What is Child Development?

Child development is the biological, emotional, and psychological changes that occur between birth and the end of adolescence. These developmental abilities are strongly influenced by genetics and prenatal life, and occur through a genetically controlled process called maturation or as a result of environment and learning, but generally a mixture between nature and nurture.

The optimal development of children is vital, and it's important to understand the social, emotional, educational and cognitive development of children.

What Are The Categories of Child Development Skills?

Gross Motor Skills - these are skills that use large groups of major muscles to sit up, stand, walk run. Gross motor also refers to maintaining balance and changing positions.

Fine Motor Skills - these are skills that use smaller muscles to do such things as eat, draw, play instruments, write, dress, use buttons and other activities.

Language Skills - these are things like speaking, using gestures and body language to communicate wants, needs, likes, and dislikes in addition to understanding what other people say.

Cognitive Skills - these are the thinking skills that include learning, problem-solving, reasoning abilities, and memory.

Social Skills - these are the skills that involve interpersonal relationships and include, interacting with others, forming relationships with family, friends, teachers. Social skills also involve responding to the feelings of others, cooperating and listening.

What Are Developmental Milestones?

Developmental milestones are a set of skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do within a certain age range. These skill sets are evaluated at most well-baby visits. While each developmental milestone has an age bracket, the actual age each child reaches the milestone can vary tremendously.

Why? Every baby is unique. Each child grows and develops at different rates, but most pass through a fairly predictable set of milestones.

If you're concerned about your child's development, ACT EARLY. Early detection and treatment of various developmental disorders can make all the difference in the world. Talk to your child's doctor if you suspect any type of problems.

Let's see what these developmental milestones are (According to the CDC):

Normal Child Development Milestones Birth Through One Year:

Normal Child Development Milestones Two Months Old:

By the end of two months, most babies can:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Smile at people
  • Use hands or other objects to self-soothe when upset.
  • Tries to look at caregiver.

Language and Communication Development:

  • Makes gurgling, cooing noises
  • Turns head toward sounds.

Cognitive Development:

  • Looks at faces
  • Follows things and people with eyes.
  • Recognizes people at a distance.
  • Becomes bored and fussy if stimulation doesn't change.

Physical Development:

  • Can hold head up.
  • Can push up when lying on stomach
  • Begins to make smoother arm/leg movements.

Call your doctor if your infant...

  • Doesn't watch moving objects
  • Doesn't smile at people
  • Doesn't move hands to mouth
  • Cannot hold up head while on stomach.
  • Your child doesn't respond to loud sounds like a dog barking or doorbell ringing

Normal Child Development Milestones Four Months Old:

By month four, most babies should be able to do most of the following:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Smiles spontaneously, especially at people.
  • Likes to play with others; may cry if playing ends.
  • Copies certain facial movements

Language and Communication Development:

  • Babbles
  • Babbles with expression
  • Copies sounds she hears
  • Has different cries for hunger, tired, and pain.

Cognitive Development:

  • Responds to affection
  • Expresses sadness and happiness
  • Reaches with one hand for a toy
  • Uses hands and eyes together - like reaching for a pacifier
  • Follows movements with eyes from side-to-side
  • Watches faces closely

Physical Development:

  • Holds head steady
  • Pushes down on legs when feet are on hard surface
  • Possibly can roll from tummy to back
  • Can hold a toy
  • Can swing at dangling toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • When on stomach, can push up to elbows.

