Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
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Your child’s development: What to expect
Watching your child grow and develop is one of the mos
exciting parts of being a parent, especially in the early months
when it seems every day brings a new skill.
Knowing what to expect from your child will help you in many
ways. If you’re worried that they are not reaching some
milesones, you can mention it to your doctor. As well, if you know what skills to expect at a
specifc age, you can be sure to take seps to keep your child safe (for example, keeping
dangerous objects well out of reach before your baby sarts crawling).
Children develop skills in several diferent areas:
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Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
Gross motor: These are movements using the body’s large muscles and include sitting,
standing, walking, running, keeping balance, and changing positions.
Fine motor: These skills use the small muscles in the hands and fingers. Fine motor
skills include using hands to eat, draw, dress, play, and write. They develop over time
and also involve hand-eye coordination.
Language: Speaking, using body language and gestures, and understanding what
others say.
Social: Connecting and having relationships with others, cooperating, and responding to
others' feelings.
Cognitive: These are thinking skills—learning, understanding, problem-solving,
reasoning, and remembering.
The table below is a general guide for development from birth to age 4. Remember, all children
are diferent and develop skills at diferent times. It is normal for a child to be behind in some
areas and ahead in others.
For babies born prematurely, milesones are based on their corrected age (your baby's
actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).
If you have any concerns about your child’s development, or if they seem to be behind in more
than one of the areas lised below, speak with your doctor.
Age
Gross motor
Fine motor
Social/Language
At the end of
3 months,
most infants
can…
roll from front to
bring their hands
smile when you
back
together
smile and on
control head and
open and shut their
neck movement
hands
when sitting
raise their head
and chest when
lying on their
stomach
stretch out and
kick their legs
bring their hands to
their mouth
take swipes at a
hanging object
their own
be expressive
and
communicate
with their face
and body
copy some body
movements and
facial
expressions
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Cognitive
watch faces closely
follow moving
objects
recognize objects
and people they
know
Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
when lying on their
stomach or back
push down with
their legs when
feet are on a firm
surface
At the end of
8 months,
most babies
can…
roll both ways
hold and shake a
reach for a
track a moving
(front to back, back
hand toy
person they
object, and find
know
one that is partially
to front)
move an object
sit on their own
from hand to hand
support their whole
use their hands to
weight on their
explore an object
legs
control their upper
body and arms
smile at
hidden
themselves in a
explore with hands
mirror
and mouth
respond when
struggle to get
others express
objects that are out
emotion
of reach
copy speech
look from one
sounds
object to another
watch a falling
object
At 12 to 14
months,
most babies
can…
reach a sitting
finger-feed using
be shy or
explore objects in
position without
thumb and fore-
anxious with
different ways
help
finger (pincer
strangers
(shaking, banging,
crawl on hands
grasp)
and knees, or
put objects into a
scoot around on
container (and take
their bum
them out again)
get from a sitting to
release objects
a crawling or prone
voluntarily
(on their stomach)
position
pull up to a
standing position
cruise, holding
onto furniture
stand briefly
without support
poke with an index
finger
push a toy
begin to drink from
copy during play
have favourite
toys and people
test limits to
know the names of
familiar objects
respond to music
actions and
begin to explore
behaviours
cause and effect
put out an arm
or leg to help
when being
dressed
a cup
take off socks
scribble with a
come when
crayon
called (respond
begin to use a
throwing, dropping)
to name)
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Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
walk holding an
adult’s hand, and
spoon
say “mama” or
“dada” with at
maybe take 2 or 3
least one other
steps on their own
word with
meaning
start to climb stairs
with help
communicate a
need without
crying
stop an action if
you say “no”
At 18
months,
most babies
can…
climb into chairs
walk without help
climb stairs one at
a time with help
build a 3-block
say 20 or
use objects as
tower
more words
tools
use a spoon well
follow a simple
fit related objects
instruction
together (e.g., in a
turn a few boardbook pages at a
remove some
time
clothing on their
turn over a
shape sorter)
own
container to pour
point to a named
out the contents
body part
drink easily from a
point to familiar
cup
objects when
asked
help with simple
tasks
At 24
months,
most
toddlers
can…
pull a toy while
build a tower of 4
start to put 2
begin “make-
walking
blocks or more
words together
believe” play
carry a large toy or
complete a simple
copy the
more than one toy
shape-matching
behaviour of
while walking
puzzle
adults and other
begin to run
turn board-book
kick or throw a ball
climb into and get
down from chairs
without help
walk up and down
children
pages easily, one
get excited
at a time
about being with
other children
play alongside
other children
show increasing
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Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
stairs with help
independence
show defiant
behaviour
At 3 years,
most
toddlers
can…
walk up and down
make up-and-down,
show
match an object in
stairs, alternating
side-to-side and
spontaneous
their hand or the
feet (one foot per
circular lines with a
affection for
room to a picture in
stair)
pencil or crayon
playmates they
a book
run easily
build a tower of
jump in place
throw a ball
overhead
more than 6 blocks
hold a pencil in a
writing position
screw and unscrew
jar lids or big nuts
and bolts
string big beads
know
include animals,
begin to take
dolls and people in
turns
make-believe play
understand the
sort easily by
concept of
shape and colour
“mine” vs.
“someone
else’s”
object to
work latches and
changes in
hooks
routine
snip with children’s
anticipate daily
scissors
activities
complete a puzzle
with 3 or 4 pieces
understand the
difference between
1 and 2
name body parts
and colours
speak in
sentences and
ask a lot of
questions
put toys away
ask for help
know their full
name
At 4 years,
most
preschoolers
can…
hop and stand on 1
draw a person with
look forward to
understand
foot for up to 4
2 to 4 body parts
new experiences
counting
use children’s
cooperate with
follow a 3-part
kick a ball forward
scissors
other children
instruction
catch a
draw circles and
play “Mom” or
recall parts of a
bouncing ball
squares
“Dad”
story
twiddle thumbs
be very inventive
make up and tell
seconds
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Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
do a finger-to-
dress and
thumb sequence
undress
(e.g., Itsy-Bitsy
Spider)
imagine
simple stories
understand “same”
and “different”
monsters
enjoy fantasy play
negotiate
know their address
solutions to
conflicts
Source: Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care , 3rd edition
More information from the CPS
Additional resources
Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents
Looksee Checklist by nnds
can promote literacy from birth
Importance of Early Childhood
Your baby’s brain: How parents can support
Development: From the Encyclopedia on
healthy development
Early Childhood Development
Reviewed by the following CPS committees
Public Education Advisory Committee
Las updated: October 2019
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Your child’s development: What to expect | Caring for kids
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