As parents, watching your child grow and develop is one of life’s most rewarding experiences.

Each stage of development offers unique moments, from the first smile to those first words and steps.

At the Learning Village, a leading provider of childcare in Pembroke Pines, we understand the importance of these milestones and strive to provide the environment and tools your child needs to thrive.

Here’s a breakdown of key early childhood development milestones by age, along with tips on how you can support them on this exciting journey.

What Are Developmental Milestones?

Developmental milestones are behaviors or physical skills that show growth in early learning and development as children progress. These milestones are broadly categorized into four main areas:

1. Physical Development: Includes large motor skills like crawling and walking, as well as fine motor skills like grasping and drawing.
2. Cognitive Development: Involves thinking skills, including problem-solving, memory, and learning.
3. Language Development: Includes learning to communicate, from cooing to speaking in sentences.
4. Social and Emotional Development: Involves forming relationships, expressing emotions, and developing a sense of self.

While every child is unique and develops at their own pace, these milestones provide a general guideline for understanding typical growth in childcare settings and at home.

Milestones by Age Group

Infants (0-12 Months)

Key Milestones:

• Physical: By six months, many infants can roll over, sit without support, and begin to crawl.
• Cognitive: Babies start to explore the world, looking at faces and following moving objects.
• Language: By around 6-9 months, babies begin babbling, and by 12 months, may say a few basic words like “mama” or “dada.”
• Social and Emotional: Smiling at familiar faces, showing preferences for people and toys, and expressing emotions like joy and discomfort.

How You Can Help:

• Encourage movement with tummy time and safe play areas.
• Talk to your baby often to encourage language skills.
• Spend quality time bonding to support emotional security.

Toddlers (1-3 Years)

Key Milestones:

• Physical: Walking, climbing, and beginning to run. Fine motor skills like stacking blocks and scribbling start to emerge.
• Cognitive: Toddlers are curious! They begin solving simple problems and understanding cause and effect.
• Language: Vocabulary grows rapidly. By age 2, many toddlers can put two words together to make simple sentences.
• Social and Emotional: Developing a sense of independence, showing affection, and beginning to play alongside other children.

How You Can Help:

• Provide opportunities for safe exploration and play.
• Read books together to build vocabulary and comprehension.
• Allow time for independent play to foster confidence.

Preschoolers (3-5 Years)

Key Milestones:

• Physical: Better coordination, balance, and strength; can pedal a tricycle, hop, and even start using scissors.
• Cognitive: Beginning to understand numbers, letters, and colors; can follow simple instructions and solve basic puzzles.
• Language: By age 5, children typically speak in full sentences, understand storytelling, and ask lots of questions!
• Social and Emotional: Cooperative play, taking turns, and beginning to understand emotions in themselves and others.

How You Can Help:

• Engage in pretend play and activities that encourage creativity and problem-solving.
• Offer books and games that introduce numbers, letters, and early literacy skills.
• Teach emotional awareness by talking about feelings and modeling empathy.

Understanding Variability in Development

Each child develops at their own pace, making quality early childhood education crucial for fostering individual strengths and providing support where needed.

At Learning Village, a trusted Pembroke Pines daycare, we celebrate these individual paths, tailoring our approach to meet each child’s unique needs and encourage their growth in a supportive, nurturing environment.

However, if you notice that your child is significantly behind in multiple areas of development, it’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider or early childhood specialist for guidance. Early intervention can be beneficial in helping children reach their fullest potential.

How Learning Village Supports Developmental Milestones

At Learning Village, we prioritize a balanced, a play-based learning approach.

Through our STEAM-based activities and sensory play, we create opportunities for children to learn at every stage, allowing them to explore, imagine, and build confidence.

Our dedicated educators are trained to identify and foster developmental milestones, providing parents with insights into their child’s progress.

With our emphasis on family partnership, we ensure that parents are kept in the loop about their child’s development, offering regular updates and tips on how you can continue supporting them at home.

Schedule a Tour and See the Learning Village Difference

Would you like to learn more about how we support your child’s growth and development through our comprehensive early childhood education programs?

Our Learning Village community would love to welcome you for a tour! Discover how our nurturing environment and developmentally focused curriculum can support your child at every stage.

Please schedule a tour today to experience firsthand how we inspire children to Imagine, Inspire, and Thrive.