Developmental Milestones for Children 0-5 Years Old

Written by TsangShireen

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Posted on August 04 2022

How old are children when they can walk and talk "normally"? These questions are important. Observing a child's behavioral development is the basis for determining whether a child needs medical intervention. As parents, we want to have a scientifically based milestone for child development. Through this milestone, we can determine whether our child is developmentally delayed or disabled (DDs) in a timely manner and can get our child timely treatment.

However, the development of a scientific and authoritative developmental milestone is a large and complex task that requires the collaboration of experts from different countries. It wasn't until this year that the American Academy of Pediatrics finally led the effort, releasing a brand new version of the milestones for children ages 0 to 5. As children grow and change, their height and weight change. We can shop for the right clothes for our children on the wholesale kids clothes website.

Table of content:

  • Comparison of old and new versions
  • Details of Child Development Milestones


Comparison of old and new versions

The new version was released in 2022, the old version was released in 2004. The new version has been thoroughly adjusted from the old version to show clearly and distinctly the typical behaviors that children may exhibit at different ages, and to adjust the criteria that require intervention in some key indicators with the times. Compared to the old version, the new version of the Child Milestones has the following major changes:

1. The new version has clear criteria for disease screening
The new version of the milestone refers to some professional diagnostic assessment tools, such as the Childhood Autism Scale, the Toddler Well-Being Survey, etc. It also includes some games or activities that are beneficial to children's development. It helps parents or doctors to identify early signs of developmental delays or physical deficits. For example, monitoring of social-emotional and cognitive milestones can help in the early identification of intellectual and social-emotional disorders in children, including autism spectrum disorders.

2. Adjusting the developmental standards for children and lowering the percentage of the scale that can be achieved by 25%
In the new milestones, the time at which a child is "able to do" is generally delayed, and the panel set the milestone at the age at which most children (≥75%) are considered to be able to do so. This criterion minimizes unnecessary screening for disease while detecting early signs of developmental delays or physical defects. Increasing the probability from "half" to "most" not only restores parental confidence, but also better helps identify children with true developmental delays or disorders early and reduces the likelihood of delayed diagnosis or treatment.

3. New milestones are more evidence-based and terminology is clearer
The American Academy of Pediatrics expert panel references a large body of literature and has studies from more than half of the non-English speaking population, which makes the reference more valuable for use by families from different social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds and more universal. In addition, vague terms have been removed from the new version to improve the clarity of the report.

4. New 15-month and 30-month checklists have been added
New 15-month and 30-month checklists have been added to improve the developmental monitoring effect of regular health checkups. People can go to each child's assessment based on the report, and for parents, they can also have a clearer and more reassuring understanding of their own child's development in the future.

Details of Child Development Milestones

The American Academy of Pediatrics developmental milestones for children 0-5 years old are studied in four main developmental domains: social-emotional, verbal-communicative, cognitive, and behavioral-motor.

It is important to note that this is a lower developmental standard and is primarily used for initial identification of children with developmental disorders or delays. However, growth milestones are an important tool for early monitoring, but are not diagnostic criteria and should not be used as a substitute for diagnostic treatment by a physician. If there is any problem with the control, it is important to seek prompt medical attention.

Children grow up and become more active. During the time of rapid growth and development of children, we can't do without bulk buy children's clothing, so we need to be prepared for this.

2 Months

Socialization

  • Calmly stares at your face when talking to or picking up he
  • Showing happiness when you walk towards he
  • Respond with a smile after talking or smiling at your baby

Language

  • Can make sounds other than crying
  • Responds to louder sounds

Cognition

  • Can follow moving objects around him/her with eyes
  • Stares at a toy for several seconds

Movement

  • Can lift chin off the bed when lying down
  • Can wave limbs when lying flat and is generally symmetrical from side to side
  • Can open arms briefly

4 Months

Socialization

  • Baby can smile on her own to get your attention
  • Giggles (not laughs) when you tease her
  • Looks at you, moves or makes sounds to get or maintain your attention

Language

  • Can make ooohs and ahhs (cooing)
  • Makes sounds in response to you when you talk to her
  • Makes sounds that turn her head toward you

Cognition

  • Smacks her lips when she sees a breast or bottle when she is hungry
  • Observe their own hands

Movement

  • Can keep the baby's head stable when held without support
  • Can grasp toys when placed in baby's hands
  • Can hold a toy and shake it, as well as shake a hanging toy to put the hand in the mouth
  • Can rely on forearms or elbows for support when lying down

6 Months

Socialize

  • Recognizes familiar people
  • Likes to look at themselves in the mirror
  • Laughs out loud

Language

  • Making sounds back and forth with you
  • Blowing spittle bubbles
  • Making harsh noises

Cognitive

  • Puts objects in the mouth to explore
  • Baby can reach out for the object she wants
  • Closes lips when not wanting more food

Movement

  • Can roll over from prone to supine
  • Can support herself with her arms while lying on her back
  • Can sit up

9 Months

Socialization

  • Baby is shy, clingy or scared when meeting strangers
  • Shows several facial expressions, such as happy, sad, angry and surprised
  • Looks at you when you call his name
  • Reacts when you leave (looks away, reaches out to grab you, or cries)
  • Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo with her

Language

  • Makes different sounds like "mama" and "papa"
  • Raises her hands when she wants to be picked up

Cognition

  • Searches for objects that have fallen out of sight
  • Takes two objects and knocks them against each other

Movement

  • Can sit up on his own
  • Can sit alone
  • Can rake food to self with fingers
  • Can pass objects from one hand to the other