Normal Child Development Milestones Six Months Old:

By the end of month six, most babies can:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Spontaneous smiling
  • Smiling at people
  • Playing with others and upset when playing stops
  • Mimicking facial expressions

Language and Communication Development:

  • Babbling
  • Babbling with expression or copying others
  • Hands and eyes gain coordination
  • Watches side-to-side movement
  • Intense facial observation
  • Recognizing familiar objects and people 

 Cognitive Development:

  • Looks around and notices nearby objects
  • Brings items to mouth
  • Shows curiosity
  • Passes object from hand to hand

 Physical Development:

  • Rolls over in both directions
  • Sits up without support
  • Supports and bounces weight when standing
  • Rocks, crawls backwards

Normal Child Development Milestones Nine Months Old:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Fear of strangers
  • Clingy with familiar adults
  • Favorite toys

Language and Communication Development:

  • Understands no
  • Different babbling sounds like "mamamama"
  • Copies sounds and gestures
  • Uses fingers to point

 Cognitive Development:

  • Watches the path of falling objects
  • Looks for things you hide
  • Plays "Peek-a-boo"
  • Puts objects in mouth
  • Smooth object movement from hand-to-hand
  • Picks up cereal between thumb and index

 Physical Development:

  • Stands while supported
  • Pulls self in to sitting position
  • Sits without support
  • Pulls to stand
  • Crawls

Normal Child Development Milestones One Year Olds:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • He or she may be shy around strangers
  • Cries when caretaker leaves
  • Has favorite objects and people
  • Shows some fear in certain situations
  • Hands over objects he or she wants to play with or read
  • Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
  • Puts out limbs to help with dressing
  • Plays games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

Language and Communication Development:

  • Responds to spoken requests
  • Uses simple gestures
  • Makes sounds that mimic speech intonation
  • Says "mama" and "dada"
  • Tries to imitate words

 Cognitive Development:

  • Explores by shaking, banging, and throwing things
  • Finds hidden objects easily
  • Looks at the right picture of named objects
  • Copies gestures of others
  • Puts things in a container
  • Follows simple directions

 Physical Development:

  • Sits up without help
  • Pulls to a stand
  • Walks while holding on to furniture
  • Take first steps
  • Stand without help

Normal Child Development Milestones Eighteen Months:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Likes to hand things to others as a game
  • Has temper-tantrums
  • May be afraid or wary of strangers
  • Shows affection to familiar people
  • Plays simple pretend games (like feeding a doll)
  • Points to show something is interesting
  • Explores alone with nearby caregiver

Language and Communication Development:

  • Says several single words
  • Shakes head no
  • Says "no"
  • Points to show what he or she wants

 Cognitive Development:

  • Knows what ordinary objects are for (phone, brush)
  • Points to get attention
  • Scribbles
  • Can follow one-step commands (sit down)

 Physical Development:

  • Walks alone
  • Runs
  • Can pull a toy along while walking
  • Drinks from a cup
  • Assists in undressing him or herself
  • Can eat with a spoon

Normal Child Development Milestones Two Year Olds:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Copies others (especially adults and older children)
  • Gets excited with other children around
  • Shows independence
  • Shows defiant behavior
  • Plays beside other children and begins including them in play

Language and Communication Development:

  • Points to objects or pictures when named
  • Knows names of familiar people or objects
  • Says two to four word sentences
  • Follows simple instructions
  • Repeats words overheard
  • Points to things in books

 Cognitive Development:

  • Finds things hidden under several layers
  • Sorts toys by shapes and colors
  • Completes sentences in rhymes and familiar books
  • Plays simple make-believe games
  • Builds four-block-tall towers
  • Shows some hand dominance
  • Follows two-step instructions (example: "Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet")
  • Names familiar items in picture books

Physical Development:

  • Stands on tiptoe
  • Kicks a ball
  • Runs
  • Climbs on to and off of furniture without help
  • Walks up and down stairs holding on
  • Throws balls overhand
  • Makes straight lines and circles

Pre-school to Kindergarten Development:

Normal Child Development Milestones Three Years Old:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Mimics actions of adults and friends
  • Shows affection for friends without prompting
  • Takes turns in games
  • Understands mine, his, hers
  • Shows concern and empathy for a crying friend
  • Has a variety of emotions
  • Becomes upset with routine changes
  • Can dress his or herself

Language and Communication Development:

  • Can follow two to three step instructions
  • Can name most familiar objects
  • Understands the concepts of "in," "on," and "under"
  • Knows and can say his or her first name, age, and gender.
  • Can use words like, I, me, we, you, as well as understanding plural objects
  • Can (mostly) be understood by strangers
  • Can speak in two to three sentences

