Comfort Stage / 13 through 24 months
Competence Stage / 25 through 36 months
Control Stage
birth-4months
- Coordinate sucking, swallowingand breathing
- Focus onobject about8 inchesfromfaceatbirth
- Turn headin the direction of sound
- Hold up headandchestwhileon tummy
- Movement is reflexive
- Usefingerstofeed self
- Followslow moving objectswith eyes
- Bring handtomouth holding objector toy
- Grasp objectsusing entirehand(palmergrasp)
- Shake,squeeze, throw, dropand bang objects
- Transferan object from handto hand
- Roll fromtummy toback andback to tummy
- Sit withsupport
- Sit independently
- Push up onto hands and knees
9-12months
- Usethumband forefingerto pick upobjects(pincer grasp)
- Stackobjects
- Crawl and pull self-up to standing
- Walk with support
- Help feedself
- Cooperatewith dressing by extending armorleg
- Scribbleon paper with marker/crayon
- Take objectsin/outof container
- Carry toys
- Throwobjectsforward
- Crawl skillfully and quickly
- Beginto walk unassisted, yet may notbeable tomaneuver around obstacles
- Attempt torun,but havetroublestopping
- Pushandpull toys while walking
- Feedself accurately with spoon
- Scribblewith more control
- Manipulate toys andobjects that require simple twisting, turning, pulling, sliding and cranking
- Pour and fill containers withsandandwater
- Walkunassisted
- Walk upand downstairs withsupport
- Climb onand off furniture
- Zip/unziplargezipper
- Assist with brushing teeth
- Help dress and undress self
- Feed selfwithoutassistance
- Use toilet with assistance
- Washand dryhands with assistance
- Drink fromastraw
- Make purposeful marks withmarker or crayon
- String largebeads
- Turn paper pagesin book oneat atime
- Stack blocks
- Roll, pound, squeeze and pull clay
- Walkconfidently
- Walk upand downsteps, backwards and ontiptoes
- Run well in a forward direction
- Jumpinplace
- Pushself forward or backwardson"ride-on" toys without pedals
- Ride/scooton a tricycle
- Kick ball forward
- Throwaball forward
- Catcha largeball
Birththrough 12months
Comfort Stage / 13 through 24 months
Competence Stage / 25 through 36 months
Control Stage
birth-4months
- React to sound; search forsoundswitheyes
- Babble or coo when spokento or smiledat
- Cry when hungryoruncomfortable
- Attracted to bright, colorscontrast
- Prefer human face to other patterns
- Explorewithmouth
- Babbleandcombinesounds
- Understandmore words than they can say
- Interested in pictures that represent familiar peopleand objects
- Respondtosimple requests (e.g., “wavebye)
- Imitate andrepeat simple actions(e.g., pat-a-cake, shakingarattle, etc.)
- Look for a toywhendropped; find atoy when they see it beinghidden
9-12 months
- Babble toinitiate a social interaction
- Shakehead “no”
- Enjoyrhymes and songs
- Watch people,objects and activities
- Follow simple instructions
- Recognize reversal of an object(e.g., upsidedowncup)
- Searchforpartially hidden toy
- Begintocreate long"babble" sentences
- Follow simple directions
- Point tocommon objects or pictures whennamed (e.g., body parts)
- Sit for ashortwhile to listentoa story
- Searchforhidden object
- Repeat simple motions and actions (e.g., dump items out ofacontainer, put thembackand repeatthe process)
- Imitate commonactions (e.g., talking on phone, drinking fromcup,etc.)
