Three to six months
Physically, at this stage the baby should be able to control their head and be able to grasp objects and transfer them between the hands. Co-ordination skills are developing and shiny objects and bright colours excite the baby. They will also start to reach out for objects of interest. Babies of this age have also developed language skills, and may start to imitate sounds that they hear and recognise. Emotionally, babies at this stage are very trusting, and enjoy security from receiving attention and being in contact with others.
Six to nine months
Babies at this age can take part in simple games such as peek-a-boo. However, will need to use more complex toys in order to be stimulated to prevent boredom, as anything too simple can cause boredom, but anything too complex can harm confidence. If the mother or main carer goes out of sight for a period of time, the baby can become distressed as they are developing emotionally to become wary of people they do not know, thus developing a sense of insecurity. Social skills are still developing, and babies will start to laugh along with others.
Nine to twelve months
At this stage, a child will be able to sit unaided for long lengths of time, and mobility is greatly increased. They should be able to crawl by now, and even start walking without any help. The ability to throw should also start to develop. Also the child’s memory is also starting to develop resulting in the ability to remember things, alongside developing skills to wave and clap. Children also start to imitate the actions of others, including the sounds they make and the moods they are in, such as laughing when others are laughing and crying when others are crying without knowing why. They can understand simple instructions such as wave goodbye and give kisses, along with copying the sounds of animals. Children enjoy being around people they already know, and become distressed if left with people they do not immediately recognise. They will have learnt the ability to play alone, and will happily do this. Music has been discovered and nursery rhymes are thoroughly enjoyed.
One Year
By the time a child reaches their first birthday, they should be able to crawl or walk, and may be able to climb stairs with supervision, although balance is still difficult to maintain. Intellectual development has increased at a very fast rate. Competency is improved, and they can focus more easily. They will also understand that not everyone has the same preferences as them. Children of this age should also of started to talk, and may be able to say simple words such as “mum” and “dad”. Reactions are often copied and feelings imitated. Confidence starts to improve, and a sense of identity has been developed.
Two Years
Mobility has increased majorly since the first birthday. Children will be able to run and walk along with navigating steps or stairs. Ball game skills have been improved, and they will be able to kick and throw a ball, but may not have the confidence to catch. Children at this age enjoy music and may enjoy making music with instruments. Fantasy play is stimulating for a child of this age, and they may enjoy acting and talking to themselves. They can understand many words, and it is thought that they will have developed a vocabulary of around 50 words. At this age the child becomes more fluent with language which means they can hold a conversation better. Fears and phobias are developed, as children become easily distressed at 2 years old. The sense of identity and memory has increased. Children are learning to dress and feed themselves, as they have become more independent and confident.
The main development of a child from the age range 3-5.
3 years
Most methods of movement will have been discovered by this age, including running, walking and jumping from low heights. Children aged 3 should be able to use stairs normally, and also ride a tricycle. The fantasy play that was discovered at age two will start to become more complex, and concentration is improved significantly. The improved concentration and more complex play means that the child may even be able to start using scissors to cut paper. As the child’s language skills develop, they enjoy listening to stories, singing songs and using repetition. They have developed the skill to talk in sentences in past and present tense. When a child is unable to communicate the right sentence verbally, they may become frustrated. The child understands the difference between male and female, and as they become more aware of their feelings and emotions, they will be able to describe how they are feeling and the reason for feeling the way they do. Although by this age children should have started to make friends, if they are not given their own way a tantrum could be provoked.
4 years
Balance has been established and walking in a straight line should be achievable. Memory is developing at a fast pace and past and future understanding is established. As intellectual skills develop, drawings start to become more apparent, and complex activities can be completed. A lot of questions start to be asked by the age of four, as children become very inquisitive. The child’s imagination has increased since the third birthday, and nursery or school will be in attendance, meaning the number of friends will have increased.
5 years
After the fifth birthday, physical ability has developed more. A child will of started to dance, skip and should be confident playing ball games, including catching the ball. Literacy and numeracy start to be recognised, and some children will be able to count. Confidence in speaking has improved and they will understand a large amount of words, even if they do not use these when speaking. A child of five can now control emotions, and has developed the ability to hide these emotions. Children understand the importance of sharing, and will have developed a sense for what is right and what is wrong.
The main development of a child from the age range 5-8.
Between the ages of 5-8, a child’s physical ability has improved significantly. By this age the child will have the confidence to ride a bicycle unaided, run and jump. They will also be confident in balancing. Reading has improved along with developing more complex mathematical skill. Reading and writing will now be able to be completed individually, with little or no intervention. Descriptions have become more accurate and detailed, and they can understand comparisons, similarities and opposites in different tenses with confidence. Children in this age range are more demanding and stubborn, meaning they become more competitive as they fulfil the need to succeed. As the child will become more competitive, arguments will start to happen, meaning they will experience different moods before they reach 8 years. After the eighth birthday, the child becomes more mature meaning fewer arguments tend to happen. The need to succeed is still apparent, and children over 8 require appraisal and approval from peers. At this stage the child will prefer to spend time alone over socialising, however may still forge a friendship with just one friend, which they often refer to as being the “best friend”.