Normal Development Flashcards
How is development divided?
Gross motor
Fine motor
Language
Personal/Social
What is gross motor function and what would you expect at each age?
Refers to the child’s development of large movements, such as sitting, standing, walking and posture. Development in this area happens from the head downwards-
4 months- supporting their head and keeping it in line with their body.
6 months- they can keep their trunk supported on their pelvis (maintain sitting position) by 6 months- they might not have enough balance to sit unsupported at this age.
9 months: They should sit unsupported by 9 months. They can start crawling at this stage. They can also keep their trunk and pelvis supported on their legs (i.e. maintain a standing position) and bounce on their legs when supported.
12 months: They should stand and begin cruising (walking whilst holding onto furniture).
15 months: Walk unaided.
18 months: Squat and pick things up from the floor.
2 years: Run. Kick a ball.
3 years: Climb stairs one foot at a time. Stand on one leg for a few seconds. Ride a tricycle.
4 years: Hop. Climb and descend stairs like an adult.
What is fine motor function and what would you expect at each age?
Fine motor refers to a the child’s development of precise and skilled movements, and also encompasses their visual development and hand-eye coordination.
Early Milestones:
8 weeks: Fixes their eyes on an object 30 centimetres in front of them and makes an attempt to follow it. They show a preference for a face rather than an inanimate object.
6 months: Palmar grasp of objects (wraps thumb and fingers around the object).
9 months: Scissor grasp of objects (squashes it between thumb and forefinger).
12 months: Pincer grasp (with the tip of the thumb and forefinger).
14-18 months: They can clumsily use a spoon to bring food from a bowl to their mouth.
Drawing Skills:
12 months: Holds crayon and scribbles randomly 2 years: Copies vertical line 2.5 years: Copies horizontal line 3 years: Copies circle 4 years: Copies cross and square 5 years: Copies triangle Tower of Bricks:
14 months: Tower of 2 bricks 18 months: Tower of 4 bricks 2 years: Tower of 8 bricks 2.5 years: Tower of 12 bricks 3 years: Can build a 3 block bridge or train 4 years: Can build steps Pencil Grasps:
Under 2 years: Palmar supinate grasp (fist grip)
2-3 years: Digital pronate grasp
3-4 years: Quadrupod grasp or static tripod grasp
5 years: Mature tripod grasp
Others:
3 years: Can thread large beads onto string. Can make cuts in the side of paper with scissors.
4 years: Can cut paper in half using scissors
What is language function and what would you expect at each age?
Language refers to the child’s development of understanding and using speech and language to communicate. There are two components:
Expressive language
Receptive language
Expressive language milestones:
3 months: Cooing noises
6 months: Makes noises with consonants (starting with g, b and p)
9 months: Babbles, sounding more like talking but not saying any recognisable words
12 months: Says single words in context, e.g. “Dad-da” or “Hi”
18 months: Has around 5 – 10 words
2 years: Combines 2 words. Around 50+ words total.
2.5 years: Combines 3 – 4 words
3 years: Using basic sentences
4 years: Tells stories
Receptive language milestones:
3 months: Recognises parents and familiar voices and gets comfort from these
6 months: Responds to tone of voice
9 months: Listens to speech
12 months: Follows very simple instructions
18 months: Understands nouns, for example “show me the spoon”
2 years: Understands verbs, for example “show me what you eat with”
2.5 years: Understands propositions (plan of action), for example “put the spoon on / under the step”
3 years: Understands adjectives, for example “show me the red brick” and “which one of these is bigger?”
4 years: Follows complex instructions, for example “pick the spoon up, put it under the carpet and go to mummy”
You can also think receptive language in terms of the number of key words:
18 months: 1 key word, for example “show me the spoon”
2 years: 2 key words, for example “show me the spoon and the cup”
3 years: 3 key words, for example “put the spoon under the step”
4 years: 4 key words, for example “put the red spoon under the step”
What is personal and social function and what would you expect at each age?
Personal and social refers to the child’s development of skills in interacting, communicating, playing and building relationships:
6 weeks: Smiles
3 months: Communicates pleasure
6 months: Curious and engaged with people
9 months: They become cautious and apprehensive with strangers
12 months: Engages with others by pointing and handing objects. Waves bye bye. Claps hands.
18 months: Imitates activities such as using a phone
2 years: Extends interest to others beyond parents, such as waving to strangers. Plays next to but not necessarily with other children (parallel play). Usually dry by day.
3 years: They will seek out other children and plays with them. Bowel control.
4 years: Has best friend. Dry by night. Dresses self. Imaginative play.
Which features would be red flags/ suggest a problem with development?
There are certain red flags for things that would suggest there is a problem:
Lost developmental milestones Not able to hold an object at 5 months Not sitting unsupported at 12 months Not standing independently at 18 months Not walking independently at 2 years Not running at 2.5 years No words at 18 months No interest in others at 18 months
What is important to consider when performing a developmental assessment?
Build a rapport with the child- make it a game and give lots of praise. Remember and use their name. If they are shy use get the parents to encourage them or gain from observation. If they refuse to engage you can ask the parents about their milestones.
Start by making a visual estimate of the rough age of the child and observing them before asking them to do other tasks. Choose a task you think they will manage for their age and work up until they fail. Move on to asessing other areas.
