Social and Emotional Milestones

Adults have a vital role in the social and emotional development of infants and very young children.

Social and Emotional Milestones

Adults have a vital role in the social and emotional development of infants and very young children.

The first five years is a time of rapid development unsurpassed by any other time in the human lifespan.

Over a million of new neural connections are formed every second during the first years of life! In fact, 90% of the brain’s growth occurs before kindergarten!

The first five years is a time of rapid development unsurpassed by any other time in the human lifespan.

Over a million of new neural connections are formed every second during the first years of life! In fact, 90% of the brain’s growth occurs before kindergarten!

Join us on a visit to a toddler gymnastics class in Milwaukee, a music festival in Eau Claire, and a Spanish-speaking childcare in Madison as we explore how important adults are in the development of young children in the following video…
 
Join us on a visit to a toddler gymnastics class in Milwaukee, a music festival in Eau Claire, and a Spanish-speaking childcare in Madison as we explore how important adults are in the development of young children in the following video…
 

Our babies’ brains are like seedlings – early experiences and relationships are the sun, water, and nutrients that form strong roots for the seedling to grow.

Our babies’ brains are like seedlings – early experiences and relationships are the sun, water, and nutrients that form strong roots for the seedling to grow.

Each discrete human contact is a life lesson that the baby registers and stores away.  Good, bad, ugly – they contribute, incident by incident, to the child’s cumulative personality, and oftentimes, their destiny.  Learn how we can give our young children “A Strong Foundation” in this video.

Each discrete human contact is a life lesson that the baby registers and stores away.  Good, bad, ugly – they contribute, incident by incident, to the child’s cumulative personality, and oftentimes, their destiny.  Learn how we can give our young children “A Solid Foundation” in this video.

Social and Emotional Milestones

Knowing social and emotional developmental milestones can help you understand your baby as they grow.  For a complete list of developmental milestones, examples, and resources , see the CDC’s Act Early: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html

Knowing social and emotional developmental milestones can help you understand your baby as they grow.  For a complete list of developmental milestones, examples, and resources , see the CDC’s Act Early: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html

In this timeline we focus on social milestones.  Do you recognize some of these in young children that you know?

In this timeline we focus on social milestones.  Do you recognize some of these in young children that you know?

Birth
Newborn - 1 month
Newborn - 1 Month
pexels laura garcia 3617855
  • Calms when they hear a familiar voice
  • Shows interest in watching faces
2 Months
2 Months
00100lPORTRAIT 00100 BURST20191015205509412 COVER ASHLEY 1
  • Smiles at people when they make eye contact
  • Follows you and objects with their eyes
  • Turns head towards sounds
3 Months
4 Months
Sevie 4 6 months Bree Siewert
  • May imitate facial expressions and displays of emotion
  • Displays spontaneous smiles, especially at people
  • Likes to play and interact
  • Likes to look at self in mirror
3 Months
6 Months
pexels ксения 7781532 1
  • Responds to other’s emotions often mirroring emotions they see
  • Interacts with those familiar to them (e.g. laughs, plays or babbles)
  • Recognizes familiar and unfamiliar people
  • Responds to name by turning head towards you
  • Enjoys playing with others, especially family
3 Months
9 Months
9 mon th pexels marina abrosimova 5496168 1
  • Interacts with others during play
  • May show fear of strangers and cling to familiar caregivers or seek their presence when afraid
1 Year
3 Months
1 Year
1 year pexels amponsah nii davidson 2650063
  • Shows preference for certain people and toys as well as dislikes
3 Months
18 Months
18 month hand g4614ebaa9 1920
  • Likes to hand objects to others as a part of play
  • Shows affection with familiar caregivers
  • Points to show you something interesting or desired
  • Begins to show more interest in other children and engage in parallel play (playing next to another child but not interactively)
3 Months
2 Years
2 year pexels anna shvets 3771505
  • Mostly plays alongside children but may begin to briefly play in interactive ways such as chasing one another
  • Shows excitement towards other children
3 Months
3 Years
patty brito eHOZjZEx7u8 unsplash 1
  • Shows concern and affection to others without prompting
  • Copies adults and peers
  • Engages in interactive play with other children
  • Takes turns
3 Months
4 Years
pexels antonius ferret 5278785
  • Plays cooperatively with other children
  • Prefers playing with other children than alone
  • Becomes more creative and elaborate in imaginative play
3 Months
5 Years
pexels ron lach 10045068
  • Wants to please friends and be like them
  • Continues showing more and more independence

Put into Practice

Put into Practice

Put into Practice

When we learn about and notice all the remarkable ways our babies and toddlers are working to express themselves and communicate with us, it supports our ability to be responsive to them and their ability to develop to their full potential.

Our ability to be sensitive is a fundamental building block for early relationships. When we let the child know that they and their feelings are valued, this important message, when repeated consistently, makes a strong connection in their developing brain.  
Developmental milestones give adults clues to skills babies and toddlers may be working on at any given time, though babies and toddlers master skills at slightly different rates. If you are ever worried about your child’s development, check-in with your child’s pediatrician, early care educator, Birth to 3 provider or other early childhood professionals.

When we learn about and notice all the remarkable ways our babies and toddlers are working to express themselves and communicate with us, it supports our ability to be responsive to them and their ability to develop to their full potential.

Our ability to be sensitive is a fundamental building block for early relationships. When we let the child know that they and their feelings are valued, this important message, when repeated consistently, makes a strong connection in their developing brain.  
Developmental milestones give adults clues to skills babies and toddlers may be working on at any given time, though babies and toddlers master skills at slightly different rates. If you are ever worried about your child’s development, check-in with your child’s pediatrician, early care educator, Birth to 3 provider or other early childhood professionals.

Timely support can help ensure children reach their fullest potential.
Timely support can help ensure children reach their fullest potential.