Lesson 2.2: Developmental Milestones
Part 1
Lesson Summary
This lesson introduces the developmental expectations and milestones for children from birth to five years of age. Participants have an opportunity to reflect and discuss the importance of understanding developmental milestones and expected development.
Key Understandings
Parents understand what their child can do at certain ages and how to support their baby learn and grow.
Parents understand what resources are available to them to address developmental concerns.
BEFORE: Engage in Learning
Watch the video below, which focuses on the sensorimotor stage, the first two years, when children go through a dramatic period of growth and learning.
Sensorimotor Stage: Birth to 2 years old
Parents can make a big difference, especially during the early years of life. This stage describes the developmental changes from birth to 2 years, where a child’s entire experience occurs through basic reflexes, senses, and motor responses.
Watch this video that breaks down the sensorimotor stage into six substages.
DURING: Explore new concepts
There are developmental milestones during this early and rapid period of growth that children reach in other areas of development. In addition to cognitive development, children reach milestones in their social and emotional learning, language and communication, and movement or physical development.
Refer to the Centers for Disease Control or Prevention (CDC) Developmental Milestones handout below as you watch the video below to learn more about developmental milestones. These checklists from CDC provide guidance on what children are able to do by a certain age, but a child’s age does not determine stage. The milestones approximate when certain actions should take place.
CDC Developmental Milestones.pdfWatch the video below to learn more about developmental milestones.
AFTER: Extend your learning
Take a close look at the milestones in each box in the table below. You will see milestones such as babbles, crawls on belly, etc. Can you identify where each of these milestones belong on the timeline below? Use your CDC milestones handout to help you identify where they belong on the timeline.
Activity Child-Development-Milestones.pdfExit Ticket: Final Reflection
As you listen to the song Magnolia Tree, answer the following questions:
What is the importance of early intervention?
What is 1 thing you learned about developmental milestones?
What is 1 question you still have about developmental milestones?
Share your reflection with the other participants in your local program.