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On this page:
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Do you have concerns about your child or a child
you know? Parents often wonder if their
child is learning and growing the way they should be.
The following offers information about how most
children grow and develop. It will help
you mark milestones in your child’s development and understand what to expect
next.
By age 3 months most children: Cry when uncomfortable or annoyed, lift head
and chest while lying on stomach, make vowel sounds such as “eh”, “ah”, “uh” when
talked to, grasp objects placed in hand, and follow a moving person or object
with their eyes.
By
age 6 months most children: Begin to play
peek-a-boo and patty cake, sit with minimal support, respond to a smile with a
gurgle, coo or smile, roll from back to stomach, and reach for and grasp
objects and bring them to their mouth.
By
9 months most children: Transfer objects from
hand to hand, crawl on hands and knees, sit without support, briefly search for
an object when it falls or disappears, repeat sounds made by others, smile, and
reach out or turn toward the speaker when they hear their name.
By
12 months most children: Say mama or dada, pull
to a standing position an walk with assistance, drink from a cup that is held
for them, and grasp bits of food and small objects with their thumb and first
two fingers.
By
15 months most children: Walk without support, say
a few words in addition to mama and dada, move arms and legs to assist in
dressing, wave bye bye, communicate by gesturing and
pointing, finger feed self, and begin using a spoon.
By
18 months most children: Drink from a cup held
in both hands, bring familiar objects from another room when asked, scribble
with a crayon, point to eyes, nose, and toes, take things apart, say at least 6
words, build towers of 3-4 blocks and climb.
By
2 years most children: Push and pull wheeled
toys, combine tow or three words such as “more juice,” run, demonstrate
independence by saying “no” and showing a temper, kick a large ball, point to
familiar pictures in a book, and turn pages in a book (2-3 at a time).
By
3 years most children: Speak in short
sentences, enjoy listening to story books, verbalize toilet needs, walk
upstairs holding a railing, begin to
play with other children, enjoy helping adults, dress self with minimal help,
and match primary colors.
Information provided by LaCrosse
Family Resources
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Listen: pay attention; don’t interrupt
Y Look: the child in the eye; bend down & be his
size
Y Respond: in a caring tone; touch gently while you talk
Last
updated: June 14, 2005