Do You Know These Common Child Development Milestones?

Watching your child grow and develop is one of the most rewarding aspects of parenting. From their first smile to their first steps, these milestones create cherished memories you’ll treasure forever. However, tracking these milestones isn’t just about celebrating—it’s also an essential way to monitor your child’s progress and support their development during these critical early years. Hospitals report that 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of 5, making it all the more important to nurture their growth and ensure they’re on the right track.

At Blossom Leaders, we’ve spent years supporting children in reaching important developmental milestones, so we know exactly what to look out for. Our mission is to help you better understand what to expect as your child grows so you can help them reach those milestones as well. Here’s a closer look at some essential child development milestones every parent should be aware of.  

Communication and Language

Communication is a fundamental aspect of human interaction, and children start developing these skills from the moment they’re born. In their first few months, babies will begin to coo and gurgle in response to sounds around them. By six months, they’ll be babbling and trying to imitate the sounds they hear. Between 12-18 months, your child should have a vocabulary of about 5-20 words and understand simple commands. By age two, they should be able to form two-word sentences and follow more complex instructions.

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements such as crawling, walking, running, jumping, and throwing. These skills develop gradually; by six months, your baby will start to roll over. By nine months, they should be able to sit without support; between 12-18 months, they’ll take their first steps. Your child should be able to walk and run confidently by age two.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscle movements in the hands and fingers. These skills are essential for grasping objects, writing, drawing, and tying shoelaces. Babies will begin reaching for objects with their hands between four and six months old. By age one, they can pick up small objects using their thumb and forefinger (the pincer grasp). By age two, they can build towers with blocks and scribble with a crayon.

Social and Emotional Development

Social and emotional development refers to your child’s ability to form relationships, regulate their emotions, and interact with others. Babies are born with basic social skills, such as making eye contact and responding to facial expressions. As they grow older, they’ll start to smile, laugh, and show a range of emotions like anger, sadness, happiness, or fear. Around 12-18 months old, your child should begin playing alongside other children (parallel play). By the time they turn two years old, they’ll start interacting more actively with other children.

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development refers to your child’s ability to think, reason, and solve problems. At birth, babies have a limited understanding of the world around them, but as they grow older, their cognitive abilities expand drastically. Between 12-18 months old, your child will start to understand cause-and-effect relationships and recognize familiar objects. By age two, they should be able to follow simple instructions and play pretend.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

While every child develops at their own pace, paying attention to any potential red flags that could indicate a developmental delay is important. These may include not responding or making eye contact by six months old, not babbling or trying to imitate sounds by 12 months, not walking by 18 months, and not speaking in two-word sentences by age two. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to speak with your child’s doctor for further evaluation.

Supporting Your Child’s Development

As a parent, there are many ways you can support your child’s development and help them reach important milestones. Some strategies include engaging in activities that promote language skills, such as reading and talking to your child regularly, providing plenty of opportunities for physical play and exploration, encouraging fine motor skill development through activities like drawing and playing with blocks, and fostering social interactions through playdates or enrolling in toddler programs.

Help Your Child Thrive with Blossom Leaders Academy

Understanding and tracking your child’s development milestones is crucial for their overall well-being. By recognizing these milestones and actively promoting your child’s development, you can help set them up for success both now and in the future. Remember to celebrate every milestone, big or small, as they are all important markers of your child’s growth and progress.

If you’d like personalized help to support your child’s development, Blossom Leaders Academy offers programs designed to nurture academic, emotional, social, and physical growth. Contact us today to book a tour of our facilities and learn how we can help your child bloom into their best self.