Developmental milestones in infants and toddlers

For this assignment, you will create a digital handout for each of the ages listed (birth to 12 months; 13-24 months; 25-36 months; and 37-48 months) that could be emailed to families. The handouts should be professionally presented and visually appealing.

In each handout, you will explain developmental milestones children should achieve at each of the following ages. The handouts must include:

Description of cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language development characteristics and needs of a child at that age.
Description of at least one milestone in each developmental area.
Explanation of the long-term importance of each milestone.
Two strategies families can use to help their children with development.
Support your handouts with 3-5 scholarly references.

An in-depth understanding of developmental milestones in infants and toddlers will help families and educators collaborate to promote healthy cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language development in young children.

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite Technical Support Articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Rubric Criteria

Developmental Milestones Handouts for Families

Handout 1: Birth to 12 Months

Cognitive Development

Infants from birth to 12 months rapidly develop cognitive abilities. They begin to explore their environment through sensory experiences, such as touching and mouthing objects. A key milestone is object permanence, where infants understand that objects continue to exist even when out of sight, typically emerging around 8-12 months. This milestone is critical because it forms the foundation for memory development and problem-solving skills. For example, an infant who searches for a hidden toy demonstrates early reasoning abilities (Piaget, 2018).

Social Development

Socially, infants form strong attachments with caregivers. A significant milestone is smiling socially, which typically occurs by 2-3 months. This smile fosters bonding and encourages reciprocal interactions with adults. The long-term importance lies in establishing trust and emotional security, which are essential for healthy relationships later in life (Bowlby, 2019). Secure attachments support emotional regulation and social competence.

Emotional Development

Emotionally, infants begin to express a range of feelings. A milestone is the ability to self-soothe, such as sucking their thumb, by 6-12 months. This skill is vital for emotional regulation, enabling infants to manage distress independently. Long-term, self-soothing contributes to resilience and emotional stability (Thompson, 2020). Caregivers can observe this when an infant calms down after mild upset without external intervention.

Physical Development

Physically, infants progress from reflexive movements to purposeful actions. A key milestone is sitting up without support, typically achieved by 6-9 months. This ability strengthens core muscles and supports further motor development, such as crawling. The long-term impact includes improved coordination and independence in movement (Adolph & Berger, 2018). Sitting upright also enhances an infant’s ability to engage with their environment.

Language Development

Language development begins with cooing and babbling. A milestone is producing first words, often by 12 months, such as “mama” or “dada.” This step is crucial for communication and cognitive growth, as it marks the transition to symbolic thinking. Long-term, early language skills predict literacy and academic success (Hoff, 2021). Infants who vocalize frequently tend to develop larger vocabularies.

Strategies for Families

Engage in Peek-a-Boo Games: Playing peek-a-boo reinforces object permanence by encouraging infants to anticipate the reappearance of a hidden face or object. This activity promotes cognitive development and strengthens caregiver-child bonds.

Respond to Vocalizations: Mimicking and responding to an infant’s coos and babbles encourages language development. This interaction fosters communication skills and builds a foundation for reciprocal conversations.

Handout 2: 13-24 Months

Cognitive Development

Toddlers aged 13-24 months show increased curiosity and problem-solving abilities. A notable milestone is engaging in simple pretend play, such as pretending to feed a doll, typically by 18 months. This milestone indicates symbolic thinking, which is essential for creativity and abstract reasoning. Long-term, pretend play supports cognitive flexibility and social understanding (Lillard, 2018). Toddlers who engage in such play often develop stronger imaginative skills.

Social Development

Socially, toddlers begin interacting with peers. A milestone is parallel play, where children play alongside others without direct interaction, emerging around 18-24 months. This behavior fosters social awareness and prepares children for cooperative play. Its long-term importance lies in building social skills necessary for group settings, such as preschool (Coplan & Arbeau, 2019). Parents may notice toddlers observing peers during playtime.

Emotional Development

Emotionally, toddlers start to assert independence. A milestone is expressing basic emotions, like happiness or frustration, through gestures or words by 24 months. This ability is critical for emotional communication and self-regulation. Long-term, it supports healthy emotional expression and interpersonal relationships (Thompson, 2020). For instance, a toddler may say “no” to assert preferences.

Physical Development

Physically, toddlers gain greater mobility. A milestone is walking independently, typically achieved by 12-18 months. This skill enhances exploration and motor coordination. Long-term, independent walking supports physical health and confidence in navigating environments (Adolph & Berger, 2018). Parents often see toddlers eagerly exploring new spaces once walking is mastered.

Language Development

Language skills expand rapidly in this stage. A milestone is combining two words, such as “more milk,” by 24 months. This development is vital for effective communication and cognitive growth. Long-term, it predicts stronger language proficiency and academic outcomes (Hoff, 2021). Toddlers who combine words early often progress to complex sentences faster.

Strategies for Families

Encourage Pretend Play: Provide props like toy kitchens or dolls to stimulate imaginative play. This activity enhances cognitive and social development by encouraging creativity and role-playing.

