Introduction
In this article, Simple Nursing highlights the key developmental milestones that children should achieve at certain ages. These developmental milestones, which encompass physical, motor, language, social, and cognitive skills, are crucial for a child’s future. Simple Nursing emphasizes the importance of nurses identifying children who do not meet these milestones and immediately reporting it to healthcare professionals.
Developmental Milestones by Age
One Month
– Gross motor skill: Head lag and poor head control
– Fine motor skill: Grasp reflex
Two to Three Months
– Gross motor skill: Kicking legs
– Fine motor skill: Grasp reflex diminishes
Four to Five Months
– Gross motor skill: No head lag
– Fine motor skill: Grasping objects voluntarily, diminishing of the startle reflex
Six to Nine Months
– Gross motor skill: Birth weight doubles, ability to go from prone to sitting position
– Fine motor skill: Two-finger pincer grasp, ability to transfer objects from one hand to another
Ten to Twelve Months
– Gross motor skill: Birth weight triples, ability to sit and stand independently, crawl upstairs, and walk with assistance
– Fine motor skill: Fully-developed pincer grasp, attempts to build a two-block tower, and turn book pages
Twelve Months
– Gross motor skill: Birth weight triples, ability to walk without assistance, sit and stand independently
– Fine motor skill: Ability to hold a cup and spoon, turn two pages of a book, and draw vertical lines
Eighteen Months
– Gross motor skill: Ability to walk upstairs while holding hands
– Fine motor skill: Ability to turn one page of a book, open doors by turning doorknobs, and hold a cup and spoon
Two Years
– Gross motor skill: Ability to walk without assistance, run, and kick a ball
– Fine motor skill: Ability to build a seven-block tower, draw horizontal and vertical lines, and say their name
Three Years
– Gross motor skill: Ability to use a tricycle and jump forward
– Fine motor skill: Ability to draw circles, feed themselves with a spoon, and undress independently
Four Years
– Gross motor skill: Ability to skip and hop on one foot, catch a ball 50% of the time
– Fine motor skill: Ability to draw four-sided shapes, pour drinks, and use scissors
Five Years
– Gross motor skill: Ability to balance while walking upstairs by alternating feet
– Fine motor skill: Ability to draw five-sided shapes, develop hand-eye coordination, and use scissors effectively
Importance of Language and Social Cognitive Skills
– Language skills: Mimic sounds heard, change cry tone to communicate different needs, respond to touches and voices, and develop a vocabulary of three to five words
– Social cognitive skills: Show smiles and cues when seeing familiar faces, imitate expressions of caregivers and people around them, and exhibit separation anxiety
Adolescence
– Speech development: By age two, they should say around 300 words and use two to three word sentences
– Risk of social isolation: Encourage peer contact to prevent depression and anxiety
Conclusion
Nurses play a crucial role in identifying whether children are meeting their developmental milestones. By understanding these milestones and reporting any delays or issues to healthcare professionals, nurses can ensure that children receive appropriate interventions and support. It is important to track children’s physical, motor, language, social, and cognitive skills to promote their overall development and well-being.
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