As a parent or foster carer, you want to ensure the child in your care is developing typically and reaching key developmental milestones on time. While every child develops at their own pace, there are general guidelines for when most children achieve certain skills. Understanding what is considered normal development versus potential delays or setbacks is important, so you can get your child any extra support they may need. This guide covers some of the major developmental milestones from birth to age 5 and provides tips on what to do if you have any concerns.
Physical Milestones
In the first year of life, babies undergo rapid physical development. Major milestones include:
- Holding their head up while on their tummy around 3-6 months
- Sitting up unsupported around 6-10 months
- Crawling around 6-10 months
- Walking unassisted around 12-18 months
During the toddler years, physical milestones include:
- Climbing stairs and running steadily around 18-24 months
- Kicking, throwing, and catching balls around 24-36 months
- Pedalling a tricycle around 3-4 years
- Hopping on one foot around 4-5 years
Any delays in gross motor skills like sitting, standing, or walking should be discussed with your foster agency or health visitor.
Language and Communication Milestones
Communication milestones range from coos and babbles as a baby to complex sentences as a preschooler. Key language milestones include:
- First words around 12 months
- Pointing to objects and pictures when named around 12-15 months
- Combining two words around 18-24 months
- Speaking in simple sentences around age 2
- Holding conversations around age 3
- Telling stories and recalling events after age 4
Delays in babbling, language, or social communication could signify speech, language, or other issues. Discuss concerns with your health visitor.
Cognitive and Social Milestones
As children grow, they also progress intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Cognitive milestones include:
- Playing interactive games like peekaboo around 6 months
- Pretend play around age 2
- Understanding concepts like colours and counting around age 3
- Recognising some letters and numbers around age 4
- Early reading around age 5
Social milestones include:
- Making eye contact and social smiles around 2-4 months
- Playing near other children around age 2
- Engaging in cooperative play around age 3
- Showing sympathy and taking turns around age 4
- Playing group games with rules around age 5
Any concerns about skills like problem-solving, play, or social interaction should prompt a discussion with your health visitor or GP.
What If You Have Concerns?
If your child has missed one or more expected milestones or landmarks, don’t panic. Some lag is normal. However, if delays persist or you have ongoing concerns, speak to your fostering agency, such as fosteringpeople.co.uk, or your health visitor and consider getting a formal assessment. Early intervention can make a huge difference if your child needs extra support, therapy, or special education services.
While every child hits on their own schedule, established guidelines help identify when a child may need extra help. By understanding what’s considered typical development versus potential delays, you can ensure your child gets the support they need to thrive. Trust your instincts – you know your child best.
Summary:
The article explores developmental milestones—key skills and behaviors most children typically achieve by certain ages—and helps parents and caregivers understand what’s considered typical versus potential signs of developmental delays. It breaks down milestones across major domains such as motor skills, language, social-emotional development, and cognitive abilities, outlining common achievements in infancy, toddlerhood, and early childhood.
The guide emphasizes that children develop at their own pace, and some variation is normal. However, it also highlights red flags that may warrant further evaluation, such as not walking by 18 months or not speaking any words by age 2. The article encourages proactive communication with pediatricians and early intervention if delays are suspected, stressing that early support can significantly improve outcomes.