Child development - Areas of child development and learning 5/9

Toddlers' development and learning

Motor skills	Sensory and thinking skills	Language and social skills
drink from a cup with help feed herself finger foods, like raisins and bread crumbs use his first finger to point put small blocks in and take them out of a container grasp small objects by using her thumb and index finger knock two blocks together sit well without support crawl on hands and knees pull himself to stand or take steps holding on to the furniture momentarily stand alone walk with one held hand cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm.	copy sounds and actions you make respond to music with body motion try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and crawling to a toy) look for an object she watched fall out of sight (such as spoon that falls under a table) enjoy listening to songs.	babble, but it sometimes sounds like talking say his first word recognise family members’ names try to talk with you respond to another’s distress by showing distress and crying show affection to familiar adults show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent show apprehension about strangers raise arms when she wants to be picked up understand simple commands.

Motor skills	Sensory and thinking skills	Language and social skills
like to pull, push and dump things pull off hat, socks and mittens turn pages in a book stack two blocks carry a stuffed animal or doll scribble with crayons walk without help run stiffly, with eyes on the ground.	identify objects in a picture book laugh at silly actions (as in wearing a bowl as a hat) look for objects that are out of sight put a round lid on a round pot follow simple one-step directions solve problems by trial and error eat an increasing variety of foods.	say eight to ten words you can understand look at a person who is talking to him ask specifically for her mother or father use hi, bye and please with reminders protest when frustrated ask for something by pointing to an object or action become anxious when separated from parent/s seek attention bring toys to share with an adult to act out a familiar activity in play (as in pretending to eat food) play alone on the floor with toys compete with other children for toys recognise herself in the mirror or in pictures.

Motor skills	Sensory and thinking skills	Language and social skills
drink from a straw feed himself with a spoon help in washing hands put arms in sleeve with help build a tower of three to four blocks toss or roll a large ball open cabinets, drawers, boxes operate a mechanical toy bend over to pick up a toy and not fall walk up steps with help take steps backwards.	like to take things apart explore surroundings point to five to six parts of a doll when asked is generally happy when not hungry or tired able to move to new environment or activity enjoy playing near peers able to enjoy a variety of touch, noise and smells enjoy various textures, such as grass or sand, after multiple exposures is able to be away from parent/s when with supportive and familiar people.	have a vocabulary of several hundred words use two to three word sentences say names of toys ask for information about an object (ask, car while pointing to the car box) hum or try to sing listen to short rhymes like to imitate parents get frustrated at times act shy around strangers comfort a distressed friend or parent take turns in playing with other children treat a doll or soft toy animal as though it were alive apply pretend action to others (as in pretending to feed a doll) show awareness of parental approval and disapproval for her actions refer to self by name and use me and mine verbalise his desires and feelings (I want) laugh at silly labelling of objects and events (as in calling a nose an ear) enjoy looking at one book over and over point to eyes, ears or nose when asked.