Development of the typical child
Makenna
Makenna was born full term on January 28, 1996. She is the only child
of her parents. Her mother works part time. Her father provides care
during the time her mother is at work. Her parents are in their mid
twenties and live in a rural county. Makenna’s grandparents all
live near by and provide support for the parents but no direct care.
Makenna has not had any episodes of hospitalization nor has she had
any serious illnesses.
Makenna’s development falls within the normal or typical range.
All children develop with peaks and valleys. No child develops along
a straight upward curve. Continual progress in all areas of development
is what is important.
Follow along while we watch Makenna acquire new skills and move into
her third year of life.
Six to Seven Weeks
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She smiles in response to a smile or a voice.
Her head is in midline mostly.
She has an alert face and direct regard of people.
She "talks" back and coos.
Symmetric postures are seen. This means that her head is not
turned to one side or the other predominantly
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Three Months
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She holds her head up while on her stomach.
She gets onto her elbows spontaneously.
She plays with her hands while on her tummy and on her back
Her hands are toys or things to play with.
Her hands are held loosely closed or open.
She chuckles.
When a toy is placed in her hand she actively holds it.
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Four Months
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She smiles and vocalizes; squeals and laughs out loud.
Her hands engage in play when she is on her back.
She puts toys in her mouth.
She can visually follows an object in a full circle.
When propped she is beginning to sit.
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Six Months
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She sits alone for a few minutes.
She can use one hand to approach and grasp an object it successfully.
She vocalizes: "da", "ba", and "ga".
She imitates sounds, such as, a cough, a tongue click, and
razzz.
She reaches for toys and persists for those that are out of
reach.
She can rolls back and forth onto her stomach.
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Eight - Nine Months
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She feeds herself a cracker without help, but makes a mess
Her grasp on small objects is with her index finger and the
side of her thumb.
She responds to the "no" tone of voice and is beginning
to use gestures to communicate.
Her sitting has gotten to the point of being steady indefinitely.
Holding onto a couch or table she is able to stand.
She gets to a crawl position on her hands and knees, and then
creeping becomes her form of mobility.
She plays peek-a-boo.
She gets from lying on the floor up into a sitting position.
She pokes at objects with her index finger.
She vocalizes "Da-Da" with meaning, but "mama"
only as a sound.
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Ten - Eleven Months
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While in a sitting position she is able to pivot around.
She will give a toy when it is requested.
She lifts her feet when dressing.
"Ma ma" is now said with meaning.
She can "cruise" (walk holding on) with two hands
at the furniture and will soon be able to cruise with one hand.
She can walk through the livingroom with two hands held.
Books are enjoyable and she can turn multiple cardboard pages
at a time (not singly yet).
She removes puzzle pieces from the board.
She vocalizes any three words, such as "mama, dada, go"....
She hugs "Pooh" or is affectionate to treasure toys.
Ball play is cooperative in nature.
She puts one to two cubes in container, then takes them out,
then puts them in....over and over again.
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Twelve - Thirteen Months
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She stands alone momentarily in the middle of the room for
the first time and she takes her first steps.
She climbs into a small chair and sits down.
She scribbles with a crayon, hopefully on some paper and not
the walls
She throws ball with cast.
She pats pictures in books to show that she recognizes things
She points for what she wants.
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Fifteen Months
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She eats with a spoon, spilling lots.
She can squat down in play, then resumes standing position.
She puts some pegs in a board.
On stairs she creeps up and down.
Walking is independent and she seldom falls.
She releases all the cubes into the container.
She follows a one directional command, such as "Get your
shoes."
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Eighteen Months
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Plays is along side a friend, parallel, rather than truly interactive.
She puts three to four blocks on top of one another to form
a tower.
She asks for more food and drink and she drinks well from a
cup.
When looking at a book she can now turn paper pages two or
three at a time.
She begins to play "pretend", such as talking on
the telephone, putting baby to bed, etc.
She dumps container out to get something out of it.
She points to three body parts and is able to put two words
together to express herself.
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Twenty-one Months
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The words "me" and "mine" are heard repeatedly
She unties her own shoes all day long.
She runs well and seems to be on the go all the time.
She puts wooden blocks together to make a train.
When shown how, she can kick a ball.
She names pictures in a book and she has fifty or more words
in her vocabulary.
When asked she can get her shoes and socks and bring them,
which is multiple directional command, ( when she wants to that
is).
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Twenty-four Months
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She puts three different shapes in a puzzle correctly.
She copies a circle or line on a paper with a crayon.
A mature walking pattern (heel-toe gait) is seen.
She jumps with both feet off floor.
When asked, she helps put things away.
She can name out loud one body part when it is pointed to
She stacks six to seven blocks for a tower.
Her vocabulary is more than 100 words, but she particularly
likes the word "no", even when she means "yes".
When doing rhymes or songs she fills in some of the words.
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Twenty-seven Months
Thirty Months
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Balances on 1 foot, rides
trike using pedals, jumps up and forward, tries to turn somersaults,
opens doors - even with safety covers on, strings beads, puts
puzzles together (even the new one).
Plays make believe with tea parties, birthday parties, animals,
house with her dolls, and doctor for her dolls.
Talks in full and complete sentences; uses possessives, plurals,
various sentence structure; knows and sings words to many nursery
songs; knows letters of alphabet by sight; very independent
and pushes limits constantly.
Potty training is beginning, eats well with a spoon and fork,
not spilling
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Thirty-three Months
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Uses pronouns correctly,
but mixes up "her", "he", & "she";
talks in paragraphs; and uses descriptive words (adjectives) such
as pretty, funny, silly, little, and big.
Strong reactions, both positive and negative; verbalizes feelings
"I’m mad or frustrated or sad."
Working on potty training but she wasn’t interested until 34-35
months; washes and dries own hands; completely self feeding
except cutting food, though she wants to do that, too.
Up and down stairs alone; running; climbing ladders; swinging
on swings on stomach for fun; jumps high and long and over objects;
catches medium sized ball with two hands 75% of the time; rides
trike using pedals.
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Thirty-six Months
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Between 24 and 36 months
Makenna experienced significant growth - 4 inches
Recites her full name and spells her first name; knows her
city’s name, knows her age, her birthday, and month; uses "he"
and "she" correctly most of the time; talks all the
time; uses different voices to "talk" for her toys
and always wants others to make her toys talk and interact ("Simba
wants to talk" and hands Simba to me.)
Talks about other’s feelings and anticipates their reactions,
("Grandma will be excited to see me!")
Completely potty trained; loves to wash her hands.
Starting to complete puzzles with interlocking pieces; can
lace beads and "sew" well; large and small motor skills
are increasing smooth and coordinated.
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