Average physical development milestones from birth to approx. 10 years old

  • New born- 2 months

    miling and laughing
    Better head control, possibly even lifting up 90 degrees while on his or her stomach.
    Arm waving and leg pumping, especially when the baby sees you walk into the room
    More attentiveness and focus. You might even notice the baby following an object or person moving across the room
    Rolling over one way
    More leg strength, possibly even holding his weight when held upright
    Reaching and swatting, which helps to develop hand-eye coordination.
  • Period: to

    Birth- 10 years old

  • 3-5 months

    Raises head and chest when lying on stomach
    Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach
    Stretches legs out and kicks when lying on stomach or back
    Opens and shuts hands
    Pushes down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
    Brings hand to mouth
    Takes swipes at dangling objects with hands
    Grasps and shakes hand toys
  • 6-8 months

    Crawls backward, if not also forward.
    May get around by scooting across floor on buttocks and/or pulling forward with arm while pushing back with leg from sitting position.
    May pull to standing position while holding on.
    May come to sitting position unaided.
    Sits unsupported at least 10 minutes.
    Develops pincer grasp.
    May handle two objects simultaneously.
    Holds own bottle.
    Clasps hands together.
    While lying on her back, baby can put her foot into her mouth.
  • 9-11 months

    Crawl or scoot around well
    Pull themselves up by holding onto furniture and walking around (legs can often appear bowed until about 18 months)
    Sit steady for a long period of time
    Repeat sounds that parents make
    Bang things together and play peek-a-boo
    Say “mama” or “dada” (or related phrases)
    Use the index finger and thumb to pick up small objects (i.e., pincer grasp)
  • 1 year old

    Your 1-year-old should be standing alone, and may even have taken those first tentative solo steps. such as eating with their fingers, helping their parents dress them, and turning the pages of a storybook. Your baby should be starting to use a few everyday items correctly, including a spoon, telephone, and hairbrush.
  • 2 years old

    a child should be able to have enough balance to jump up, with both her feet leaving the ground. She can climb a staircase holding onto the railing, using one foot at a time. She can make straight lines holding a pencil. She may not have a preference for either the right hand or the left hand at this age, or she may start to favor one hand over another. She can feed herself pretty well now, getting most of the food in her mouth, but she is by no means a neat or willing eater.
  • 3 years old

    Run and walk without tripping over own feet, Jump, hop and stand on one foot, Walk backwards and climb stairs one foot after the other, Kick and throw a small ball; catch a bigger ball most of the time, Climb, Start pedaling a tricycle or bike. Draw a circle with a crayon, pencil or marker, Play with toys with small moving parts and buttons, Turn the pages of a book one at a time
    Build with Mega Bloks and create towers of six or more blocks, Work door handles and twist-on bottle tops
  • 4-5 years old

    Children learn through play, and that is what your 4- to 5-year-old should be doing. At this age, your child should be running, hopping, throwing and kicking balls, climbing, and swinging with ease. Stands on one foot for ten seconds or longer.
  • 6 years old

    At this age the first 'baby tooth' may be lost. Your six year old now has vision as sharp as an adult's and an increasing sense of body awareness and balance. Improved ability to coordinate movement - 'gross motor skills' - means that by this age children can hop, skip, jump, walk more steadily on low walls or beams, catch a ball in their hands without clasping it to their chest, and may learn to ride a bike. They also have more precise control of intricate manipulations.
  • 7 years old

    Your seven year old should now have well-developed coordination and may seem full of energy and be keen to show off physical abilities. Children at this age can throw, catch and kick a ball, ride a two-wheeled bicycle and perform manoeuvres such as handstands. Fine motor skills are also developing fast and most children can now dress themselves easily, write clearly, and use implements such as scissors well. They often enjoy model-making, painting, drawing and craft-work.
  • 8 years old

    Gross motor abilities are improved by increased strength in the large muscles of the arms and legs, along with enhanced stamina, coordination and reaction time. At this age children revel in rough-and-tumble play such as chasing, wrestling and mock fights. Almost all eight year olds can dress, brush their teeth and do their hair without help. They can use many kitchen implements and basic tools such as a hammer or screwdriver competently.
  • 9 years old

    At nine, puberty hits. Although both sexes continue to increase steadily in height and weight, and to gain coordination and strength, girls experience an earlier spurt in height.
    This is a time when children may be vulnerable to body image problems or the start of eating disorders. It's particularly important to ensure that they are eating a balanced healthy diet with a minimum of 'junk' food, and are engaging in sufficient physical and outdoor activity.
  • 10 years old

    -Grow about 2.5 in. (6 cm) and gain about 7 lb (3 kg) in a year.
    -Have growth patterns related to gender. Girls are usually taller and weigh more than boys.
    -Signs of early puberty may develop in girls, such as breast buds.
    -Lose about four baby teeth each year. These are replaced by permanent teeth.