Oct 10 2008

Baby Learning and Playing skills at different Age Developmental stages

Published by dodo at 11:21 am under Baby, Children, Infant, Kid, Newborn, Stroller, Toddler

Children need to develop a range of skills in order to utilise play experiences to the full. These can be considered in six areas and generally, there needs to be a fairly balanced development in each one. The six areas are:

Social — where the child shows an interest in other people and begins to develop empathy

Communication — where the child wants to communicate through verbal and non-verbal communication

Fine motor skills — where the child develops fine motor co-ordination and dexterity

Gross motor skills — which are related to mobility and body posture Imagination and thinking skills — needed for pretend play

Attention — where the child develops concentration and focused attention

It can be very useful to use the following tables as a checklist to consider children’s strengths and the areas in which they may need support at different ages and stages.

All My ChildrenDevelopmental stages for social and communication

Approx. age

Social skills

Communication skills
0-6 months Child develops feelings of security and trust if given consistent approaches. Child enjoys watching faces and will initiate expressions. Enjoys soothing calm sounds.
6-18 months Child begins to recognise him or herself as a separate person.

Begins to recognise that certain actions produce an effect. Enjoys repetitive rhymes and anticipating actions.

 Child begins to babble. Will imitate sounds and gestures. Will often practise sounds on their own.
18 months-3 years Parallel play. Will play alongside other children. Can initiate play with adults by bringing a toy to an adult. Can be led into activities by an adult and will join in. Joins in with rhymes and action songs. Enjoys repetition of

Stories. Can name pictures and make sounds in imitation, e.g. animals. Can talk about actions.
3-4 years Joins in with groups. Initiates contact with other children and plays with others. Knows words of songs and

Rhymes and can sing unaided. Can talk about an object or event without it being there.
4-5 years Co-operative play — can play by rules and can design own rules. Reciprocal communication and conversations. Takes turns in conversation.

Developmental stages for fine motor and gross motor skills

Approx. age Fine motor skills Gross motor skills
0-6 months Turns head and hands to music or movement. Enjoys rattles and mobiles. Develops head control. Turns head in direction of sound or movement. Can sit propped up.
6-18 months Explores using mouth. Interested in and explores environment. Makes sounds by banging objects. Can sit unaided. Can stand and cruise round furniture. Has independent mobility.
18 months-3 years Can play peek-a-boo. Enjoys cause and effect toys. Beginning to match objects and to sort objects. Enjoys sand and water play. Prefers to play outdoors or on floor. Benefits by a supportive chair with arms near a table to become involved in mealtimes, or an activity. Bean bags can be helpful.
3-4 years Enjoys creative aspects, e.g. cooking, playdough, sticking. Can do jigsaws. Active play — enjoys climbing frame and apparatus and sit- on/push-along/pedal toys. If trying to encourage group circle time activities, a bean bag can be useful for support.
4-5 years Can build with a range of construction equipment which involves good fine motor skills. Enjoys floor activities. Works best with a supportive chair with back for table-top activities.

Developmental stages for skills of pretend play and attention to task

Approx. age Pretend play Attention to task
0-6 months Responds to sound and movement in view. Responds to any new sound or movement stimulation.
6-18 months Initiates actions of others.

Repeats this on own, e.g. feeding teddy.

 Prefers own choice of activity and can become very involved. There can be a difficulty in following an adult-led activity.
18 months-3 year3 Uses teddy and dolly to perform actions. ‘Pretend‘ objects are evident in play, e.g. make-up and cup of tea to drink using toy cup. Able to follow adult-led activity. Needs adult to sustain

Concentration. Focuses on one area at a time and can become highly involved. Switching

Attention needs adult direction.
3-4 years Can use toys and objects to act out recent events. Becomes very involved in make-believe play such as home corner, shopping etc. Becoming less easily distracted from adult-led tasks. Can switch attention from one activity to another. Needs to stop activity to listen to instructions.
4-5 years Uses own imagination for role- play, e.g. fairies, dragons etc. Can carry out a task and listen to instructions at the same time.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Baby Learning and Playing skills at different Age Developmental stages

2 Responses to “Baby Learning and Playing skills at different Age Developmental stages”

  1. # Respected Child Photo Conteston 11 Oct 2008 at 4:57 am

    Expecting to find a delighted baby, you’re greeted by your Childs frustrated caregiver and your fussy infant. … Respected Child Photo Contest

  2. # Street Clothingon 11 Oct 2008 at 11:28 am

    Petite and large maternity clothing, pregnancy products and baby clothes, baby names meanings, baby items, furniture… … Street Clothing

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply

LogoAlexa CounterFeedBurner Counter r();?>