Developmental growth
Developmental growth

Developmental milestones record

Alternative Names:
Growth milestones for children; Normal childhood growth milestones; Childhood growth milestones

Information:

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 up to 8 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 exhibit secondary sexual characteristics (growth of axillary and pubic hair, breast development)
  • Menarche (1st menstrual period) may occur in girls
Adolescent -- 12 to 18 years
  • Boys exhibit secondary sexual characteristics (growth of axillary, chest, and pubic hair, voice changes and testicular/penile enlargement)
  • Girls exhibit secondary sexual characteristics (growth of axillary and pubic hair, breast development, menstrual periods)
  • Physical changes move child into adult height, weight, sexual maturity
  • Cognitive abilities move from simply concrete concepts to abstract
  • Peer acceptance and recognition is of vital importance

Review Date: 8/8/2001
Reviewed By: Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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