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Child Developmental Checklists

Child development is not the same thing as child growth. Growth refers to your child physically getting bigger. Child development, on the other hand, consists of complex tasks the child can perform as he gets older. By certain ages, babies and children are expected to possess specific gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language skills, cognitive skills and social skills.

  1. 3 Months Old

    • When your child reaches the end of 3 months, motor skills he should have mastered include lifting his head, turning his head side to side when on his stomach, following moving objects with his eyes, holding a rattle and applying weight on his legs when his feet are touching the floor. Socially, 3-month-olds begin to smile, receive joy out of playing with others, communicate with their faces and body, and mimic some movements and facial expressions of others. They also begin to make cooing sounds. Cognitive skills include turning their head toward bright colors, lights and human voices, as well as identifying a common item like a bottle.

    6 Months Old

    • At 6 months, your child has already learned a bunch of new skill sets. He can roll over, sit up in a high chair, reach and successfully grab toys, and bounce when he's held in a standing position. By this age, he also begins to explore the world around him by sticking objects in his mouth or banging them together. His new thinking skills allow him to open his mouth for the spoon during meals and imitate things you do regularly. Though he doesn't talk yet, your child should be babbling, squealing when happy and screaming when irritated. He also smiles at his reflection in the mirror.

    12 Months Old

    • By 12 months of age, you can expect your child to sit up by himself, crawl, pull himself to a standing position, walk while holding on to furniture and perhaps even take his first step without aid. His fine motor skills enable him to put toys or other objects in a container and take them back out, poke you using his index finger and mimic scribbling. A 12-month-old should be able to search for a toy that has fallen out of sight and complete small goals, such as seeing a toy and crawling across the room to get it. Children generally speak their first word around this age. They recognize the names of family members, raise their arms to show they want to be picked up and understand simple commands.

    Developmental Problems

    • If by 1 year old, your child does not crawl or drags one side of his body while trying to crawl, still cannot stand when supported, and doesn't say single words like "mama" or "dada," he may have developmental problems. If you suspect your child may not being developing on time, consult your doctor.

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