Your Child and Their Milestones
Know the signs, Act Early
Physical & Movement Milestones: 1-3 years old
Lets talk gross motor skills!
- By 12 to 18 months, they should be able to walk
- By 18 to 24 months, they should be able to jump in place
- By 2 years old to 2 and a half years old, they should be able to push themselves on wheeled toys
- By 2 and a half years old to 3 years old, they should be able to climb the stairs using alternating feet
- By 12 to 18 months, they should be able to pick up small objects with their thumb and pointer finger
- By 18 to 24 months, they should be able to grasp a crayon with their fist
- By 2 to 2 and a half years, they should be able to turn one page of a book
- By 2 and half to 3 years old, they should be able to screw lids on and off of containers, time to get child locks!
Physical Development
Baby beginning to walk
Physical Development
Baby displaying fine motor skills
Physical Development
Baby climbing stairs
Social & Language Milestones: 1-3 years old
Your little tot is beginning to talk! What does this mean for their social and language milestones? Lets talk about that.
1 to 2 years old:
- Babies are usually shy and anxious, don't worry, they'll grow out of it!
- They will learn to love strangers, this would be a good time to teach them about "stranger danger"
- They show empathy and caring
- Hugging and kissing others
- Temper tantrums begin in this age
- Impatient
- They're beginning to speak! Most common words are "no" and "I want." Terrible 2's are beginning, better take cover
- Everything is "mine"
- Very outgoing and extremely friendly
- Moods change rapidly
- Imaginary friends "come into the picture"
- Name calling and taunting other children also begin and is a way to try and exclude other children
Emotional Milestones: 1-3 years old
Your children are finally starting to show some emotion other than crying and being happy. But what?
1 to 2 years old:
- Shows intense feelings for parents and shows affection for familiar people.
- Shows pride and pleasure at new accomplishments
- Stranger anxiety (Most serious from 12-18 mo)
- Fear, affection, persuasion, protest, guilt, curiosity, exploration
- Temper tantrums are most severe at this age
- Almost complete store of emotional expression
- Gentle, friendly person
- Expresses affection warmly
- emotionally calm, sure, and balanced
- Lovable, engaging, enthusiastic, and appreciative
2 1/2 years old:
- Explosive, tense, rigid, insecure, easily frustrated
- Ritualistic, routine
- Screams, throws temper tantrums for little cause
Erikson's Cyle of Trust:
- Baby cries for attention
- Parents meet the need & soothe baby
- Baby is happy and parents are happy
- Parents are motivated to meet needs.
- Baby cries
- Parents don't respond
- Baby continues to fuss, seems unlikable to parents
- Parents are unhappy, unlikely to meet needs next time
Cognitive Milestones
12-15 mo:
- 3 to 5 word vocab
- Uses gestures to communicate
- Understands "no"
- Sense of me and mine
- Vocab of about 10 words
- Vocalizes "no"
- Waving "Bye-Bye"
- Resistant to change in routine
- Autonomy expressed as defiance
- Words are not important discipline techniques
- Increased vocab
- combines 2 or 3 words
- follows simple directions
- asks for food or drinks
- uses number words randomly
- avoids simple words
- by 30 months, vocab reaches over 300 words
- identity in terms of gender, names, and place
- Phrases and 3 to 4 word sentences
- by 36 months, vocab reaches 1,000
- "What's that?"
- counts to 3
- can tell age by holding up fingers
- most can answer simple questions
- Can bargain with peers
- Understands long versus short
- by end of 3rd year, vocab is 1,500 words
KNOW THE SIGNS, ACT EARLY!
Causes for Concern and What to do to Help
You might want to be concerned if they're not walking or crawling by a certain age or even if they can't pick peas off of their tray or have the ability to pass a toy to a friend. In the language area, you may notice that baby has difficulty expressing ideas in words and understanding the meaning of words. Keep in mind, if your child was born prematurely, it may take your child more time to develop the skills highlighted above. If you have concern you should see a doctor and they will recommend what you should do next. Live long and happy with your baby!