Language
Mrs. Coo brings in her daughter for a well-child visit and states that she has started to babble. How old(ish) is her daughter?
Babbling – consonant-vowel sounds; typically emerges at 6 months of age (kids first start to coo (vowel sounds), then start to babble (consonant-vowel sounds) and then start jabbering (talk to themselves in incoherent language))
Brody is accompanying his younger sister, Madison, for her well-child check-up. When you start asking about development and Madison’s smiling, Brody pipes up to tell you that he is “Madison’s favorite, ‘cause when I smile at her, she smiles at me… and even if she’s upset, I can turn her frown upside down!” When do infants start to smile in a reciprocal fashion?
2 months old
At what age can a child prop up on forearms? When can they (usually) sit without support?
Props on forearms: 3 months
Sits without support: 6 months
At what age can a child write his/her first name?
5 y/o
Todd’s father brings him in to the office today with concerns that Todd “often talks to himself and frequently insists that his friend Jo-Jo be set a place for dinner, even though Jo-Jo doesn’t exist!” What can you tell Todd’s father about this behavior, and how old do you think Todd is?
3 y/o
playing with imaginary friends is normal behavior for toddlers!
Mr. Prosy brings in his 10-month-old daughter for a fever and ear pain. After you hand him a prescription, he mentions that he’s concerned she hasn’t started talking yet. When do kids usually start producing words? (Give a range!)
First words typically appear between 9 months and 15 months
By age 18 months children usually have 50 words
At what ages do children develop the following play characteristics?
- Imaginative play
- Group play
Imaginative play at 3 y/o
Group play at 4 y/o
At what age can a child pedal a tricycle? Skip?
Pedal a tricycle: 3 y/o
Skip: 5 y/o
At what age does a child develop:
Raking grasp
Pincer grasp
Raking grasp: 5-6 months
Pincer grasp: 12 months
As you enter the room to see Jake, you find him giggling and smiling with his parents. As you go to examine him, he withdraws and begins to get upset. His father rocks him and Jake settles down. How old is Jake?
6 months
stranger anxiety, distress around those who are unfamiliar, can be consoled by those who are familiar
At what age should a child be able to be understood 75% of the time by a stranger?
Age 3 years
divide the age by 4 to get the percentage of intelligible speech [So, using this rule, 4-year-olds should be understood 100% of the time, and 2-year-olds should be understood 50% of the time]
At what age does a child start looking purposefully when their name is called?
9 months
In the midst of Kate’s WCC, her father excitedly tells you that Kate has just started kicking a soccer ball. How old do you think Kate is?
24 months
At 24 months, a child should be able to: Walk down stairs holding the railing, two feet on each step; Kick a ball without demonstration; Throw overhand
At what age can a child copy a circle and a cross? (can give a range)
3-4 y/o
At what age can an infant discriminate his/her mother’s voice?
during the first month of life
At what age does an infant use "Dada" and "Mama" non-specifically?
6-8 Months
You’re babysitting your sister’s son, Colby. After a day of pat-a-cake, the great outdoors, and Teddy Grahams, he rewards your efforts by waving “bye-bye.” About how old is Colby? (can give a range)
Somewhere around 6 months old.
Infants are able to play pat-a-cake by 6-7 months of age, and are often waving “bye-bye” by age 6 mos.
Ben arrives for his WCC and his mother reports that he can climb on furniture, run – albeit stiff-legged, and can stoop up to pick up a toy. How old is Ben?
15 months
Mrs. Thomas has noticed that her daughter Sarah has started to build towers out of blocks. She has been stacking 4-6 blocks vertically… how old is Sarah? (can give a range)
15-24 months
Stacking with 4 blocks is usually seen between 16-20 months
Stacking with 6 blocks is usually seen between 18-24 months
Mrs. Spork and Mr. Foon are rather competitive siblings, and have brought in their respective sons. Mrs. Spork brags that her son is able to use a spoon to feed himself (though she admits, somewhat under her breath that he “tends to spill a rather lot.”) Smirking, Mr. Foon states that his son can also use a spoon to feed himself, and “rarely spills anything from bowl to mouth.” How old are the two boys?
Mrs. Spork’s son: likely ~18 mos, this is the age where kids can feed themselves with a spoon, though they tend to spill quite a bit
Mr. Foon’s son: likely ~24 mos
Hunter grabs a handful of crayons, and, eager to show off how many colors he knows, points to each crayon and says, “Orange!” “Red!” “Yellow!” “Blue!”… how old is Hunter? (You can give a range)
2 ½ to 4-years old
Maggie is brought in by her grandmother for a well-child visit. Her grandmother is excited to tell you that Maggie constantly turns her head in response to her own name being called, and can point at things to request them. How old is Maggie? (can give a range)
She’s somewhere between 12 and 14 months.
By 10 months of age, infants will consistently turn their head in response to his/her own name. Pointing to request objects/people often develops between age 12-14 months.
At what age can a child walk? Walk up stairs two feet on each step?
Walk: 12-15 months
Walk up stairs (2 feet per step): 22 months
Kayla comes in with her mother for her annual physical. Kayla immediately wants to show you how well she can button and unbutton her shirt. As you finish up the exam, Kayla hands you a picture she has drawn of a person, which includes a head, a body and the requisite appendages. How old is Kayla? (can give a range)
4-5 y/o
Mr. and Mrs. Jolie are tired of having to undress their twins, Pete and Repete, and would like to know when they can expect the boys to start being able to take off some of their own clothes…
Being able to take off clothes (but not put them back on can start at 18 months (age range 18 mos – 2 ½ years old).
Being able to put clothes on is usually seen around age 3 ½ to 4 y/o.