Enjoy quiet/soothing sometimes and talking/playing at other times
Roll over
Try putting everything in mouth
Turn head toward sounds
Reach for and hold objects
Coo, Babble, squeal, laugh
Be soothed and love to be touched and held close
I can...
At 9 months
Creep or crawl
Respond to my name
Know caregivers from strangers
Say "MAMA" or "DADA"
Imitate sounds
Stand, holding onto a support
Hit two objects together
Understand common words like "no, bye, all gone, night-nite"
Sit without help
Turn pages of a book
I can...
At 12 months
Wave "bye-bye"
Show affection
Say a few words besides "mama or dada"
Walk with one hand held
Show many emotions such as happiness, sadness, discomfort and anger
Be interested in other children
Feed myself with a spoon/fingers/cup
Want caregivers to be where I can see them
I can...
At 18 months
Try putting on own shoes
Let you know what I want
Point to familiar things when named
Walk without help
Speak 10 to 20 words
Show different emotions such as happiness, fear, sympathy, modesty, guilt, or embarrassment
Bring objects to show you
Imitate your behavior
Show interest in other children
Look at something pointed to from across room
I can...
At 2 years
Jump, run and climb stairs
Sometimes use 2 word sentences
Often do opposite of what's asked
Refer to myself by my own name
Learn about rules but not able to remember the rules
Try new things and explore new places but want to know that you are nearby
Show affection by returning a hug or kiss
Pretend in my play
I can...
At 3 years
Be toilet training during the day, usually dry during the night
Talk and usually be understood
Use three word sentences
Pedal a tricycle
Kick a ball
Copy drawing a straight line
Name 6 body parts
Play briefly with other children
Sometimes express feeling with words
Think about feelings of others
Use imagination to create stories and play activities
Shift emotions quickly as I learn to handle emotions
Pay attention longer now
I can...
At 4 years
Ask questions
Play make believe
Dress myself, except for fasteners
Put together 7-12 piece puzzle
Climb up and down a slide
Match or name some colors
Love to retell my favorite stories
Have favorite activities and playmates
Understand simple home rules
Share and take turns but am possessive of favorite toys
Begin to control frustration
Start to understand danger
I can...
At 5 years
Play organized games
Follow a 3 step direction
Cut with a scissors
Copy familiar shapes
Draw a person with 6-8 body parts
Catch a bounced ball
Count to 10
Can predict what might happen in books when you read to me
Talk to familiar adults and children
My family can...
At 3 months
Give me interesting things to look at
Give me big, soft and safe toys
Sing and read to me
Comfort me by talking in a soft and soothing voice
Hold me to feed me
Breast or bottle feed on demand
Throw away leftover breast milk/formula
Put me to sleep on my back
My family can...
At 6 months
Look at colorful books with me
Talk to and play with me
Baby proof everything
Offer mashed or solid food as soon as I show signs
of chewing motion
Introduce infant juice in a cup not a bottle
Let me sleep 2 to 3 times a day
Put me to sleep on my back
My family can...
At 9 months
Play games with me like "pat-a-cake", "so big", "peek a boo" and ball games
Sing and read to me
Talk to me about what I am seeing or doing
Give me a safe place to move around
Offer small amounts of well cut up slightly cooked food
Avoid foods that may cause choking
Put me to bed without a bottle
My family can...
At 12 months
Let me turn the pages of a book we are looking at
Play with me, read to me, sing to me, and talk to me
Help me learn what I shouldn't do by saying "no" in a firm quiet voice
Stay within eyesight
Switch from formula to whole milk
Serve liquids only in a cup
Include me at family meals
My family can...
At 18 months
Match toys to my age with no small pieces
Show me what I can do and use simple, one-step directions
Hold me and read simple stories
Teach me simple songs
Divert me from things I should not do
Offer variety of foods and allow me to choose amount and type of food as my growth is slower now
Avoid using food as a reward or punishment
My family can...
At 2 years
Help me learn new words
Tell or read me short stories
Talk to me about things I do and see
Help me learn new words
Be calm and comforting after my temper outbursts, I need to know that you love me
Be consistent with what I can and cannot do
Offer lots of choices
Watch milk/juice intake, too much can decrease appetite for solid foods
Encourage water
Remember portion sizes as 1 tbsp. per year of age
My family can...
At 3 years
Take me to the public library and help me get my own library card
Let me help with simple household chores
Help me put my toys away
Model when to say please, thank you and sorry
Schedule a dental visit and ask about sealants, thumb sucking or pacifier use
Contact my school district to schedule an appointment for Early Childhood Screening
My family can...
At 4 years
Read with me every day
Let me make meaningful choices every day
Give me crayons, markers so that I can practice drawing
Pay attention to me when I am talking
Give me opportunities to play with other children
Respect my food dislikes
Avoid giving me foods high in sugar or fat such as candy, soft drinks or chip snacks
My family can...
At 5 years
Read, Read, Read to me
Sort and count all kinds of household things with me
Let me help plan activities and events
Catch me being good and encourage all the things I do
Point out familiar symbols and words for me to know
Show a variety of emotions
Recognize that my appetite will vary from day to day
Feed me foods from the basic food groups
*Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to ParentsKnow Website visitors. Please read the disclaimer notice at the bottom of the page regarding these sites. Links will open in a new browser window.