Your Child’s Development

Your child’s development, which includes motor, language, and socialization skills, begins in the first months of life and you play an important role in helping your child move through the various stages of development.

Developmental milestones

Many parents worry about their child’s progress but all children are unique and develop skills at different rates.

Here is some general information adapted with permission from the Canadian Pediatric Society.

2 months

Most children smile when you play with them.

4 months

Most children roll over onto their tummies; reach for things; make baby sounds (e.g. “ah”); laugh; are startled by loud sounds; are soothed by their mother’s voice (birth to 3 months).

6 months

Most children roll over both ways; pass something from one hand to the other; turn when you call; make new baby sounds such as “babababa”; enjoy rattles and other noise-making toys (3 to 5 months).

9 months

La plupart des enfants s’assoient seuls ; portent des objets à leur bouche ; font « au revoir » de la main ; réagissent à leur nom, à la sonnerie du téléphone et à la voix d’une personne, même si ces sons ne sont pas forts (de 6 à 10 mois).

12 months

Most children crawl on their hands and knees; pull themselves up to stand; eat with their fingers; understand “no”; produce one word.

15 months

Most children walk alone; eat with a spoon; follow simple instructions (e.g. “close the door”); say a few words.

18 months

Most children climb stairs; scribble with a crayon; point to a body part; say 10 words.

2 years

Most children run; put boots on; point to pictures; say 50 words and put two words together (e.g. “more cookies”).

3 years

Most children ride a tricycle; play games; take turns; get dressed; are almost toilet trained; know their names; speak in simple sentences and speak fairly clearly.

Teach your child to talk

The Developmental and Behavioural Pediatric Service of The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the
McGill University Health Centre has suggestions to make it easier for your child to learn to talk:

• describe what you are doing
• talk slowly and clearly
• use simple and grammatically correct sentences
• encourage efforts to communicate
• listen to what your child is saying and not to how it is said
• read books with your child
• sing songs with your child

To help your child develop his coordination, agility and awareness

• provide crayons, scissors, and paint brushes,puzzles, modeling clay, beads for threading, wooden blocks
• do arts and crafts that involve gluing, tearing and cutting paper, tracing, colouring between two lines
• give your child the opportunity to practice doing up buttons, eating with a spoon
• play games that involve running, jumping, climbing, throwing and kicking a ball

If you have any doubts or concerns about your child’s development, talk to your family physician or pediatrician, or contact your CLSC.

You can also get information from the Canadian Paediatric Society, or you can contact The Developmental and Behavioural Pediatric Services at The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre at (514) 412-4314.