Normal Stages of Human Development

Normal Stages of
Human Development
(Birth to 5 Years)
This page presents an overview of child development from birth to five years of age.
It is important to keep in mind that the time frames presented are averages and
some children may achieve various developmental milestones earlier or later than
the average but still be within the normal range. This information is presented to
help parents understand what to expect from their child. Any questions you may
have about your child's development should be shared with his doctor.
Physical and Language Emotional Social

Birth to 1 month:
Feedings: 5-8 per day Generalized Tension Helpless
Sleep: 20 hrs per day Asocial
Sensory Capacities: makes basic Fed by mother
distinctions in vision, hearing,
smelling, tasting, touch,
temperature, and perception of pain
2 to 3 months
Sensory Capacities: color percep- Delight Visually fixates at a face, smiles at a
tion, visual exploration, oral Distress face, may be soothed by rocking.
exploration. Smiles at a Face
Sounds: cries, coos, grunts
Motor Ability: control of eye
muscles, lifts head when on
stomach.
4 to 6 months
Sensory Capacities: localizes Enjoys being cuddled Recognizes his mother.
sounds Distinguishes between familiar
Sounds: babbling, makes most persons and strangers, no longer
vowels and about half of the smiles indiscriminately. Expects
consonants feeding, dressing, and bathing.
Feedings: 3-5 per day
Motor Ability: control of head and
arm movements, purposive
grasping, rolls over.
7 to 9 months
Motor Ability: control of trunk and Specific emotional attachment to Enjoys "peek-a-boo"
hands, sits without support, crawls mother. Protests separation from
about. mother.
10 to 12 months
Motor Ability: control of legs and Anger Responsive to own name. Wave bye-
feet, stands, creeps, apposition of Affection bye. Plays pat-a-cake, understands
thumb and fore-finger. Fear of strangers "no-no!" Gives and takes objects.
Language: says one or two words, Curiosity, exploration
imitates sounds, responds to simple
commands.
Feedings: 3 meals, 2 snacks
Sleep: 12 hours, 2 naps
1 to 1 ½ years
Motor Ability: creeps up stairs, Dependent Behavior Obeys limited commands. Repeats
walks (10-20 min), makes lines on Very upset when separated a few words. Interested in his
paper with crayon. from mother mirror image. Feeds himself.
Fear of Bath
1 ½ to 2 years
Motor Ability: runs, kicks a ball, Temper tantrums (1-3yrs) Does opposite of what he is told (18
builds 6 cube tower (2yrs) Capable Resentment of new baby months).
of bowel and bladder control.
Language: vocabulary of more
than 200 words
Sleep: 12 hours at night, 1-2 hr nap
2 to 3 years
Motor Ability: jumps off a step, Fear of separation Talks, uses "I" "me" "you" Copies
rides a tricycle, uses crayons, Negativistic (2 ½ yrs) parents' actions. Dependent, clinging,
builds a 9-10 cube tower. Violent emotions, anger possessive about toys, enjoys playing
Language: starts to use short Differentiates facial expressions of alongside another child. Negativism
sentences controls and explores anger, sorrow, and joy. (2 ½ yrs). Resists parental demands.
world with language, stuttering Sense of humor (Plays tricks) Gives orders. Rigid insistence on
may appear briefly. sameness of routine. Inability to
make decisions.
3 to 4 years
Motor Ability: Stands on one leg, Affectionate toward parents. Likes to share, uses "we"
jumps up and down, draws a circle Pleasure in genital manipulation Cooperative play with other children,
and a cross (4 yrs) Self-sufficient in Romantic attachment to parent of nursery school. Imitates parents.
many routines of home life. opposite sex (3 to 5 yrs) Beginning of identification with
Jealousy of same-sex parent. same-sex parent, practices sex-role
Imaginary fears of dark, injury, etc. activities. Intense curiosity &
(3 to 5 years) interest in other children's bodies.
Imaginary friend.
4 to 5 years
Motor ability: mature motor Responsibility and guild Prefers to play with other children,
control, skips, broad jumps, dresses Feels pride in accomplishment becomes competitive prefers sex-
himself, copies a square and a appropriate activities.
triangle.
Language: talks clearly, uses adult
speech sounds, has mastered basic
grammar, relates a story, knows
over 2,000 words (5 yrs)
Also, See Developmental Sequence (Toddler to Preschool)

Normal Stages of Human Development

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Normal Stages of Human Development

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Normal Stages of Human Development

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Normal Stages of

Physical and Language Emotional Social

Also, See Developmental Sequence (Toddler to Preschool)

You might also like