Ever wonder if your kids is normal? You see other kids walking or talking sooner than yours and you think something is wrong.
The Family Resource Center at UMC offers classes to help you know what's normal, what's not and how to help your child along.
In these child development class parents learn what milestones their babies should be working towards and they celebrate what may seem like no big deal to us, but are huge achievements for baby.
"The ability to use their body isn't going to be developed if they don't have the chance to be on the floor, develop muscle strength, develop muscle coordination, learn how to use their own muscles to change their position, how to sit, how to roll, how to crawl," said Sharon George, Family Resource Grant Manager.
George says plain and simple, your child's job is to play. This class is all about encouraging playtime.
Every child will develop at their own pace, but there are some basic milestone you can watch for; they are following this story.
The Family Resource Center at UMC offers classes for kids up to four years old. All classes are free.
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By 3 months of age does your child:
Motor Skills
- lift head when held at your shoulder
- lift head and chest when lying on his stomach
- turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach
- follow a moving object or person with his eyes
- often hold hands open or loosely fisted
- grasp rattle when given to her
- wiggle and kick with arms and legs
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- turn head toward bright colors and lights
- turn toward the sound of a human voice
- recognize bottle or breast
- respond to your shaking a rattle or bell
Language and Social Skills
- make cooing, gurgling sounds
- smile when smiled at
- communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression)
- usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held
- anticipate being lifted
- react to "peek-a-boo" games
By 6 months of age does your child:
Motor Skills
- hold head steady when sitting with your help
- reach for and grasp objects
- play with his toes
- help hold the bottle during feeding
- explore by mouthing and banging objects
- move toys from one hand to another
- shake a rattle
- pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands
- sit with only a little support
- sit in a high chair
- roll over
- bounce when held in a standing position
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- open his mouth for the spoon
- imitate familiar actions you perform
Language and Social Skills
- babble, making almost sing-song sounds
- know familiar faces
- laugh and squeal with delight
- scream if annoyed
- smile at herself in a mirror
By 12 months of age does your child:
Motor Skills
- drink from a cup with help
- feed herself finger food like raisins or bread crumbs
- grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger
- use his first finger to poke or point
- put small blocks in and take them out of a container
- knock two blocks together
- sit well without support
- crawl on hands and knees
- pull himself to stand or take steps holding onto furniture
- stand alone momentarily
- walk with one hand held
- cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm
Sensory and Thinking Skills
- copy sounds and actions you make
- respond to music with body motion
- try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy)
- look for an object she watched fall out of sight (such as a spoon that falls under the table)
Language and Social Skills
- babble, but it sometimes "sounds like" talking
- say his first word
- recognize family members' names
- try to "talk" with you
- respond to another's distress by showing distress or crying
- show affection to familiar adults
- show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent
- show apprehension about strangers
- raise her arms when she wants to be picked up
- understand simple commands
