|
Developmental
Milestones
refer to activities/achievements generally demonstrated at a given
stage of a child's development. They are general guidelines to help
determine if a child is progressing at the rate expected for his
or her age. (Please keep in mind that each child is unique and develops
at their own rate.) This is a list of skills children should demonstrate
in their first two years:
Fine Motor Skills:
Ages 0-2
Generally thought of as movement and use of hands and upper extremities,
fine motor skills include reaching, grasping and manipulating objects
with your hands.
|
Age
|
Milestone
|
| 3 months |
Holds
small object in hand (without thumb tucked in hand) |
| 5 months |
Reaches
for toy; Briefly holds toy |
| 6 months |
Follows
object with eyes in all directions |
| 7 months |
Transfers
objects from one hand to the other |
| 8 months |
Keeps
hands open and relaxed most of the time; Starting to have ability
to pick up small foods, like Cheerios |
| 10
months |
Able
to release an object voluntarily; Gives toy to caregiver when
asked |
| 14
months |
Likes
to explore, turn pages of cardboard books |
| 15
months |
Puts
objects/toys in a container |
| 16
months |
Uses
both hands to play; Points at objects with index finger; Can
isolate index finger with other fingers closed |
| 17
months |
Can
build a block tower using 3-4 blocks |
Gross Motor Skills:
Ages 0-2
Gross Motor skills involve the larger muscles in the arms, legs
and torso. Gross motor activities include walking, running, throwing,
lifting, kicking, etc. These skills also relate to body awareness,
reaction speed, balance and strength.
|
Age
|
Milestone
|
| 3-4
months |
Can
raise head |
| 4
months |
Rolls
from back to side |
| 5
months |
Rolls
from back to front |
| 6
months |
Can
raise chest and upper part of abdomen (when on stomach) |
| 7
months |
Can
bear weight on one hand while exploring with the other (when
on stomach) |
| 6-7
months |
Sits |
| 8-10
months |
Crawls |
| 9-12
months |
Reaches
actively for toy (when in sitting position) |
| 11-12
months |
Pulls to a standing postion |
| 15
months |
Walks
alone well; Squats and stands back up; Walks up and down steps
holding hand |
| 18
months |
Can
run, though falls easily |
| 2
years |
Walks
and runs fairly well; Can jump with both feet; Can climb stairs
without support; Can kick a ball |
Sensory/Social
Skills: Ages 0 to 2
Sensory development relates to senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste,
smell) which allow us to explore the world around us. Social skills
refer to our interactions with other people. (For a child, social
skills generally center on behavior in play situations.)
|
Age
|
Milestone
|
| 3
months |
Cuddles
and relaxes when held |
| 3-5
months |
Responds
with baby sounds when caregivers talk and smile |
| 3-6
months |
Able
to be calmed by caregiver when upset |
| 5-7
months |
Knows
his/her own name and responds by looking when called |
| 7-12
months |
Has
toy preferences and explores a variety of toys |
| 12-18
months |
Likes
attention from others and will do behaviors to get reactions |
| 15
months |
Shows
liking for affection and will hug/kiss familiar people |
| 18
months |
Plays
with other children; Seeks interactions with other children |
ALL infants and
toddlers (0-36 months) in Virginia are eligible to have their development
checked at no cost to the family. If recommended, additional testing
- which includes speech, hearing, thinking skills, motor skills
and social skills - can also be arranged, again at no cost to families.
For information contact Children's Hospital's Infant Services
Department at (804) 228-5818.
If you are concerned
about a child's or adolescent's development, Children's Hospital
offers evaluations and comprehensive therapy programs at several
community locations. For more information on Developmental Milestones
and other children's issues, visit the "For Families" section of
the Children's Hospital website at www.childrenshosp-richmond.org
**
This material
is provided for informational and educational purposes only; it
does not contain specific medical advice. If you have specific health
questions or problems, consult a health care professional for personal
medical advice. To reach Patient Services at Children's Hospital
of Richmond, call (804) 228-5818.
Children's
Hospital is a specialty pediatric facility with the mission of providing
quality health care to children and financial assistance when needed.
Children's Hospital now offers inpatient, day patient and outpatient
services to more than 8,000 children each year, providing evaluation,
diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions.
|
