A child is typically able to do the following:
By age one
- Reaches, grasps, puts object in mouth
- Picks things up with pincer grasp (thumb and one finger)
- Transfers object from one hand to the other
- Drops and picks up toy
- Feeds self cracker
- Holds cup with two hands, drinks with assistance
- Holds out arms and legs while being dressed
- Follows moving object with eyes
- Recognizes differences among people; responds to strangers by crying or staring
- Responds to and imitates facial expressions of others
- Responds to very simple directions
- Imitates gestures and actions
- Puts small objects in and out of container with intention
Between ages one and two
- Builds tower of three small blocks
- Puts four rings on stick
- Places five pegs in pegboard
- Turns pages two or three at a time
- Scribbles
- Turns knobs
- Throws small ball
- Paints with whole arm movement, shifts hands, makes strokes
- Uses spoon, spilling little
- Drinks from cup with one hand, unassisted
- Chews food
- Unzips large zipper
- Indicates toilet needs
- Removes shoes, socks, pants, sweater
- Imitates actions and words of adults
- Understands and follows simple, familiar directions
- Responds to words or commands with appropriate action
- Is able to match two similar objects
- Looks at storybook pictures with an adult, naming or pointing to familiar objects on request
- Recognizes difference between you and me
- Has very limited attention span
- Accomplishes primary learning through own exploration
Between ages two and three
- Strings four large beads
- Turns single pages
- Snips with scissors
- Holds crayon with thumb and fingers (not fist)
- Uses one hand consistently in most activities
- Imitates circular, vertical, horizontal strokes
- Paints with some wrist action; makes dots, lines, circular strokes
- Rolls, pounds, squeezes, and pulls clay
- Uses spoon, little spilling
- Gets drink form fountain or faucet independently
- Opens door by turning handle
- Takes off coat
- Puts on coat with assistance
- Washes and dries hands with assistance
- Responds to simple directions
- Selects and looks at picture books, names pictured objects, and identifies several objects within one picture
- Matches and uses associated objects meaningfully
- Stacks rings on peg in order of size
- Recognized self in mirror, saying baby or own name
- Can talk briefly about what he or she is doing; imitates adult actions
- Has limited attention span; learning is through exploration and adult direction
- Is beginning to understand functional concepts of familiar objects and part/whole concepts
Between ages three and four
- Builds tower of nine small blocks
- Drives nails and pegs
- Copies circle
- Manipulates clay material (rolls balls, snakes, cookies)
- Pours well from small pitcher
- Spreads soft butter with knife
- Buttons and unbuttons large buttons
- Washes hands independently
- Blows nose when reminded
- Uses toilet independently
- Recognizes and matches six colors
- Intentionally stacks blocks or rings in order of size
- Draws somewhat recognizable picture that is meaningful to child if not to adult; names and briefly explains picture
- Asks questions for information: why and how questions requiring simple answers
- Knows own age
- Knows own name
- Has short attention span; learns through observing and imitating adults and by adult instruction and explanation; is very easily distracted
- Has increased understanding of concepts of the functions and grouping of objects and part/whole
- Begins to be aware of past and present
Between ages four and five
- Cuts on line continuously
- Copies cross
- Copies square
- Prints some capital letters
- Cuts soft foods with a knife
- Laces shoes
- Plays with words: creates own rhyming words, says or makes up words having similar sounds
- Points and names four to six colors
- Matches pictures of familiar objects
- Draws a person with two to six recognizable parts, such as head, arms, and legs; can name or match drawn parts to own body
- Draws, names, and describes recognizable pictures
- Rote counts to five, imitating adult
- Knows own street and town
- Has more extended attention span; learns through observing and listening to adults, as well as through exploration; is easily distracted
- Has increased understanding of concepts of function, time, part/whole relationships; function or use of objects may be stated in addition to names of objects
- Time concepts are expanding; can talk about yesterday or last week, about today, and about what will happen tomorrow
Between ages five and six
- Cuts out simple shapes
- Copies triangle
- Traces diamond
- Copies first name
- Prints numerals 1 to 5
- Colors within lines
- Has adult grasp of pencil
- Had handedness well established
- Pastes and glues appropriately
- Dresses self completely
- Ties bow
- Brushes teeth independently
- Crosses streets safely
- Retells story from picture book with reasonable accuracy
- Names some letters and numerals
- Rote counts to ten
- Sorts objects by single characteristics
- Is beginning to use accurately time concepts of tomorrow and yesterday
- Uses classroom tools meaningfully and purposefully
- Begins to relate clock time to daily schedule
- Attention span increases noticeably; learns through adult instruction; when interested, can ignore distractions
- Concepts of function increase as well as understanding of why things happen; time concepts are expanding into an understanding of the future in terms of major events
Last updated February 13, 2008 |
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