4.4 – Ages and stages – feedback
Here are some of the things that children can do by certain ages in their development. Did you get some of them?
| Age | Abilities |
|---|---|
| Newborn | See faces – although not clearly at first. Grab objects – have to be put into their hand. Suck and swallow. Instinctively look for food if face touched with nipple/teat. Cry to tell us that they need a feed, nappy change, are in pain or need a cuddle. Make steps with their feet if held upright with feet touching a surface. React to sound and light. Recognise their parent’s smell and voice. Stretch arms out if they feel they are falling. |
| One year | Move around – crawling, standing, walking. Sit up. Feed themselves. Know their main carer. Move objects with hands. Wave and point. Communicate – make noises that sound like short words. Relate to their environment. |
| Three years | Climb, run, pedal a trike. Use the loo. Walk upstairs. Play – sometimes co-operatively! Talk relatively clearly – make themselves understood. Undo buttons. Tell the difference between boys and girls. Copy and help adults. Use building blocks for simple towers. Play dressing up and role play. Listen to stories, follow picture books. Paint and some might pretend to write. Begin to have less temper tantrums. |
| Seven years | Use and control a ball with hands and feet. Hop. Ride a bike. Use hands to build models, write more clearly, use scissors. Produce more recognisable and detailed pictures. Play co-operatively with friends – take turns and share. Have good conversations and make jokes. Recognise the rules – at home and school. Read books. Dress themselves. Be frightened by things they can imagine e.g. monsters. Have a best friend and want to be liked. |
| 8 – 12 years | Sometime appear to act older or younger than their real age. Solve problems. Cope with and enjoy responsibility. Notice changes in their body. Have good co-ordination skills. Express what they like and don’t like. Argue their own point, mostly with their parents! Commit to sports or hobbies. |
| 13 – 16 years | Have an adult body. Developed and show a high levels of skills in certain things – school work, hobbies, sports. Enjoy being with their friends more than their family. Have a sense of identity based on their own taste eg music, clothes, and friends. Have moods which can change quickly and unexpectedly. Cook food. Make decisions about their future. Manage their pocket money. |
PLEASE NOTE: All of the above are based on averages and children’s development varies, for example some babies are up on their feet and walking at 10 months and others don’t start until 14 months. Similarly with young adults we have all seen young teenagers that look like fully grown adults and then there are those that develop a little later. There is no need to worry if your child is ahead or behind these averages, as all children develop at different rates. If you are worried however it might be worth talking to your health visitor, GP or someone in nursery or school.
Now we have looked at what children should be able to do at different stages of their development, take a look at how you can help your own children.
Next: 4.5 – Ages & stages – helping your own childrenBack: 4.3 – Ages & stages activity