How a child plays, learns, speaks, and performs gives important clues about child’s development. Developmental milestones are set of important indicators which inform parents about what a child can do by a certain age. Below is the list of milestones for children of 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months and 12-18 months of age.
3-6 MONTHS OLD
- Domain- Physical and Motor Development
- Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back
- Sits with help and hold head steady
- While standing with support, accepts entire weight with legs
- Domain- Communication and Language Development
- Communicates by using sounds, actions, and facial expressions
- Begins to babble with consonant sounds e.g. “da, da, da”
- Imitates sounds and facial expressions
- Domain- Sensory and Cognitive Development
- Uses hands and fingers to explore
- Experiments with different drawing materials
- Responds with movement and facial expressions to musical sounds
- Domain- Socio-emotional Development
- Vocalizes when near familiar adults
- Recognizes own name, e.g., looks up, or turns head toward a person who is saying his/her name
6-9 MONTHS OLD
- Domain- Physical and Motor Development
- Moves from tummy or back into sitting
- Sits without support
- Learns to think and solve problems
- Domain- Communication and Language Development
- Works hard to communicate
- Begins using hand movements to communicate wants and needs, e.g. reaches to be picked up
- Mimics facial expressions and gestures
- Domain- Sensory and Cognitive Development
- Investigates shapes, sizes, and textures of toys and surroundings
- Picks up small objects with thumbs and fingers
- Explores to use various objects to build something
- Recognises few songs, claps for the song
- Domain- Socio-emotional Development
- Initiates interaction with caregivers through smiles, gestures
- Responds with gestures or vocalizations when name is taken
9-12 MONTHS OLDS
- Domain- Physical and Motor Developmen
- Can creep and crawl
- Sits unsupported and is able to turn head to look at objects without losing balance
- Stands alone and takes several independent steps
- Domain- Communication and Language Development
- Says one or two words
- Meaningfully uses “mama” or “dada”
- Responds to simple directions, e.g. “Come here”
- Domain- Sensory and Cognitive Development
- Know that things still exist even though I can’t see them—especially you!
- Uses thumb and pointer finger to pick up tiny objects
- Finds new uses of objects with the help of an adult
- Claps and moves body for the song
- Domain- Socio-emotional Development
- Understands his/her actions (to play, eat, dress)
- Experiences a wide range of emotions (e.g., affection, fear, anger, sadness).
12-18 MONTHS OLD
- Domain- Physical and Motor Development
- Steadily improves balance through “cruising” (moves on feet from place to place while holding on to a support), then walking
- Helps with getting dressed/undressed
- Makes progress in abilities to use hands and fingers effectively, but skills at this age are still immature, and children fumble and drop objects frequently.
- Domain- Communication and Language Development
- May use 5-10 words
- Understands simple directions used in routine situations (e.g., “Stop that.”, “Spit it out.”, “Please hold still.”, “Sit down.”, “Stand up.”)
- Imitate simple words and actions
- Domain- Sensory and Cognitive Development
- Identifies simple objects by their shape
- Uses both hands equally to play with and explore toys
- Shows pleasure in completing simple tasks (e.g., drops clothespins into a bucket and smiles and claps when all are inside).
- Increasingly tries to help with self-care activities (e.g., feeding, undressing, grooming).
- Domain- Socio-emotional Development
- Shows pleasure when familiar adults are nearby.
- Experiences a wide range of emotions (e.g., affection, frustration, fear, anger, sadness)
- Tends to express and act on impulses; has tantrums when tired or frustrated. With adult help, begins to use strategies to control emotional expression (e.g., goes to get teddy bear or another comfort object when upset so he or she can calm down).
- Aware of others. Enjoys exploring objects with adults as a basis for establishing relationships (e.g., plays “peek-a-boo” over and over again with grandfather).
Edited By Meenakshi Dogra, Child Care Consultant
Image Source: www.themedicalstation.com
