Helpful Resource Information

Developmental Milestones

WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD BE DOING?

What follows are some common milestones for young children at different stages of development. If your child consistently demonstrates behaviour listed as a concern for his/her age, please call your doctor or a public health nurse at (604) 476-7000.

    

At  2 Months old  your child generally...                                                                        

• Is alert and responsive
• Spends longer periods with eyes open
• Is able to track a face moving from side to side
• Smiles and coos responsively, startles to loud noises
• Holds head up briefly when face down or held

When to be  concerned

Your child:

• does not respond to sudden loud noises
• arches her back frequently when on lying on her back
• has body posture that feels limp or floppy
• does not make eye contact when awake and held

 

At 9 to 12 months your child generally...

• understands simple directions
• will point to body parts (i.e. nose, eyes, mouth) on request will ask questions using single words (i.e. “Juice?”)
• can squat down to pick up toys and raises head without help
• throws a small ball
• crawls up and down stairs or walks up and down stairs with one hand held
• explores the environment (NOTHING is safe!)

When to be concerned

Your child:

• walks with feet pointing in or out significantly
• walks with feet rolling over inward
• prefers to mouth objects & not explore in new way
• does not respond to familiar words
• does not babble

 

 At 18 months your child generally...

•  Walks up and down stairs holding onto railing
• Uses spoon to feed self
•  Uses several words and gestures to communicate
•  Follows simple directions like “Go get your shoes”
•  Usually plays on own but likes to be around other children

When to be concerned

 Your child:

•  repeats the same actions and is difficult to redirect
•  is unable to play on his or her own  
• plays with toys by mouthing or banging them
•  bangs his or her head for stimulation
• has had no change in language skills in the past six months
•  is not understandable to familiar people
• cannot follow simple directions (“get your hat”)
•  is not walking independently

 

At 24 months your child generally...

•  Asks questions such as “What’s this?”
• Combines words to express thoughts
• Points to many different body parts when asked
•  Is able to walk well and starts to run and climb
•  Starts to help with dressing and feeds self with spoon

When to be concerned

 Your child:

•  is up on toes when running. Poor balance
•  is not saying two word sentences. Difficult to understand
• seems oversensitive to noise
• has difficulty staying on task (ie: playing blocks, sitting for story)

 

 

At 3 years old your child generally...

•  Can identify at least 2 colours and is able to sort objects
• Begins to use her imagination, enjoys listening to stories
•  Changes emotions suddenly
•  Strings beads on a shoelace
•  Learns to share and take turns but still likes to play independently

 

When to be concerned

Your child:

• does not respond when called and it is difficult to get her attention
• is not yet putting 3-4 words together
•  trips and falls often when walking or running
• avoids contact with other children

 

 

At 4-5 years old your child generally...

• Speaks clearly and in sentences
• Works on activity for 20-30 minutes, uses scissors,
• Sings songs, begins to recognize some letters
• Draws simple pictures
• Can walk up and down stairs one foot at a time 
• Can catch a ball with two hands

 

When to be concerned

Your child:

• is unable to follow two-part instructions
• has a strong dislike for small motor skill activities,
• reacts with aggression, hurts animals or others on purpose
• speech is not understood by others

 

 

 

 

Identifying Autism SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2004;114:3166-3176 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Chinese investigators have come up with a new and better way to identify young children with autism. Their screening process combines the best elements from previous surveys designed by researchers in Britain and the United States. Dubbed the CHAT-23 (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers), the two-part screening begins with a written survey parents can take at home when their children are between 18 and 24 months old and then turn in to health officials. Children who fail two of seven key questions or any six out of the entire 23 questions on the survey are then referred for further testing by a trained observer. Children who fail the direct observation go on for further evaluation and early intervention, if they are found to be autistic. The seven key questions for parents include: Does your child imitate you? Does your child ever pretend? Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point? Does your child look at your face to check your reaction when faced with something unfamiliar? Does your child ever bring objects over to you to show you something? If you point at a toy across the room, does your child look at it? Does your child take an interest in other children? The investigators tested the two-step screening process among 212 children with and without autism and found the method to be effective in identifying the autistic children. This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/. Additional information may also be found at this site  and also this site. In Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows concerned parents should contact their family doctor.  Alternatives include a Public Health Nurse, Infant Development Program or Family Support Program as listed on this website under Services.