- Speak 50-300 words
- Label commonobjects and actions
- Use “please” and “thank- you” (iftaught)
- Sing familiar songs
- Try to make mechanical toys work without a demonstration
- Beginto understand
- simple cause and effect relationships
- Arecuriousandexplore everything,yet do notunderstandtheconcept of "danger"
- Beginto understand whereball hasgoneifit rollsundersomething; may walkaround to get it
- Explorecabinetsand drawers
- Speakin two-word
- sentences; create longer and more complex sentences
- Matchsounds toanimals
- Say simple phrases, activeverbs and directional words suchas"up," "down,"and "in"
- Begintotell you about what they aredoing
- Putobjectswhere they belong
- Match objectsto pictures
- Cansortobjects into 2 groups(e.g., hard/soft; green/red,etc.)
- Canfit simple objects together
- Prefer morerealistic toys
- Begintocountobjects
- Use selfand objectsin pretend play
- Begintocreate representational art(pictures that standsfor something)
- Begin to useobjectsthat represent something else
- Choosebetweentwo objects
Birththrough 12months
Comfort Stage / 13 through 24 months
Competence Stage / 25 through 36 months
Control Stage
birth-4months
- Expressneedswith distinct cries
- Smile inresponse toa friendly faceorvoice
- Smile orcoo to get theircaregiver's attention
- Enjoyphysical contact
- Prefer to bewiththeir primary care giver
- Watchand respondtoimageofselfinmirror
- Learn totrustwhen needs aremet (e.g., picked up whencrying)
- Preferto play withpeople more thantoys
- Respond differently to facial expressions such as frowns andsmiles
- Laugh out loud
- Hesitantwithstrangers(strangeranxiety)
- Use body and/or verbalizationto get caregiver’s attention
- Enjoy socialplay (“pat a cake”, “this little piggy”)
9-12months
- Extendarms upwardtobe picked up
- Offer toys/objects to others
- Repeat behavior thatgets attention
- Wantparent or caregivertostay withinsight
- Forman attachment to a special object (e.g., blanket,pacifier, stuffed animal, etc.)
- Friendly toward others;lesswaryofstrangers
- May expressfearofnew sounds, people, and situations
- Play aloneforshortperiods
- Show interest inchildren theirownage
- Seek approval
- Enjoybeing heldand read to
- Imitate adult’sactions in play
- Test boundaries and limits
- May refuse tocooperatewith daily routines
- Easily frustrated
- Express frustration by crying,hitting,biting or grabbing
- Enjoy turn-taking games
- Show astrongsense of selfby trying to direct theactionsof others
- Become possessiveof toys; claimthingsas "mine"; havedifficulty sharing
- Expresslikes and dislikesfor certain people,objects, orsituations
- Demonstrate asenseof humor
- Tendto playnext to(parallel play)rather than with other children
- Play with 2-3 other childrenforshortperiodsof time
- Participate in simple group activities (singing, dancing,clapping,etc.)
- Beginto"play house" and takeonsimple roles (e.g.,mommy,daddyor baby)
- Show pridewith what they make anddo
- Want to getown way
- Become awareofothers’feelings(empathy)
- May express arapid change inmood
- May express afearof the dark or monstersforthefirst time
- Expressa widerange of emotionsincluding jealously, fear, anger, sympathy, pride, embarrassment, anxiety and joy
- References
- Allen, K.E. & Marotz, L.R. (1989). Developmental profiles: Birth to six. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.
- Brunson-Phillips, C. (Ed). (1991). Essentials for child development associates working with young children(pp. 40-74). Washington, DC: The
- Council for Professional Recognition.
- Cook, R.E., Tessier, A., & Klein, M.D. (1996). Adapting early childhood curricula for children ininclusive settings(pp. 454-463). Englewood
- Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall,Inc.
- Herr, J. (1994). Working with young children(pp. 465-475). South Holland, IL: The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc.
- Koralek, D.G., Newman, R.L., & Colker, L.J. (1995).Caring for children in school-age programs. Washington, DC: Teaching Strategies. Steinberg, L. (1993). Adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
- Therrell, J.A., Brown, P., Sutterby, J.A., & Thornton, C.D. (2002).Agedeterminationguidelines:Relatingchildren's ages to toy characteristics and play behavior. Washington, DC: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.