Cognitive Development:

  • Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
  • Plays make-believe
  • Does simple puzzles
  • Turns book pages one at a time
  • Builds six-block towers
  • Turns doorknobs

Physical Development:

  • Climbs well
  • Runs easily
  • Pedals a three-wheeled bike
  • Takes stairs one foot per stair

Normal Child Development Milestones Four Year Olds:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Enjoys new things
  • Plays "Mom" and "Dad" or "Mom" and "Mom," or "Dad and Dad" depending on family dynamics.
  • Is creative with make-believe and playing pretend.
  • Prefers playing with children over playing alone
  • Cooperates with adults and other children.
  • Still can't decide what's real or make-believe
  • Talks about likes and interests

Language and Communication Development:

  • Knows some basic rules of grammar
  • Sings songs or nursery rhymes from memory
  • Tells stories
  • Can say first and last names

Cognitive Development:

  • Names colors and numbers
  • Understands counting
  • Understands time
  • Remembers parts of a story
  • Draws people with two to four body parts
  • Uses scissors
  • Copy capital letters
  • Names four colors
  • Plays games

Physical Development:

  • Hops and stands on one foot for two seconds
  • Catches a bounced ball most of the time
  • Pours, cuts and mashes own food

Normal Child Development Milestones Five Year Olds:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Wants to please friends
  • Wants to be like friends
  • More likely to agree with rules
  • Likes to sing, dance, and act
  • Shows concern and sympathy for others
  • Is aware of gender
  • Shows independence
  • Is sometimes demanding and sometimes cooperative

Language and Communication Development:

  • Speaks clearly
  • Tells simple stories using full sentences
  • Uses future tense
  • Says name and address

Cognitive Development:

  • Counts ten or more things
  • Can draw a person with six body parts
  • Can print some letters or numbers
  • Copies a triangle and other shapes
  • Knows every day items like money and food

Physical Development:

  • Stands on one foot for ten seconds or longer
  • Hops or skips
  • Can somersault
  • Uses a fork and spoon
  • Can use the toilet alone
  • Climbs and swings

Normal Child Development Milestones Six Year Olds:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Rules and structure are important
  • Close bonds are formed with adults
  • Praise is important to building self-esteem

Language and Communication Development:

  • Can tell stories
  • Begins to learn the difference between reality and fantasy
  • Develops a friend base
  • Child is independent but unable to make fully wise decisions

Cognitive Development:

  • Beginning to read
  • Can count to 100
  • Can write name, numbers, and letters

Physical Development:

  • Activities outside the home
  • Can ride a bike
  • Can bounce a ball four to six times
  • Can tie shoes

Normal Child Development Milestones Eight Year Olds:

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Eager, active, and friendly
  • Is part of a friend group
  • Has a best friend
  • Parent opinion is still most important

Language and Communication Development:

  • Looks for inspiration outside the house
  • Can read for pleasure

Cognitive Development:

  • Can accept responsibilities
  • Enjoys having some chores and responsibility
  • Can tell time
  • Has humor
  • Cares for self 

Physical Development Development:

  • Improved coordination
  • Improved fine motor skills

If You Have Concerns About Your Child's Development:

It is important to contact your health care professional if you do not see these developmental signs in your child. While some variation is normal, if you ever have concern it is important to get your questions answered quickly. In many cases if something is wrong, early detection is key to the most successful treatment.

Related Resource Pages on Band Back Together:

Autism

Learning Disabilities

Asperger Syndrome

Additional Information About Developmental Milestones:

National Network for Child Care - This website contains developmental information about children for parents. This website contains a list of developmental milestones and information, especially regarding the first year.

KidsGrowth.com - This website contains information about the physical, cognitive, and social milestones children go through ages zero to eighteen. Information about oral care and immunizations is also contained within the different developmental ages.

Center for Disease Control - This website contains a comprehensive list of cognitive, social, physical, and language development, ages zero to five.