Developmental milestones record
Illustrations
Alternative names
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Growth milestones for children; Normal childhood growth milestones; Childhood growth milestones
Information
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Infant -- birth to 1 year
- Displays social smile
- Rolls over by self
- Able to sit alone, without support
- Babbling
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Eruption of 1st tooth
- Pulls self to standing position
- Walks while holding on to furniture or other support
- Says mama and dada, using terms appropriately
- Able to drink from a cup
- Understands "NO" and will stop activity in response
- Walks without support
Toddler -- 1 to 3 years
- Masters walking
- Recognizes gender differences
- Uses up to 8 words and understands simple commands
- Able to run, pivot, and walk backwards
- Uses spoon to feed self
- Can name pictures of common objects and point to body parts
- Able to walk up and down stairs
- Imitates speech of others, "echoing" word back
- Begins pedaling tricycle
- Learns to take turns (if directed) while playing with other children
- Able to feed self neatly, with minimal spilling
- Able to state first and last name
- Recognizes and labels colors appropriately
- Able to draw a line (when shown one)
- Dresses self with only minimal help
- Learns to share toys (without adult direction)
Preschooler -- 3 to 6 years
- Rides tricycle well
- Able to draw a circle
- Able to draw stick figures with 2 to 3 features for people
- Hops on one foot
- Catches a bounced ball
- Understands size concepts
- Enjoys rhymes and word play
- Able to skip
- Enjoys doing most things independently, without help
- Balances better, may begin to ride a bicycle
- Understands time concepts
- Begins to recognize written words -- reading skills start
- Starts school
School-age child -- 6 to 12 years
- Understands and able to follow sequential directions
- Beginning skills for team sports (soccer, T-ball, etc.)
- Begins to lose "baby" teeth and erupt permanent teeth
- Routines important for daytime activities
- Reading skills develop further
- Peer recognition begins to become important
- Girls begin to show growth of armpit and pubic hair, breast development
- Menarche (1st menstrual period) may occur in girls
Adolescent -- 12 to 18 years
- Boys show growth of armpit, chest, and pubic hair; voice changes; and testicular/penile enlargement
- Girls show growth of armpit and pubic hair; breast development; menstrual periods
- Adult height, weight, sexual maturity
- Understands abstract concepts
- Peer acceptance and recognition is of vital importance
Update Date: 4/15/2003
Updated by: Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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