Birth to 12 months

Developmental Actions

• Putting objects in their mouth
• Looking around, not making eye contact
• Banging, pouring, dumping things
• Raising their head while on their stomach
• Rolling over both ways
• Learning to sit up
• Learning to stand up
• Drooling
• Chewing and biting
• Screaming, cooing, and laughing
• Mimicking sounds they hear
• Developing sense of security
• ​Needing a transitional object (blanket, stuffed animal)
• Rocking
• Thumb sucking
• Following the eye gaze of those around them

How You Can Help Them Learn and Grow

• Make eye contact with them
• Give them tummy time
• Talk, sing, and read to them
• Provide safe teething toys
• Point to and name objects
• Soothe them. wrap them up and cuddle them
• Make facial expressions at them
• ​Give them physical and verbal affection

12 months to 24 months

Developmental Actions

• Puts objects in their mouth
• Looks around, not making eye contact
• Banging, pouring, dumping objects
• Sit on their own
• Stand on their own
• Walk
• Kick objects
• Walk on tip toes
• Run
• Sucking thumb
• Drooling
• Chewing and biting
• Start to form words
• Knows and responds to their name
• Make gestures to communicate
• Show emotions
• Rocking
• ​Need transitional object (blanket, stuffed animal)

How You Can Help Them Learn and Grow

• Make eye contact with them
• Talk, read, and sing to them
• Provide a safe environment for them to walk, run, and play
• Provide safe teething toys
• Point to and name objects
• Soothe, wrap up, and cuddle them
• Make facial expressions at them
• Give them physical and verbal affection

2 years to 4 years

Developmental Actions

• Asking questions
• Playing
• Engaging in pretend play
• Enjoy being naked
• Talking constantly
• Potty training
• Learn self control
• Start drawing letters and shapes
• Use 5-6 word sentences
• Speak clearly
• Favorite word is "no"
• Stubborn
• Have "temper tantrums"
• Ask "why"
• Begin to develop independence
• Imitate adults and peers
• Want to be a helper
• ​Begin to soothe themselves

How You Can Help Them Learn and Grow

• Answer questions with simple answers
• Have a consistent routine
• Allow time for drawing
• Let them dress themselves
• Provide safe teething toys
• Use their name often
• Listen to them intently when they talk
• Set limits for safe play
• Give them choices when they need to make decisions
• Ask them to help you

5 years to 7 years

Developmental Actions

• Fine motor skills
• Dressing and undressing themselves
• Use eating utensils
• Loose baby teeth and wiggling them
• Speak in full sentences
• Share thoughts and feelings
• Separation anxiety
• Asking "why"
• Use pretend play
• Tell "make believe" stories
• Talk constantly
• Understand the concept of time
• Explore and recognized sex/gender differences
• Explore sexuality
• Become more creative
• Have imaginary friends
• Stubborn
• Have "temper tantrums"
• Whine
• Make repetitious actions
• Start to negotiate
• Become more aggressive and engage in aggressive play
• ​Tease and call people names

How You Can Help Them Learn and Grow

• Let them participate in sports
• Encourage them to wiggle teeth
• Validate their feelings
• Ask about their day
• Answer their questions
• Listen intently when they talk
• Follow the direction of their conversation
• Give them praise
• Create a safe place for play
• Listen to their "make believe" story
• Talk about private parts and the basics of reproduction. Use the anatomical names.
• Let them use the bathroom on their own
• Create a consistent routine for them

8 years to 12 years

Developmental Actions

• Complex movement like sports
• Use of fine motor skills
• Dresses and undresses themselves
• Eats using utensils
• Lose baby teeth
• Share thoughts and feelings
• Recite information from memory
• Separation anxiety
• Tattle to get attention from adults
• Imitate adults and peers
• Play with same sex peers
• Engage in cmpetetive games and play
• Ask "why"
• Have "temper tantrums"
• Become independent
• Whine

How You Can Help Them Learn and Grow

• Ask open ended questions
• Answer questions with some complexity
• Allow them to problem solve on their own
• Allow them to express negative emotions
• ​Give praise

13 years to 18 years

Developmental Actions

• Take on adult like roles
• Make important decisions
• Develop individual identity
• Have romantic interests
• Explore sexuality
• Stubborn
• Rebellious
• Demand privacy
• Imitate adults and peers
• Become more involved with peers
• Make friendships
• Self-conscious
• Start to trust
• Make secrets
• Use slang
• Develop value systems

How You Can Help Them Learn and Grow

• Support decision making
• Encourage career exploration
• Allow them to problem solve on their own
• Respond to questions honestly and with complexity
• Set limits and boundaries
• Allow them to be independent
• Normalize failures
• Listen