Age |
Gross motor |
Fine motor |
Social/Language |
Cognitive |
At the end of 3 months, most infants can… |
- roll from front to back
- control head and neck movement when sitting
- raise their head and chest when lying on their stomach
- stretch out and kick their legs when lying on their stomach or back
- push down with their legs when feet are on a firm surface
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- bring their hands together
- open and shut their hands
- bring their hands to their mouth
- take swipes at a hanging object
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- smile when you smile and on their own
- be expressive and communicate with their face and body
- copy some body movements and facial expressions
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- watch faces closely
- follow moving objects
- recognize objects and people they know
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At the end of 8 months, most babies can… |
- roll both ways (front to back, back to front)
- sit on their own
- support their whole weight on their legs
- control their upper body and arms
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- hold and shake a hand toy
- move an object from hand to hand
- use their hands to explore an object
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- reach for a person they know
- smile at themselves in a mirror
- respond when others express emotion
- copy speech sounds
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- track a moving object, and find one that is partially hidden
- explore with hands and mouth
- struggle to get objects that are out of reach
- look from one object to another
- watch a falling object
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At 12 to 14 months, most babies can… |
- reach a sitting position without help
- crawl on hands and knees, or scoot around on their bum
- get from a sitting to a crawling or prone (on their stomach) position
- pull up to a standing position
- cruise, holding onto furniture
- stand briefly without support
- walk holding an adult’s hand, and maybe take 2 or 3 steps on their own
- start to climb stairs with help
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- finger-feed using thumb and fore-finger (pincer grasp)
- put objects into a container (and take them out again)
- release objects voluntarily
- poke with an index finger
- push a toy
- begin to drink from a cup
- scribble with a crayon
- begin to use a spoon
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- be shy or anxious with strangers
- copy during play
- have favourite toys and people
- test limits to actions and behaviours
- put out an arm or leg to help when being dressed
- take off socks
- come when called (respond to name)
- say “mama” or “dada” with at least one other word with meaning
- communicate a need without crying
- stop an action if you say “no”
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- explore objects in different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
- know the names of familiar objects
- respond to music
- begin to explore cause and effect
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At 18 months, most babies can… |
- climb into chairs
- walk without help
- climb stairs one at a time with help
|
- build a 3-block tower
- use a spoon well
- turn a few board-book pages at a time
- turn over a container to pour out the contents
- drink easily from a cup
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- say 20 or more words
- follow a simple instruction
- remove some clothing on their own
- point to a named body part
- point to familiar objects when asked
- help with simple tasks
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- use objects as tools
- fit related objects together (e.g., in a shape sorter)
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At 24 months, most toddlers can… |
- pull a toy while walking
- carry a large toy or more than one toy while walking
- begin to run
- kick or throw a ball
- climb into and get down from chairs without help
- walk up and down stairs with help
|
- build a tower of 4 blocks or more
- complete a simple shape-matching puzzle
- turn board-book pages easily, one at a time
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- start to put 2 words together
- copy the behaviour of adults and other children
- get excited about being with other children
- play alongside other children
- show increasing independence
- show defiant behaviour
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- begin “make-believe” play
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At 3 years, most toddlers can… |
- walk up and down stairs, alternating feet (one foot per stair)
- run easily
- jump in place
- throw a ball overhead
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- make up-and-down, side-to-side and circular lines with a pencil or crayon
- build a tower of more than 6 blocks
- hold a pencil in a writing position
- screw and unscrew jar lids or big nuts and bolts
- string big beads
- work latches and hooks
- snip with children’s scissors
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- show spontaneous affection for playmates they know
- begin to take turns
- understand the concept of “mine” vs. “someone else’s”
- object to changes in routine
- anticipate daily activities
- speak in sentences and ask a lot of questions
- put toys away
- ask for help
- know their full name
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- match an object in their hand or the room to a picture in a book
- include animals, dolls and people in make-believe play
- sort easily by shape and colour
- complete a puzzle with 3 or 4 pieces
- understand the difference between 1 and 2
- name body parts and colours
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At 4 years, most preschoolers can… |
- hop and stand on 1 foot for up to 4 seconds
- kick a ball forward
- catch a bouncing ball
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- draw a person with 2 to 4 body parts
- use children’s scissors
- draw circles and squares
- twiddle thumbs
- do a finger-to-thumb sequence (e.g., Itsy-Bitsy Spider)
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- look forward to new experiences
- cooperate with other children
- play “Mom” or “Dad”
- be very inventive
- dress and undress
- imagine monsters
- negotiate solutions to conflicts
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- understand counting
- follow a 3-part instruction
- recall parts of a story
- make up and tell simple stories
- understand “same” and “different”
- enjoy fantasy play
- know their address
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