Hesperian Health Guides
Appendix A: Child Development Charts
How to use these child development charts
Children develop in several main areas: physical (body), mental (mind), communication (gesturing or talking), and social (relating to other people). Some skills a child learns include all these areas. For example, when a child reaches her arms up to be held, she is using a:
- physical skill — she holds up her arms
- mental skill — she recognizes you
- communication skill — she tells you what she wants
- social skill — she enjoys being held by you
The charts below show some of the skills children learn and when most children learn them. You can use the chart to get general information about how children develop and to help you decide what skills your child needs to learn.
 6 months |
 12 months |
 2 years |
| The charts show how children's physical skills change as children grow. | ||
To help you decide what skills your child needs to learn
Find the chart for the age group closest to your child's age. On the chart, circle the skills your child has. You may find your child does not have some skills that other children his age have. Knowing this can help you decide which activities you want to work on with your child.
In the chart above, a mother has circled the skills her 20-month-old
daughter can do. Her child needs activities to help her gain physical
and communication skills.
Look first in the chapters that focus on the skills you want to teach your child, but you will find useful information in other chapters as well.
| Chapter → Area of Development ↓ | Activities for the Young Baby 5 |
Communi- cation 6 |
Thinking Skills 7 |
Teaching Everyday Activities 8 |
Movement 10 |
Helping Your Child Know Where She Is 11 |
Becoming Part of the Community 13 |
Getting Ready for Child-care and School 14 |
| Physical | • | • | • | • | • | |||
| Mental | • | • | • | • | ||||
| Social | • | • | • | • | ||||
| Communication | • | • | • |
Each part of this circle shows a different area of development. The pictures and words are examples of skills that many babies have when they are 3 months old.
familiar voices
or faces
sudden sounds
soothed by
voice or touch
played with
Babies who cannot do 2 skills in any part of the circle will benefit from activities that help babies develop in that area, but the pictures are only examples of skills. For example, in the Communication part of the circle: You do not have to play the flute! The question to ask yourself is if your baby reacts
to a sudden sound.
Keep in mind that the goal is for your baby to do the activities that other babies the same age do in your community.
Each part of this circle shows a different area of development. The pictures and words are examples of skills that many babies have when they are 6 months old.
sounds
in mouth
with
strangers
and from back to stomach
some
support
arms and legs
Babies who cannot do 2 skills in any part of the circle will benefit from activities that help babies develop in that area, but the pictures are only examples of skills. For example, in the Physical part of the circle: Your baby does not have to play with a rattle. The question to ask yourself is if your baby wiggles and kicks.
Keep in mind that a baby will learn best by doing activities that other babies the same age do in your community.
Each part of this circle shows a different area of development. The pictures and words are examples of skills that many babies have when they are 12 months old.
words or signs
to me.
sounds
together
name
things
ga-ga
out of sight
understand cause
and effect
gestures
games like peek-a-boo
standing
position
Babies who cannot do 2 skills in any part of the circle will benefit from activities that help babies develop in that area, but the pictures are only examples of skills. For example, in the Social part of the circle: You do not have to play peek-a-boo with your baby. The question to ask yourself is if your baby enjoys social games.
Keep in mind that a baby will learn best by doing activities that other babies the same age do in your community.
Each part of this circle shows a different area of development. The pictures and words are examples of skills that many children have when they are 2 years old.
3 word
sentences
ball
simple
words
words or signs
objects
each other
activities for
longer times
other children
when she
needs help
objects
Children who cannot do 2 skills in any part of the circle will benefit from activities that help children develop in that area, but the pictures are only examples of skills. For example, in the Mental part of the circle: Your child does not have to be able to play a drum. The question to ask yourself is if your child uses 2 objects together.
Keep in mind that a child will learn best by doing activities that other children the same age do in your community.
Each part of this circle shows a different area of development. The pictures and words are examples of skills that many children have when they are 3 years old.
your
mouth?
with papa
simple language
matching holes or
spaces
objects
doing simple tasks
for helping
around the house
feelings
more complex
tasks
a ball
Children who cannot do 2 skills in any part of the circle will benefit from activities that help children develop in that area, but the pictures are only examples of skills. For example, in the Social part of the circle: Your child does not have to sweep the floor. The question to ask yourself is if your child enjoys helping work with the family.
Keep in mind that a child will learn best by doing activities that other children the same age do in your community.
Each part of this circle shows a different area of development. The pictures and words are examples of skills that many children have when they are 5 years old.
the
water
making that
noise? What
do they
look like?
he has done
directions
simple
puzzles
counting
many
feelings
shapes
backwards
Children who cannot do 2 skills in any part of the circle will benefit from activities that help children develop in that area, but the pictures are only examples of skills. For example, in the Social part of the circle: Your child does not have to be listening to a teacher. The question to ask yourself is if your child understands rules like other children do.
Keep in mind that a child will learn best by doing activities that other children the same age do in your community.