12 Months

Socialization

  • Will play games with you, such as making cakes together

Language

  • Waves goodbye
  • Calls "Daddy" or "Mommy" or other specific titles
  • Understands "no" (pauses or stops when you say it)

Cognitive

  • Places objects in containers (e.g., puts a block in a cup)
  • Finds objects that he watches you hide

Movement

  • Can hold up to stand
  • Can walk holding onto furniture
  • Can drink from a cup that you are holding
  • Can pick up objects with the thumb and the tip of the other finger

15 Months

Socialization

  • Imitates other children during play, such as when another child takes a toy out of its container toy
  • Shows you Ta's favorite objects
  • Applauds when excited
  • Cuddles stuffed animals or other toys
  • Expresses affection to you (hugs or kisses you)

Language

  • Tries to say 1-2 words other than daddy and mommy
  • Looks at a familiar object when you say it
  • Can complete commands with gesture cues
  • Uses fingers to ask for objects or for help

Cognitive

  • Attempts to use objects in the correct way
  • Builds at least 2 objects, such as blocks

Movement

  • Walks alone for a few steps
  • Grab some food with fingers and eat it

18 Months

Socialization

  • Can leave you, but will watch to see if you are nearby to you
  • Points out items of interest to Ta
  • Holds out hands for you to wash
  • Reads a few pages of a book with you
  • Can put her hands through the sleeves or lift her feet when you help her get dressed

Language

  • Tries to say 3 words other than daddy and mommy
  • Can complete one-step instructions without gesture cues

Cognitive

  • Imitates you in household chores
  • Plays with toys in a simple way, such as pushing a toy car

Movement

  • Can walk alone without holding on to any object or person
  • Doodling
  • Can drink from an open cup, which may sometimes spill
  • Can use fingers to grasp food to feed themselves
  • Tries to use a spoon
  • Climbs up and down a couch or chair without help

2 years old

Socialization

  • Can detect when others are hurt or unhappy, such as being still or looking sad when someone is crying
  • Regrets looking at your face when entering a new situation to know how to react

Language

  • Can point to items in a book you ask about with a finger
  • Can use sentences with at least 2 words, such as "more milk"
  • When you ask her to show her body parts, can show at least 2 correctly
  • Able to use more postures (flying kisses or nodding in addition to bye and finger)

Cognitive

  • Able to hold an object in one hand while making movements with the other
  • Tries to fiddle with switches and buttons on toys
  • Plays with >1 toy at a time

Movement

  • Kick a ball
  • Runs up stairs one step at a time
  • Eating with a spoon

30 Months

Socialization

  • Plays next to other children and sometimes together
  • Shows you what Ta can do and will say "Look at me!"
  • Follows simple routines when told, such as helping to pick up toys when you say, "It's clean-up time"

Language

  • Can say 50 words
  • Can say 2 words (1 of which is a verb) such as "doggy run"
  • Can accurately name items in a book when you point to them and ask, "What is this?
  • Can use personal pronouns, such as I, we

Cognitive

  • Can play pretend games
  • Demonstrates simple problem solving skills
  • Can complete 2-step instructions
  • Can point to at least one color

Movement

  • Can rotate hands, e.g., turn doorknobs, twist off bottle caps
  • Can undress themselves, such as loose pants or coats
  • Can jump and keep both feet off the ground at the same time
  • Can turn a book by themselves, one page at a time

3 years old

Socialization

  • Can calm down within 10 minutes after you leave her, such as dropping her off at daycare
  • Can spot other children and join in their play

Language

  • Can carry on a conversation with you for at least 2 rounds
  • Can ask questions with who, what, where, and why, such as "Where is mommy/daddy?"
  • Can look at pictures and describe them briefly
  • Can answer when asked for a name
  • Understands most words

Cognitive

  • Can draw circles based on your demonstration
  • Avoids touching hot objects when you give a warning

Movement

  • Can string beads
  • Can dress themselves
  • Uses a fork

4 years old

Socialization

  • Pretends to be other (teacher, superhero, dog) when playing
  • Will ask if they can go play with other children when there is no one around, "Can I go play with Alex?"
  • Comforting someone who is hurt or sad, such as hugging a friend who is crying
  • Avoids danger, such as not jumping from a high place in the playground
  • Enjoys being a little helper
  • Changes behavior depending on the situation (e.g., library, playground)

Language

  • Can say sentences of ≥4 words
  • Can say some words from songs, stories, or nursery rhymes
  • Can talk about at least one event of the day
  • Can answer simple questions

Cognitive

  • Name several colors
  • Tells you what is going to happen next in a book
  • Can draw a person with more than 3 body parts

Movement

  • Can hold a ball most of the time
  • Pour or fill their own food with supervision
  • Unbuttons
  • Grasps a pen with fingers and thumb rather than a fist

5 years old

Socialization

  • Ability to follow rules or take turns when playing games with other children
  • Sings, dances or performs for you
  • Can do simple chores around the house, such as cleaning up socks or clearing the table after a meal

Language

  • Can tell a story she has heard or made up that includes at least 2 events
  • Can answer simple questions about a book you've finished reading or a story you've told
  • Maintains a conversation for at least 3 rounds
  • Uses or recognizes simple rhymes

Cognitive

  • Count to 10
  • Be able to say the number you are referring to (1-5)
  • Can use words about time, such as yesterday, tomorrow, morning, evening
  • Can maintain attention for 5-10 minutes during activities such as drawing, reading a book (looking at an electronic screen does not count)
  • Can write the letters in her name
  • Can say the letter you are referring to

Movement

  • Buttoning
  • Can jump on one foot

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