Can complete a three- or four-piece puzzle
- Engages in imaginative play
- Pedals a tricycle
- Walks up and down stairs with one foot on each step
- Turns book pages one at a time
4 Years
- Imaginative play is highly creative
- Prefers playing with others to playing alone
- Cooperates with other children to achieve a goal
- Knows the difference between imaginary and real
- Can sing a song or say a poem from memory
- Tells complex stories
- Can count from one to ten
- Draws a person with two to four body parts
- Uses scissors correctly
- Can predict what might happen in a story
- Catches a bounced ball
- Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food
5 Years
- Understands and uses the future verb tense
- Sings and dances
- Behavior ranges from very cooperative to very demanding
- Speaks very clearly
- Tells simple stories in full sentences
- Counts to more than ten
- Hops, somersaults, swings, and climbs
- Uses the toilet on their own
The Gardner School Helps Children Develop Their Skills
Our developmentally-appropriate curriculum helps prepare preschoolers for lifelong learning. By giving children access to instruments, art supplies, books, and toys, we foster developmental growth and learning. We know you put much thought into choosing the right preschool for your child. We would love the chance to tell you more about how we customize childcare for every age and stage. Set up a tour today!
