Child Development Milestones Quiz

Developmental Milestones Overview

• Developmental milestones serve as key indicators of a child's growth from infancy to childhood.
• They help identify typical development and detect delays in various domains.
• Milestones are categorized into five domains: gross motor, fine motor, language, cognitive, and social-emotional/behavioral.

Importance of Developmental Assessment

• Assessing developmental milestones allows healthcare providers to recognize delays early, facilitating timely interventions.
• Diagnostic tests play a crucial role in confirming developmental delays and guiding treatment plans.
• Interprofessional teams are vital for accurate assessments of developmental milestones in children.

Typical Developmental Stages

• 2 months: Smiles, reacts to loud sounds, and makes sounds aside from crying.
• 4 months: Smiles to engage, coos, and holds toys placed in hand.
• 6 months: Knows familiar faces, laughs, and supports self on elbows when on tummy.
• 9 months: Shows anxiety around strangers, uses sounds like “ma” and “ba,” and can sit without help.
• 12 months: Responds to simple commands, pulls up to stand, and plays simple games like peek-a-boo.
• 15 months: Uses one or two words, copies actions of others, and begins to walk independently.
• 18 months: Points to interesting items, uses two hands for different tasks, and helps dress themselves.
• 24 months: Combines two words, shows understanding of simple directions, and plays with multiple toys.
• 30 months: Engages in parallel play, has a vocabulary of about 50 words, and demonstrates simple problem-solving.
• 3 years: Holds conversations, asks questions, and can draw simple shapes like circles.
• 4 years: Uses sentences with more than four words, names colors, and performs simple chores.
• 5 years: Follows rules in games, recounts stories, and begins basic counting and writing skills.

Identifying Developmental Delay

• Developmental delay is indicated when a child fails to reach expected milestones relative to peers.

• Early identification through assessments can improve long-term outcomes for children with delays.

• Interaction and observation are essential for spotting behavioral concerns in young children.### Milestones by Age

• Eighteen months

  • Engages in pretend play and shows affection through kisses and hugs.
  • Walks independently and climbs steps.
  • Uses utensils for eating and can say several individual words.
  • Points to one body part and scribbles with crayons or markers.

• Two years

  • Begins to engage in parallel play with other children.
  • Stands on tiptoes, kicks, and throws a ball overhand.
  • Forms two to four-word sentences; 50% of language understood by strangers.
  • Stacks four or more blocks and follows two-step instructions.

• Three years

  • Can dress and undress self, copies actions of others, and takes turns.
  • Navigates stairs with one foot per step and runs with ease.
  • 75% of language understood by strangers; stacks six or more blocks.
  • Turns pages in a book and interacts with buttons and knobs.

• Four years

  • Enjoys imaginative play and cooperative play with others.
  • Hops on one foot and balances on one foot for two seconds.
  • Capable of reciting poems or singing songs; understands basic grammar.
  • Can identify some colors and numbers; draws a person with two to four body parts.

• Five years

  • Differentiates between real and pretend, desires similarity with friends.
  • Balances on one foot for 10 seconds and performs somersaults.
  • Uses future tense in speech, tells stories, and is easily understood by others.
  • Counts to 10; draws a person with six body parts and prints some letters and numbers.

Assessment of Developmental Disorders

• Surveillance

  • Identifies children at risk or with developmental delays during well-child visits.
  • Conducted using age-appropriate milestone checklists.
  • Special attention crucial at 4 to 5-year visits prior to school entry.

• Screening

  • Targets asymptomatic children potentially at risk for developmental disorders.
  • Utilizes standardized testing to identify risks.