Learning starts in infancy, long before formal education begins, and continues throughout life. The early years of human development establish the basic architecture and function of the brain. From newborns to teens parents often have questions and wonder if their children are developing normally.
It is very important for each one of us (doctors and parents ) to know signs of normal development in a child from infancy to early childhood, so as to identify any developmental disorder ( Autism, Downs syndrome, strabismus, mental retardations and others ) at its earliest and get it treated.
| Age | Skills awareness and Abilities | Movement | Communication | Social Response | Self-help |
| Birth - 3 months | Responds to new sounds Follows movement of hands with eyes Looks at object and people | Waves hands and feet Grasps objects Watches movement of own hands | Coos and makes sounds Smiles at mother's voice | Enjoys being tickled and held Makes brief eye contact during feeding | Opens mouth to bottle or breast and sucks |
| 3-6 months | Recognizes mother Reaches for things | Lifts head and chest Bangs objects in play | Turns head to sounds and voices Begins babbling Imitates sounds Varies cry | Notices strangers and new places Expresses pleasure or displeasure Likes physical play | Eats baby food from spoon Reaches for and holds bottle |
| 6-9 months | Imitates simple gestures Responds to name | Crawls Stands by holding on to things Claps hands Moves objects from one hand to the other | Makes nonsense syllables like gaga Uses voice to get attention | Plays peek-a-boo Enjoys other children Understands social signals like smiles or harsh tones | Chews Drink from a cup with help |
| 9-12 months | Plays simple games Moves to reach desired objects Looks at pictures in books | Walks holding on to furniture Deliberately lets go of an object Makes markes with a pencil or crayons. | Waves bye-bye Stops when told "no" Imitates new words | Laughs aloud during play Shows preference for one toy over another Responds to adult's change in mood | Feeds self with fingers Drinks from cup |
| 12-18 months | Imitates unfamiiar sounds and gestures Points to a desired object | Creeps upstairs and downstairs Walks alone Stacks blocks | Shakes head to mean "no" Begins using words Follows simple commands | Repeats a performance laughed at Shows emotions like fear or anger Returns a kiss or hug | Moves to help in dressing Indicates wet diaper |
| 18-24 months | Identifies parts of own body Attends to nursery rhymes Points to pictures in books | Jumps in place Pushes and pulls objects Turns pages of book one by one Uses fingers and thumb | Uses two words to describe actions Refers to self by name | Cries a bit when parents leave Becomes easily frustrated Pays attention to other children | Zips Removes clothes without help Unwraps things |
| 24-36 months | Matches shapes and objects Enjoys picture books Recognizes self in mirror Counts to ten | icks and throws ball Runs and jumps Draws straight lines Strings beads | Tries tossing along songs and rhythm Uses three-word phrases Uses simple pronouns Follows two instructions at a time | Pretends and plays make believe Avoids dangerous situations Initiates play Attempts to take turns | Feeds self with spoon Uses toilet with some help |
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