Keeping in mind that all children are different to begin with and that a impaired child may take more time to reach these levels, it is good to know what a "normal" child development looks like.
There are many charts and lists out there that say where your child should be in their development at any given point in their life. I will list the milestones from the chart I was given from the "Early On" program.
This is the child development milestone chart i am using to watch my son.
One Month Milestones:
- Raises head slightly off floor or bed when on stomach
- Holds head up momentarily when supported
- Briefly follows and watches objects with eyes
- Avoids mildly annoying sensations (cloth on face)
- Some "noise in throat" sounds
Two Month Milestones:
- Holds head erect/ bobbing when supported in sitting position
- Follows moving person with eyes
- Imitates or responds to smiling person with occasional smile
- Vocalizes
Three Month Milestones:
- Lifts head and chest when laying on stomach
- Vigorous body movement
- Improved head control
- Recognizes bottle or breast
- Coos / chuckles
Four Month Milestones:
- Good head control
- Rolls from side to side
- Grabs objects near hands
- May begin reaching for objects
- Follows moving objects when in sitting position
- Laughs aloud
- Enjoys play
Six Month Milestones:
- Sits with little help
- Rolls from back to stomach
- Transfers object from hand to hand and from hand to mouth
- Babbles (more than two sounds)
Nine Month Milestones:
- Sits alone
- Changes positions without falling
- Plays with two objects at the same time
- Creeps or crawls
- Says things like "Mama" or "Baba"
One Year Milestones:
- Pulls self to standing, may step without support
- Picks things up with thumb and one finger
- Stacks two blocks
- Gives toy on request
- Gives affection
- Follows simple directions accompanied by gestures
- May say 2 or 3 words
Fifteen Month Milestones:
- May walk without support
- Stacks 3 blocks
- Vocalizes voice up and down - sounds like conversation
- May use 4-5 words
- Some self-feeding
Eighteen Month Milestones:
- Walks - may run
- Climbs one stair
- Likes pull toys
- Likes being read too
- Makes mark on paper with crayon
- Partially feeds self
- May use 5-10 words
Two Year Milestones:
- Kicks large ball
- Turns pages (sometimes 2-3 at a time)
- Imitates house work
- Recognizes familiar picture (family or friends)
- Asks for things by name
- Uses 2 or 3 words together ( i.e. "more juice")
Three Year Milestones:
- Walks up stairs
- Stands momentarily on one foot
- Rides tricycle
- Feeds self
- Opens door
- Vocalizes toilet need
Four Year Milestones:
- Hops in place
- Throws and catches balls
- Copies circle
- Points to 6 basic colors
- Knows own sex, age, last name
- Begins to play with others
- Uses proper sentences "may i go to the store?"
- Washes hands unassisted
Five Year Milestones:
- Walks backwards , heel to toe, runs on tip toe
- Prints a few capital letters
- Recognizes own printed name
- Cuts food with knife
- Plays with others
- Responds by showing penny nickle dime (not really sure what that one means...)
- Answers to things like "hi" or "How are you?"
- Ties shoes
As said before, not all children are perfectly average in every aspect. Some will reach these developmental milestones before others and some may take a bit longer.
Having a child with the possibility of developmental issues just means you have to pay more attention to these milestones to give your child the help they may need in reaching them.
