FloridaHealthFinder.gov | Health Encyclopedia | Developmental milestones record
Graphical top of the content well

Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | Children's Health | Growth & Development

Search health encyclopedia
Go

Developmental milestones record

Alternative Names

Growth milestones for children; Normal childhood growth milestones; Childhood growth milestones

Information

Child development is complex. Any "checklist" or calendar of developmental milestones will blur or miss important aspects, and may trouble parents whose child is developing normally or falsely reassure parents whose child should be evaluated.

One of the reasons for frequent well-child pediatric visits in the early years is to assess your child's development. Any concerns on the part of the doctors, parents, teachers, or childcare providers are important to discuss and address, and may trigger a more detailed developmental assessment.

Below is a general list of some of the things you might see children doing at different ages, but these are not precise guidelines. There are many different normal paces and patterns of development. This article provides one example.

Infant -- birth to 1 year

  • Displays social smile
  • Rolls over by self
  • Able to sit alone, without support
  • Babbling
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Eruption of 1st tooth
  • Pulls self to standing position
  • Walks while holding on to furniture or other support
  • Says mama and dada, using terms appropriately
  • Able to drink from a cup
  • Understands "NO" and will stop activity in response
  • Walks without support
Toddler -- 1 to 3 years
  • Masters walking
  • Recognizes gender differences
  • Uses more words and understands simple commands
  • Able to run, pivot, and walk backwards
  • Uses spoon to feed self
  • Can name pictures of common objects and point to body parts
  • Able to walk up and down stairs
  • Imitates speech of others, "echoing" word back
  • Begins pedaling tricycle
  • Learns to take turns (if directed) while playing with other children
  • Able to feed self neatly, with minimal spilling
  • Able to state first and last name
  • Recognizes and labels colors appropriately
  • Able to draw a line (when shown one)
  • Dresses self with only minimal help
  • Learns to share toys (without adult direction)
Preschooler -- 3 to 6 years
  • Rides tricycle well
  • Able to draw a circle
  • Able to draw stick figures with 2 to 3 features for people
  • Hops on one foot
  • Catches a bounced ball
  • Understands size concepts
  • Enjoys rhymes and word play
  • Able to skip
  • Enjoys doing most things independently, without help
  • Balances better, may begin to ride a bicycle
  • Understands time concepts
  • Begins to recognize written words -- reading skills start
  • Starts school
School-age child -- 6 to 12 years
  • Understands and able to follow sequential directions
  • Beginning skills for team sports (soccer, T-ball, etc.)
  • Begins to lose "baby" teeth and erupt permanent teeth
  • Routines important for daytime activities
  • Reading skills develop further
  • Peer recognition begins to become important
  • Girls begin to show growth of armpit and pubic hair, breast development
  • Menarche (1st menstrual period) may occur in girls
Adolescent -- 12 to 18 years
  • Boys show growth of armpit, chest, and pubic hair; voice changes; and testicular/penile enlargement
  • Girls show growth of armpit and pubic hair; breast development; menstrual periods
  • Adult height, weight, sexual maturity
  • Understands abstract concepts
  • Peer acceptance and recognition is of vital importance

Review Date:1/22/2007
Reviewed By:Leisha M. Andersen, M.D., Private Practice specializing in Pediatrics, Denver, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.

Florida Health Finder - Health Outcome Data
No data available for this condition/procedure.
Florida Health Finder - Health Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia Home
Symptom Navigator
Images
Developmental growth
Developmental gr...
 
More Features
Printer-friendly version
end of graphical look of the webpage