Child Development Stages
Everybody appreciates a good map. Some might like the aesthetic appeal of a physical map, but it’s safe to say everyone would literally be lost without the map on their smartphones. Very few people would want to travel to an unknown destination without their phone telling them where to go. Having a guide makes things easy. Dependable. Relaxing.
Which might explain why parenting feels hard, chaotic, and stressful — there is no map for being mom and dad.
Or is there?
No, sorry, there isn’t. But there is a guide! Which is the next best thing, right?
5 Stages of Child Development
Obviously, no two kids are the same and every parenting journey is different. Thankfully, there are some “hardwired” developmental milestones that most kids follow. And each milestone [for the most part] falls into one of five stages that children go through. They are:
- Newborn [0-3 months]
- Infant [3-12 months]
- Toddler [1-3 years]
- Preschool age [3-4 years]
- School/Pre-K age [4-5 years]
Each stage takes a look at certain characteristics, such as a child’s physical, speech, cognitive, emotional, and social progression.
The keyword here is progression. While there will be checklists you and your doctor will use to monitor progress, don’t think of the lists as a test your child has to pass. They are there to help you know what to look for. If you see that progress has stopped in any one area, that’s when it’s time to talk to your doctor. [More on that later.]
Child Development Stages by Age
Have you ever been reading a parenting blog, gotten to a giant chart of information, and thought, “Oh my gosh, just give me the checklist.”
Your wish is our command 🙂 Check out this list from the CDC that lists milestones for kids 2 months to 5 years old.
1-12 Months
1-2 Years
2-3 Years
3-4 Years
5-6 Years
What to Do if You’re Worried
If you take a look at these lists and see that your child isn’t hitting every single item, remember … these lists are approximations. Very few children hit every milestone at every stage of their life.
Thankfully, your child’s pediatrician is the perfect person to talk to about this. They evaluate these milestones and can provide you with the expertise you need to make an informed decision. Their evaluations are more thorough than online checklists, and they can connect you with specialists if they think your child needs one.
Paying attention to what children typically do at a given age is an important job, but it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, with a digital guide [checklist] and a physical guide [your pediatrician], your child’s developmental stages don’t have to feel like a topsy-turvy detour.
What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by three to
four years of age?
With your child’s third birthday, the “terrible twos” are officially over and the “magic years” of three and four begin—a time when your child’s world will be dominated by fantasy and vivid imagination. During the next two years, he’ll mature in many areas.
Here are some milestones to look for.
Movement milestones
Hops and stands on one foot up to five seconds
Goes upstairs and downstairs without support
Kicks ball forward
Throws ball overhand
Catches bounced ball most of the time
Moves forward and backward with agility
Milestones in hand and finger skills
Copies square shapes
Draws a person with two to four body parts
Uses scissors
Draws circles and squares
Begins to copy some capital letters
Language milestones
Understands the concepts of “same” and “different”
Has mastered some basic rules of grammar
Speaks in sentences of five to six words
Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand
Tells stories
Cognitive milestones
Correctly names some colors
Understands the concept of counting and may know a few numbers
Approaches problems from a single point of view
Begins to have a clearer sense of time
Follows three-part commands
Recalls parts of a story
Understands the concept of same/different
Engages in fantasy play
Social and emotional milestones
Interested in new experiences
Cooperates with other children
Plays “Mom” or “Dad”
Increasingly inventive in fantasy play
Dresses and undresses
Negotiates solutions to conflicts
More independent
Imagines that many unfamiliar images may be “monsters”
Views self as a whole person involving body, mind, and feelings
Often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality
Developmental health watch
Because each child develops in his own particular manner, it’s impossible to tell exactly when or how he’ll perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones listed here will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don’t be alarmed if his development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.
Cannot throw a ball overhand
Cannot jump in place
Cannot ride a tricycle
Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers
Has difficulty scribbling
Cannot stack four blocks
Still clings or cries whenever his parents leave him
Shows no interest in interactive games
Ignores other children
Doesn’t respond to people outside the family
Doesn’t engage in fantasy play
Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet
Lashes out without any self-control when angry or upset
Cannot copy a circle
Doesn’t use sentences of more than three words
Doesn’t use “me” and “you” appropriately
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.