Age

Domain

Behavioral Examples

0-2 month

social

helpless; asocial; fed by parent

sensory

makes basic distinctions in vision, hearing, smelling, tasting, touch, temperature and perception of pain

reflexes

sucking, swallowing, crying, hiccoughing, grasping, pupillary contraction

2-3 mos.

Emotional

delight; distress; smiles at a face

social

visually fixates a face; smiles at a face; may be soothed by rocking

motor

control of eye muscles, lifts head when on stomach

3-4 mos.

Social

Infant communication by crying

Smiles spontaneously to mother's face, voice, smile

Responds to person-to-person contact with adults and children

enjoys being cuddled

Play

Practice play begins with sensory exploration of own body Repeats satisfying bodily actions (e.g. movement, vocalizations)

Emotional

Joy (delight), distress (frustration or pain), surprise, interest

motor

begins to control head and arm movement; purposive grasping,

4-9 mos.

Social

Enjoys being near people and played with

no longer smiles indiscriminately

Responds gaily to play interactions with others

Cries, smiles, kicks, coos, laughs to attract social attention

Responds differently to strangers (stranger anxiety-8 mos.)

Shouts for attention (8 mos.); rejects confinement

Cries if other child cries

Play

Learns that actions affect objects by manipulating objects

Grasps dangling toys within reach

Shakes/bangs toys/spoons to make different sounds

Uncovers hidden toy

Plays a "game" with adult assistance

Fights for disputed toy (9 mos.)

Emotions

Enjoyment, protest, fear, anger, humor, teases, shyness

Specific attachment to mother (or primary caregiver)

Sensory

Localizes to sound

10-12 mos.

Social

Pays attention to his/her own name

Recognizes different tones of voice and responds

Able to interpret the emotional expression of familiar adults

Copies simple actions of others

Recognizes himself as an individual apart from mother

Learning to cooperate; shows guilt at wrongdoing

Actively seeks to maintain interactions with adult

Tries to alter mother's plans through persuasion or protest

Displays separation anxiety when apart from mother

Developing a sense of humor

Teases and tests parental limits

Can demonstrate affection

Discriminates positive and negative attention

Language

One or Two words; imitates sounds

responds to simple commands

Play

Applies learned movements to new situations

Stacks rings on a peg

Holds crayon - imitating scribbling

Attempts to play with another child

Rolls ball in imitation of adult

Emotional

Stranger anxiety

fear, affection, persuasion, protest, guilt,

Curiosity

Exploration

1-2 years

Social

Recognizes self in mirror or picture and refers to self by name

Beginning to become independent

Cooperates by helping to put things away

May become angry if activities are interrupted

Responds to simple commands by adult

Begins to realize that can't have everything own way

Social relationships with other children are awkward

May hit, bite or fight over a toy

Engages in social laughter

Shows anger through aggressive behavior

Emotional

Separation anxiety is most severe in 12-18 mos.

13-18 mos.

Play

Engages in experimentation and ritualized play

Solitary or onlooker play

Plays by self, imitating own play, initiates own play

Deliberately throws/drops toys and watches them fall

19-24 mos.

Emergence of symbolic play

Rides a broom for a horse; plays house

Imitates adult behaviors in play

Moves (dances to music)

Begins to play with other children

Emotions

Almost complete store of emotional expressions

Temper tantrums often begin to become more "intense"

2 years

Social

Differential facial expression reflect emotional range

Defends own possessions but is beginning to share

Asks for wants

Knows gender identity

Participates in simple group activity - singing, dancing

Little interaction with other children

Mother continues to be very important to child

Sometimes makes special friend by age 3

Play

Parallel play or onlooker play

Imaginative play

Symbolically uses objects and self in play (plays house)

Beginning cooperative play

Enjoys imitating mother and using miniature equipment

Participates in simple group activities

Emotional

Gentle, friendly person

Expresses affection warmly

Emotionally calm, sure, balanced

Lovable, engaging, enthusiastic, and appreciative

(at 2 1/2)

Explosive, tense, rigid, insecure, easily frustrated

Ritualistic, routine

Screams, throws temper tantrums for little cause

3 years

Social

Friends becoming more interesting than adults

Shares toys, takes turns with assistance

Uses "I, me, you"

Beginning to learn to take responsibility

Shows affection for younger siblings

Associative group play begins

Play

Joins in play with other children (associative play)

Begins dramatic play - acting out whole scenes

Uses imaginative play with dolls

Enjoys imaginary companions

Often silly in play, doing things wrong purposefully

Emotional

Interprets emotions from facial expressions and intonation

Calm, collected, secure, capable, friendly

Interested in other children's feelings

Conforms easily, eager to please

Developing ability to stand frustration; emotions in control

(at 3 1/2)

Insecure, anxious, often bossy

Self-willed, refuses to obey

Inconsistent in behaviors

Genital exploration

4 years

Social

Plays and interacts with other children

Improving in turn-taking and cooperating

Spurred on by rivalry in activity

Understands social problem solving

Shows interest in exploring sex differences

Developing self-responsibility; enjoys doing things for self

Plays outside with little supervision; likes to be trusted

Sense of property is developing

Still home and mother-oriented

Play

Prefers play with other children to play with adults

Dramatic play closer to reality

Plays dress-up; very imaginative with self and others

Loves adventure and anything new

Plays in groups of 2-5 children

Imaginary fears may develop (dark, injury, etc.)

Emotional

Exhibits definite personality

Shows concern and sympathy

Calm, secure, balanced

Loves adventure, excitement, anything new

(at 4 1/2)

Bosses and criticizes; exaggerates and boasts

Extremes in behaviors: loves a lot, hates a lot

May lie and use profanity

Romantic attachment to parent of opposite sex

Responsibility and guilt

5 years

Social

Wants to do what is expected

Respects reasonable authority

Willing to play with most other children in the class

Engages with other children in cooperative play; fair play

Engages with other children in role assignments

Chooses own friends; friendships change rapidly

One or two best friends of same sex

Awareness of sex roles begins

Play

Plays simple table games; competitive games

Plays games with rules

Plays in small groups, not too highly organized

Play changes rapidly

Emotional

Enjoys life, secure; secure; consistently sunny and happy

Self-limiting, protects self from over-stimulation

Expresses emotions freely and openly

(at 5 1/2)

Quarrels are frequent, short duration, forgotten quickly

Anger outbursts are frequent; ready to disobey

Jealousy among classmates is common

Hesitant, dawdling, over-demanding, explosive

Extremes: shy/bold, affectionate/antagonistic

Independence from parents