Age

Physical
Development
Social and
Emotional
Development
Intellectual
Development
Language
Development
At Birth
Lies in fetal
position with knees
tucked up. Unable
to raise head. Head
falls backwards if
pulled to sit. Reacts
to sudden sound.
Closes eye to bright
light. Opens eye
when held in an
upright position.
Bonds with mother.
Smiles at mother.
Beginning to
develop concepts
e.g. becomes
aware of physical
sensations such
as hunger.
Explores using
his senses. Make
eye contact and
cry to indicate
need.
Cries vigorously.
Respond to high-
pitched tones by
moving his limbs.
3
Months
Pelvis is flat when
lying down. Lower
back is still weak.
Back and neck firm
when held sitting.
Grasps objects
placed in hands.
Turns head round
to have a look at
objects. Establishes
eye contact.
Squeals with pleasure
appropriately. Reacts
with pleasure to
familiar routines.
Discriminates smile.
Takes increasing
interest in his
surroundings.
Shows interest in
playthings.
Understand
cause and effect
e.g. if you tie one
end of a ribbon to
his toe and the
other to a mobile,
he will learn to
move the mobile.
Attentive to
sounds made by
your voice.
Indicates needs
with
differentiated
cries. Beginning
to vocalise. Smile
in response to
speech.
6
Months
Can lift head and
shoulders. Sits up
with support.
Enjoys standing
and jumping.
Transfers objects
from one hand to
the other. Pulls self
up to sit and sits
erect with
supports. Rolls
over prone to
supine. Palmer
grasp of cube. Well
established visual
sense.
Responds to different
tones of mother. May
show 'stranger
shyness'. Takes stuff
to mouth.
Finds feet
interesting.
Understand
objects and know
what to expect of
them.
Understand 'up'
and 'down' and
make
appropriate
gestures, such as
raising his arms
to be picked.
Double syllable
sounds such as
'mama' and
'dada'. Laughs in
play. Screams
with annoyance.
9
Months
Sits unsupported.
Grasps with thumb
and index finger.
Releases toys by
dropping. Wiggles
and crawls. Picks
Apprehensive about
strangers. Imitates
hand-clapping. Clings
to familiar adults.
Shows interest in
picture books.
Watches
activities of
others with
interest.
Babbles tunefully.
Vocalises to
attract attention.
Enjoy
communicating
with sounds.
up objects with
pincer grasp. Looks
for fallen objects.
Holds bottle. Is
visually attentive.
1 Year
Stands holding
furniture. Stands
alone for a second
or two, then
collapses with a
bump. Walks
holding one hand.
Bends down and
picks up objects.
Pulls to stand and
sits deliberately.
May walk alone.
Holds spoon.
Points at objects.
Picks up small
objects.
Cooperates with
dressing. Waves
goodbye.
Understands simple
commands.
Demonstrate
affection. Participate
in nursery rhymes.
Responds to
simple
instructions.
Uses trial-and-
error to learn
about objects.
Babbles 2 or 3
words repeatedly.
Responds to
simple
instructions.
Understands
several words.
Uses jargon.
15
Months
Can crawl up stairs
frontwards. Kneels
unaided. Balance is
poor. Can crawl
down stairs
backwards. Builds
2 block tower. Can
place objects
precisely. Turns
pages of picture
book.
Helps with dressing.
Indicates soiled or
wet paints.
Emotionally
dependent on
familiar adult.
Is very curious.
Can communicate
needs. Jabbers
freely and loudly.
18
Months
Squats to pick up
toys. Can walk
alone. Drinks
without spilling.
Picks up toy
without falling
over. Shows
preference for one
hand. Gets
up/down stairs
holding onto rail.
Begins to jump
with both feet. Can
build a tower of 3
or 4 cubes and
throw a ball.
Plays alone near
familiar adult.
Demands constant
mothering. Drinks
from a cup with both
hands. Feeds self with
a spoon. Attains
bowel control. Tries
to sing. Imitates
domestic activities.
Enjoys simple
picture books.
Explores
environment.
Knows the names
of parts of his
body.
Uses 'Jargon'.
Uses many
intelligible words.
Repeats an adult's
last word.
Jabbering
established.
2 Years Can kick large ball. Throws tantrum if Joins 2-3 words Talks to self
Squats with ease.
Rises without using
hands. Builds
tower of six cubes.
Able to run. Walks
up and down stairs
2 feet per step.
Builds tower of 6
cubes. Turns
picture book pages
one at a time.
frustrated. Can put on
shoes. Completely
spoon feeds and
drinks from cup. Is
aware of physical
needs. Dry by day.
in sentences.
Recognises
details in
pictures. Uses
own name to
refer to self.
continuously.
Speaks over two
hundred words,
and accumulate
new words very
rapidly.
3 Years
Can jump off lower
steps. Can pedal
and steer tricycle.
Goes up stairs 1
foot per step and
downstairs 2 feet
per step. Copies
circle. Imitates
cross and draws
man on request.
Builds tower of 9
cubes. Has good
pencil control. Can
cut paper with
scissors. Can
thread large beads
on a string.
Plays co-operatively .
Undresses with
assistance. Imaginary
companions.Tries
very hard to please.
Uses spoon and fork.
Relates present
activities and
past experiences.
Can draw a
person with a
head. Can sort
objects into
simple
categories.
Constantly asks
questions. Speaks
in sentences.
Talks to himself
when playing.
4 Years
Sits with knees
crossed. Ball games
skill increases.
Goes down stairs
one foot per step.
Imitates gate with
cubes. Copies a
cross. Can turn
sharp corners
when running.
Builds a tower of
10 cubes.
Argues with other
children. Plans games
co-operatively.
Dresses and
undresses with
assistance. Attends to
own toilet needs.
Developing a sense of
humour. Wants to be
independent.
Counts up to 20.
Asks meanings of
words.
Questioning at its
height. Draw
recognisable
house.
Many infantile
substitutions in
speech. Uses
correct grammar
most of the time.
Enjoy counting up
to twenty by
repetition.
5 Years
Skips. Well
developed ball
skills. Can walk on
along a thin line.
Skips on both feet
and hops. Draws a
man and copies a
triangle. Gives age.
Can copy an adult's
Chooses own friends.
Dresses and
undresses alone.
Shows caring
attitudes towards
others. Copes well
with personal needs.
Writes name.
Draws a detailed
person. Matches
most colours.
Understands
numbers.
Fluent speech
with few infantile
substitutions in
speech. Talks
about the past,
present and
future with a
good sense of
time.
writing. Colours
pictures carefully.
Builds steps with
3-4 cubes.
6 Years
Learns to skip with
rope. Copies a
diamond. Knows
right from left and
number of fingers.
Ties shoe laces.
Stubborn and
demanding. Eager for
fresh experiences.
May be quarrelsome
with friends.
Draws with
precision and to
detail.
Developing
reading skills
well. May write
independently.
Fluent speech.
Can pronounce
majority of the
sounds of his own
language. Talk
fluently and with
confidence.