Tiny Tips...
There are so many milestones to look
Next
Steps
6 – 9 Months:
Seat your baby on the floor, then sit
down cross-legged facing her. Sing this
song (any tune will do), acting out the
commands with her hands in yours.
Help your baby make the movements
herself, even if it means holding her
ankles and stomping her feet for her. This
helps develop two-hand coordination.
• Clap, clap, clap your hands
• Clap your tiny hands
• Clap, clap, clap your hands
• Clap your tiny hands
forward to as a baby develops. From the first
eye contact and early smiles to discovering
toes or reaching for toys, watching a child
grow is an amazing experience.
Developmental milestones are a set of skills
or age-specific tasks that most children
accomplish during a specific age range.
Although each milestone has an age level,
the actual age when a normally developing
child reaches that milestone can vary
significantly. Every child is unique—and
thank goodness for that!
18 Months
9 – 12 Months:
Stand your baby upright in the middle
of the bed, carefully supporting her with
your hands under both arms. Help her
bounce up and down, lifting her off the
bed, then landing her in a standing
position. If your baby is already walking,
you may be able to just hold her hands,
once she gets used to the springy motion
of the bed. Helps develop standing and
walking skills.
Our Little Learners program was designed
to help parents choose the appropriate toys
through the major milestones of a baby’s
development.
Walks backwards
Descends Stairs
Runs
Uses 50 words
Aims when throwing a ball
Uses a spoon
This booklet offers examples
of the key developmental
milestones by age and skill.
New parents and veterans
alike can now be confident
they are choosing the
appropriate toy for
their child.
Just Ask!
For help finding toys to match
your baby’s development stage,
talk to one of the Toy Experts at
Learning Express Toys!
For more information on Little Learners, please visit
learningexpress.com/littlelearners
Ability to stack blocks
Emergence of hand preference
Ascends stairs
Kicks and throws balls
Uses 10 words
Responds to simple commands
2 Years
3 Years
Unbuttons buttons
Rides tricycle
Cuts paper with scissors
Catches ball with arms
Understands taking turns
Names colors
Counts objects
Little
Learners
Infant Development Guide
Gross Motor
Gross motor skills are the abilities required to control the
large muscles of the body, including arms, legs, and torso (trunk).
These skills are needed to maintain balance and coordination,
and make activities such as sitting, crawling, and walking possible.
Fine Motor
Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the body (fingers,
hands, and arms) that promote such functions as writing, drawing,
cutting, gripping small objects, fastening clothing, and building with
blocks. Fine motor skills encompass dexterity and strength.
Months
Language
Language is made up of socially shared rules that include what words
mean, how to make new words, how to put words together, and what
word combinations are best in what situations. Speech is the verbal
means of communicating, which involves articulation, voice,
and fluency.
Social
Social skills are needed to communicate, persuade, and interact
with others. Social skills allow children to establish and maintain
interpersonal relationships, understand and express their own
feelings, and interpret others' feelings.
Fine Motor
Social
Cognitive
Language
Can elevate chin.
Baby mouths fisted hand.
Discerns mother’s voice.
Cries out in distress.
2
Sometimes lifts head during tummy
time. More refined movement with
arms and legs. Head bobs
when held or sitting.
Hands open most of the time.
Starts to focus eyes.
Smiles for first time. Begins to self
soothe (putting hands to mouth
to suck on.)
Slowly starts to follow a light
or object with eyes. Recognizes
people from a distance. Starts
to cry or get fussy when bored
or when activity doesn’t change.
Makes cooing or gurgling noises.
Turns head toward sound.
3
Props on forearms during tummy
time. Can hold head up during
tummy time.
Inspects fingers. Bats at objetcs.
Holds rattle when placed in hand.
Smiles spontaneously. Expresses
disgust. Understands relationship
between speaker and voice.
Can definitely follow objects
15cm from face. Recognizes
parents or caregivers.
Chuckles. Vocalizes when spoken to.
Waves and kicks arms. Sits upright
when supported. Possible to roll
front to back. Pushes legs down
when feet are on a surface.
Tries to grab your hand.
Clutches at clothes.
Brings hands together.
Recognizes various faces and smells.
Has different cries for different
reasons. Enjoys playing hide & seek.
Shows emotion such as anxiety,
anger, and dissatisfaction. Will mimic
some facial expressions. Excited
when toys are presented.
Coordinates hand and eye
movements. Tests things by
putting items in mouth.
Has belly laughs. Vocalizes when
alone. Stops crying to a soothing
voice. Begins to babble and
mimics sound.
Can roll front to back. Sits supported
Rocks back and forth.
Reaches objects by hand and
grasps. Begins transferring
rattle from hand to hand.
Expresses displeasure when toy
is removed. Talks to mirror
image.
Looks around at nearby things.
Tries to get things that are out
of reach due to curiosity.
Increases vocalization to toys and
people. Turns head to voice.
Sits unsupported. Average age for
teeth to come in.
Shakes rattle. Bangs toys on
table surface. Tries picking up
items with fingers.
Persists to obtain toys out of reach.
Becomes anxious when removed from
parents. Enjoys being tickled and
cuddled. Anticipates being picked up
by raising arms. Starts to recognize
familiar faces.
Holds own bottle. Enjoys
pushing items off of a surface
and looks for it when it goes
missing. Drinks from cup held
by adult. Imitates waving hello
and goodbye.
Responds to name. Babbles as if having
a conversation. Makes Da Da and Ma Ma
sounds, but may not know the meaning.
Crawls on abdomen. Sits from lying
down position. Crawls on hands and
knees. Stands supported. Pulls to
stand.
Can use thumb and fingers
to pick up cubes. Able to drink
from cup unaided.
May be fearful of strangers.
Has a favorite toy.
Plays peek-a-boo. Looks for things
that are hidden.
Da Da and Ma Ma discriminately.
Understands "No."
Stands unsupported. Begins
walking unsupported.
Starts to use items correctly,
such as hairbrush and drinking
cup.
Throws toys away.
Hands you a book for reading.
Cooperates in dressing.
Able to point out correct
object when you name it.
Says 2-3 words but understands
several words. Responds to spoken
requests. Uses simple gestures.
1
Cognitive
Cognitive skills are the mental capabilities one needs to successfully
learn. Underlying cognitive skills must exist in order to think,
prioritize, understand, plan, remember, and solve problems.
Gross Motor
4
5-6
7-8
9-10
11-12
Alerts to a voice or sound.
Creates throaty noises.