Model Emotional Expression: Name emotions during daily interactions, such as saying, “You seem happy!” This practice helps toddlers identify and express feelings, fostering emotional growth.

Handout 3: 25-36 Months

Cognitive Development

Children aged 25-36 months demonstrate improved problem-solving skills. A milestone is completing simple puzzles, typically by 30 months. This achievement reflects enhanced spatial reasoning and cognitive processing. Long-term, puzzle-solving skills contribute to academic success in subjects like mathematics (Lillard, 2018). Parents may observe children persisting with puzzles until completion.

Social Development

Socially, children begin cooperative play. A milestone is sharing toys with peers, often by 36 months. This behavior promotes empathy and collaboration, essential for group dynamics. Long-term, sharing supports positive peer relationships and conflict resolution skills (Coplan & Arbeau, 2019). For example, a child may offer a toy to a playmate during a playdate.

Emotional Development

Emotionally, children develop greater self-awareness. A milestone is recognizing themselves in a mirror, typically by 30 months. This self-recognition indicates a developing sense of identity, crucial for emotional growth. Long-term, it supports self-esteem and social interactions (Thompson, 2020). Parents may notice children pointing to themselves in photos.

Physical Development

Physically, children refine motor skills. A milestone is kicking a ball, usually by 36 months. This skill enhances coordination and balance, supporting overall physical development. Long-term, it contributes to physical fitness and participation in sports (Adolph & Berger, 2018). Kicking also fosters confidence in physical activities.

Language Development

Language becomes more complex in this stage. A milestone is using simple sentences, such as “I want juice,” by 36 months. This ability facilitates clear communication and social engagement. Long-term, it supports literacy and academic achievement (Hoff, 2021). Children who use sentences early often excel in verbal expression.

Strategies for Families

Provide Simple Puzzles: Offer age-appropriate puzzles to enhance cognitive skills. This activity encourages problem-solving and persistence, supporting intellectual growth.

Facilitate Playdates: Arrange opportunities for children to play with peers, promoting sharing and cooperation. These interactions build social skills and prepare children for group settings.

Handout 4: 37-48 Months

Cognitive Development

Children aged 37-48 months exhibit advanced reasoning. A milestone is sorting objects by shape or color, typically by 48 months. This skill demonstrates categorization abilities, essential for logical thinking. Long-term, it supports academic skills in subjects like science and mathematics (Lillard, 2018). Parents may see children organizing toys by type during play.

Social Development

Socially, children engage in cooperative play. A milestone is taking turns during games, often by 48 months. This behavior fosters teamwork and patience, critical for social interactions. Long-term, it enhances group collaboration and leadership skills (Coplan & Arbeau, 2019). For instance, a child may wait for their turn in a board game.

Emotional Development

Emotionally, children develop empathy. A milestone is comforting others, such as hugging a crying peer, by 48 months. This ability strengthens emotional intelligence and relationships. Long-term, empathy supports prosocial behavior and conflict resolution (Thompson, 2020). Parents may observe children offering comfort during distress.

Physical Development

Physically, children gain fine motor skills. A milestone is drawing simple shapes, like circles, by 48 months. This skill enhances hand-eye coordination and prepares children for writing. Long-term, it supports academic tasks like handwriting (Adolph & Berger, 2018). Children often enjoy drawing during creative activities.

Language Development

Language skills become more sophisticated. A milestone is asking “why” questions, typically by 48 months. This curiosity drives learning and communication. Long-term, it fosters critical thinking and academic engagement (Hoff, 2021). Parents may notice frequent questions about their surroundings.

Strategies for Families

Encourage Sorting Activities: Provide objects like blocks to sort by color or shape. This activity strengthens cognitive skills and prepares children for academic tasks.

Promote Empathy: Model comforting behaviors, such as hugging, during emotional moments. This practice helps children develop empathy and emotional intelligence.

Conclusion

Understanding developmental milestones equips families to support infants and toddlers effectively. Each stage, from birth to 48 months, involves unique cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language achievements. Recognizing these milestones allows caregivers to foster growth through targeted strategies. Collaboration between families and educators ensures children reach their full potential. These handouts provide practical tools for promoting healthy development.

References

Adolph, K. E., & Berger, S. E. (2018). Motor development. In R. M. Lerner (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science (Vol. 2, pp. 1-45). Wiley.

Bowlby, J. (2019). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books.

Coplan, R. J., & Arbeau, K. A. (2019). Peer interactions and play in early childhood. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting (pp. 123-147). Routledge.

Hoff, E. (2021). Language development in early childhood. Annual Review of Psychology, 72, 357-381.

Lillard, A. S. (2018). The development of play. Child Development Perspectives, 12(3), 153-158.

Piaget, J. (2018). The origins of intelligence in children. Routledge.

Thompson, R. A. (2020). Emotional development in early childhood. Developmental Review, 56, 100-123.

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