Milestones beyond 12 months

Children are constantly learning. The milestones from 0-12 months are jam packed. After the first year is when children really take off with their language, social and emotional development. This is the time when kids really start to show their personalities. Try to encourage their love of learning and new found independence. It can be frustrating and the term 'patience of a saint' comes to mind, but when you no longer have to wait on on your child hand and foot, you'll be glad of the effort!

18 months

Social and emotional

"Reads" board books on their own
Hands things to others

Language/Communication

Strings words together in phrases eg. "up mama"
Points to things to indicate their wants
Follows 1-step instructions eg. "pick up the book"

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Brushes teeth with help
Scribbles
Plays pretend games eg. feeds a doll
Can drink from a cup and eat with a spoon

Physical

Walks alone
Starting to run

Be concerned if your child:

Doesn’t point to show things to others
Can’t walk
Doesn’t know what familiar things are for
Doesn’t copy others
Says less than 5 words and doesn’t gain new words
Doesn’t notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns
Loses skills they once had

2 years

Social and emotional

Takes more of an interest in playing with other children
Talks about themselves - likes and dislikes
Begins to show defiance and may tantrum - the 'terrible twos' are in fact a milestone!

Language/Communication

Can use 50 single words
Can make 2-3 word sentences eg. 'want milk mummy'
Follows 2-step instructions eg. 'pick up the book and put it on the shelf'

Cognitive

Can name some familiar things
Can sing simple tunes eg. 'twinkle twinkle'
Build a tower of 4 blocks or more
Can identify several body parts
Might be ready for toilet training
May use one hand more than the other

Physical

Stands on tip-toe
Can throw a ball
Can kick a ball
Can walk downstairs, climb up & down furniture

Be concerned if your child:

Doesn’t use 2-word sentences eg. 'want milk'
Doesn’t know what to do with common things, like a brush, phone, fork, spoon
Doesn’t copy actions and words
Doesn’t follow simple instructions
Doesn’t walk steadily
Loses skills they once had

3 years

Social and Emotional

Copies adults and friends
Shows affection for friends
Takes turns and can share
Understands the idea of ownership - mine, his, hers
Shows a wide range of emotions including concern for crying friend
Dresses and undresses self

Language/Communication

Follows 2 or 3-step instructions
Understands words like 'in', 'on' and 'under'
Can say first name, age, and gender
Names a friend
Says words like 'I', 'me', 'we' and 'you and some plurals eg. cars, dogs, cats
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
Uses 4-5 word sentences and can speak using 2-3 sentences

Cognitive

Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
Plays pretend games with dolls, animals, and people
Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
Can draw a circle
Turns book pages one at a time
Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle
Ready for toilet training

Physical

Climbs well
Runs easily
Pedals a tricycle
Walks up and down stairs
Jumps

Be concerned if your child:

Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
Drools or has very unclear speech
Can’t work simple toys eg. simple puzzles, turning handle
Doesn’t speak in sentences
Doesn’t understand simple instructions
Doesn’t play pretend games
Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys
Doesn’t make eye contact
Loses skills they once had

NOTE: If you have any concerns about your child’s development, speak with your doctor. A delay in one or more areas may indicate problems such as language delay, developmental delay, intellectual delay, and Autistic spectrum disorder. The earlier a problem is detected, the earlier your child can get the appropriate help they need. More information on childhood development can be found at raisingchildren.net.au

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