CHILD DEVELOPMENT - BIRTH TO 19 YEARS
From birth through to adulthood, children will continually grow, develop and learn. A child’s development can be measured through physical, social, emotional, intellectual and language. All children and young adults will follow the same pattern of development; therefore the order in which they develop is roughly the same. However, each child will develop and learn at a different rate to others so this chart should be used as a guide only, not as a test of growth.
Development is the gaining of skills in all aspects of the child’s life, the different types of development are generally split into the following areas:
Physical Development – this refers to the body increasing in skill and performance including gross motor development (using large muscles legs, arms) and fine motor skills (precise use of muscles hands, fingers)
Social and emotional development – this is the development of the child’s identity and self image, the development of relationships and feelings about themselves and others and learning the skills to live in society
Intellectual development – this is leaning the skills of understanding, memory and concentration
Communication and language development – this is learning to communicate with family, friends and other people
Age
Physical Development
Emotional and social development
Intellectual development
Communication and language development
Birth – 4 weeks
Lies on back with head to one side
Head lags when pulled up to sit
Primitive reflexes – sucking, grasping
Responds positively to main carer
Imitates facial expressions
Stares at bright, shiny objects
Blinks in response to bright light
Turns to soft light
Stares at carer
Cries when basic attention needed
Cries when basic needs for attention e.g. hunger, tiredness, distress
1 month
Head control still unsteady
Hands in tight fists
Grasps objects when they touch the palm of their hand
Head and eyes move together
Will gain on average 5-6oz per week until 6 months
Will gain on average 2.5cm of height per month until 6 months
Gazes intently at carers
Social smile at carers
Quiets when picked up
Stares at soft light
Gaze caught by and follows single objects
Is egocentric
Expects feeding at certain times
Freezes when a bell is rung gently near to the ear and moves head towards sound
May stop crying at the sound of a human voice
3 months
Kicks legs and waves arms
Can lift head and turn when on their front
Watches movement and plays with own hands
Holds an object for a few seconds when placed in hand
Begins to understand that hands and feet are an extension of themselves
Stop crying when a parent approaches
Responds with total body to a face they recognise
Follows movement of large and smaller objects
Is attentive for up to 15 minutes at one time
Follows object from side to side of their body
Recognises breast or bottle
Vocalises when spoken to and when alone
Becomes quiet and turns head towards a sound
Listens to voices
Makes cooing sounds
4 months
Uses arms for support when on stomach
Turns from back to side
Holds onto and shakes small objects
Smiles, engages and vocalises with carers
6 months
Sits with support
Rolls over
Pushes head, neck and chest off floor with arms when on front
Passes toy from hand to hand
Average weekly weight gain is 3-5oz for the next six months
Starts to show interest in other babies
Becomes more interested in social interaction depending on amount of time spent with other children
Shows fear of strangers and excitement to known faces
Laughs out loud
Hold out arms to be picked up
May use comfort object e.g. blanket
Shows distress at separation from carer
Picks up objects briefly and directly
Very curious, easily distracted by movements
Puts everything in mouth
Inspects objects at length
Watches toys fall from hands within range of vision
Makes sing-song vowels e.g. arrgh, goo
Laughs and chuckles and screams aloud during play
Responds differently to different
