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