Developmental Milestones
By this age, most children begin walking independently.
What is around 12 months (10–15 months acceptable)?
Toddlers learning to feed themselves are developing this skill.
What is independence (or self-help skills)?
When an infant uses gestures like pointing or waving to communicate, this is called this type of communication.
What is nonverbal communication?
Babies learn by touching, looking, and putting things in their mouths. This is called learning through the ______.
What are the senses?
A common reason preschoolers act out is because they cannot express themselves using these.
What are words (or language skills)?
By age 4, children should be able to do this motor skill involving one foot at a time.
What is hopping on one foot?
Preschoolers learning to calm down after being upset are building this skill.
What is self-regulation?
Babies begin making repetitive sounds like “ba-ba” and “da-da” around this age.
What is around 6 months?
When a child uses a banana as a “phone,” they are using this type of thinking.
What is pretend (or symbolic) thinking?
Tantrums often occur when a child is tired, hungry, or feeling this.
What is overstimulated (or stressed)?
This fine motor skill typically develops around age 2 and involves the use of books.
What is turning book pages individually?
Feeling safe with a caregiver is called this type of attachment.
What is secure attachment?
Most toddlers begin combining two words like “more juice” around this age.
What is around 18–24 months?
Toddlers begin to match shapes like circles and squares around this age range.
What is 2–3 years old?
When a preschooler throws a toy instead of asking for it, the teacher can help by teaching this skill.
What is problem-solving or communication skills?
A red flag at 18 months would be a child not doing this foundational communication behavior.
What is pointing (or using gestures)?
When a preschooler begins to understand how a friend feels after they fall down, they are developing this skill.
What is empathy?
When a teacher labels objects around the room and talks throughout the day, this practice supports this area of development.
What is vocabulary development?
Simple puzzles help children build this skill.
What is problem-solving?
When a toddler hits or bites because they are frustrated, this skill is not yet fully developed.
What is emotional regulation?
This reflex helps newborns find food when their cheek is stroked.
What is the rooting reflex?
Playing next to another child without interacting much is called this type of play.
What is parallel play?
When a teacher adds words to what a child says (Child: “Dog!” Teacher: “Yes, big brown dog!”), this strategy is called this.
What is language expansion?
When preschoolers play “What comes next?” with patterns like red, blue, red, blue, they are learning this early math skill.
What is pattern recognition?
Ignoring minor misbehaviors and giving attention to positive behaviors is part of this strategy.
What is positive reinforcement?