The First Year
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care – NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 1st year. In *Developmental milestones: A guide for parents*. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.
By 3 months of age does the child:
Motor Skills
- lift head when held at your shoulder
- lift head and chest when lying on his stomach
- turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach
- follow a moving object or person with his eyes
- often hold hands open or loosely fisted
- grasp rattle when given to her
- wiggle and kick with arms and legs
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- turn head toward bright colors and lights
- turn toward the sound of a human voice
- recognize bottle or breast
- respond to your shaking a rattle or bell
Language and Social Skills
- make cooing, gurgling sounds
- smile when smiled at
- communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression)
- usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held
- anticipate being lifted
- react to “peek-a-boo” games
By 6 months of age does the child:
Motor Skills
- hold head steady when sitting with your help
- reach for and grasp objects
- play with his toes
- help hold the bottle during feeding
- explore by mouthing and banging objects
- move toys from one hand to another
- shake a rattle
- pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands
- sit with only a little support
- sit in a high chair
- roll over
- bounce when held in a standing position
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- open his mouth for the spoon
- imitate familiar actions you perform
Language and Social Skills
- babble, making almost sing-song sounds
- know familiar faces
- laugh and squeal with delight
- scream if annoyed
- smile at herself in a mirror
By 12 months of age does the child:
Motor Skills
- drink from a cup with help
- feed herself finger food like raisins or bread crumbs
- grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger
- use his first finger to poke or point
- put small blocks in and take them out of a container
- knock two blocks together
- sit well without support
- crawl on hands and knees
- pull himself to stand or take steps holding onto furniture
- stand alone momentarily
- walk with one hand held
- cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- copy sounds and actions you make
- respond to music with body motion
- try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy)
- look for an object she watched fall out of sight (such as a spoon that falls under the table)
Language and Social Skills
- babble, but it sometimes “sounds like” talking
- say his first word
- recognize family members’ names
- try to “talk” with you
- respond to another’s distress by showing distress or crying
- show affection to familiar adults
- show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent
- show apprehension about strangers
- raise her arms when she wants to be picked up
- understand simple commands