Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about their development. This is a general guide about how infants develop from birth to two months of age. 

Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow.

• Social and Emotional
• Language and Communication
• Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving
• Movement and Physical Development
• You Know Your Child Best

Social and Emotional

Your baby has a strong need to be close to you. This relationship is called attachment or bonding. Building a strong close relationship helps your baby develop self-confidence. When you respond to your baby’s cries, smiles and hunger, you help them develop trust in the world to take care of their needs. Breastfeeding/chestfeeding, holding your baby if bottle-feeding and spending time skin-to-skin with your newborn is important to help build a strong bond.

By two months your baby is getting to know you and your family. They:

• start to babble, laugh and squeal
• copy sounds
• have different cries to let you know that they are hungry, in pain or are tired

You can help your baby learn by:

• Responding to your baby’s cries. This will teach your baby to trust you. Your consistent response is the building blocks for your relationship.
• Spending “skin-to-skin” time with your baby
• Paying attention to how your baby communicates and responding to it
• Helping your baby learn to calm themself. It’s okay for them to suck on their fingers.
• Helping your baby get into a routine, such as sleeping at night more than in the day, and having regular schedules.
• Cuddling, talking, and playing with your baby during feeding, dressing, and bathing.
• Playing peek-a-boo with your baby

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Language and Communication 

Language and communication start from birth. Your infant’s coos and gurgles might not sound like talking yet, but these sounds are how your baby is tries to communicate with you. When you respond back, you are having your first conversations. Although your baby won’t understand your words at first, talking to your baby as you go about your day and reading to your baby, helps them learn about language.

By two months your baby is beginning to find their voice and may:

• coo and make gurgling sounds
• turn head toward sounds
• respond to your voice

You can help your baby learn by:

• Talking, reading and singing to your baby throughout the day. Your baby won’t understand what you are saying but will know your voice and will be comforted by it.
• copying your baby’s sounds sometimes, but also using real words at other times
• acting excited and respond when your baby makes sounds. Your baby will eventually “talk back” to your response.
• encouraging your baby to copy you by giving a large smile, or sticking out your tongue. With time, your baby may start to imitate you. You can also try to imitate your baby.
• repeating songs and lullabies

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving

Your baby’s thinking skills grow as they experience the world and interact with people around them.  At this age, babies love seeing faces and high contrast objects.  At first, baby sees things better when they are eight to 12 inches away from their face.

By two months your baby is already figuring things out and may:

• pay attention to faces
• be interested in objects that are eight to 10 inches away
• like things that have lots of contrast
• begins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distance
• may act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change

You can help your baby learn by:

• offering high contrast toys
• showing them high contrast images. Draw a triangle, checkerboard or stripes with black marker on a white paper.
• playing games that encourage tracking by moving yourself or interesting items in front of baby. Try moving from side to side, then change the motion to up and down, circles or zig-zags.

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Movement and Physical Development

Infants are very dependent on you to put them in comfortable and safe positions and places. Infant’s bodies start to develop at the head and then down to other parts of the body.  Supervised tummy-time is a great way to help your baby build strength in their neck and core.

By two months your baby will learn how to control their head and use their hands and may:

• hold head up
• begin to push up when lying on tummy
• make smoother movements with arms and legs
• begin to bat at objects, grab things and bring hands to the mouth.
• start to put things in the mouth

You can help your baby learn by:

• holding a toy or rattle above your baby’s head and encourage them to reach for it.
• giving baby “tummy-time” several times a day. Lay your baby on their tummy when awake and put toys nearby.
• slowly moving a small toy in front of your baby so they can follow with their eyes or head
• trying to get your baby to copy your movements. Hold your baby so that they can see you. Start with simple movements. Stick out your tongue or make a wide grin. Give your baby time to think and they may start to copy you. As your baby grows, try making larger movements for them to copy such as moving your head, hands or arms.

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You know your child best.

Most infants will see their doctor or nurse at two months for a check-up and immunizations. This is a good time to talk about your child’s development.

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, or if your child:

• is missing milestones
• doesn’t respond to loud sounds
• doesn’t watch things as they move
• doesn’t smile at people
• doesn’t bring hands to mouth
• can’t hold head up when pushing up when on tummy

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

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For more information

• Your child’s development: What to expect – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Attachment: A connection for life – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Benefits & guidelines Canadian 24-Hour movement guidelines for the early years: Ages 0-4 – Participaction
• Activities for babies and toddlers– Active for Life

References

• Caring for Kids – Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians
• Developmental Milestones – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from two to four months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled — so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow.

• Social and Emotional
• Language and Communication
• Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving
• Movement and Physical Development
• You Know Your Child Best

Social and Emotional

Your baby is increasingly aware of the people around them and will try to get your attention. When you consistently respond to your baby’s cries and smiles, you help them develop trust and self-confidence.

By four months, your baby is getting more interactive. They may:

• begin to smile at people
• be able to calm themselves by sucking on hands
• look for a parent
• enjoy playing with people
• show excitement by waving arms and legs

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Responding to your baby’s cries babbles and coos. When you consistently respond to your baby you help build your relationship with your baby.
• Cuddling, talking, and playing with your baby when they are being feed, dressed, and bathed.
• Holding and talking to your baby; smile and be cheerful while you do.
• Playing games like Peekaboo, This Little Piggy Went to Market and Pat-a-Cake with baby.
• Getting your baby to copy your expressions. Try giving a large smile or sticking out your tongue and give your baby time to imitate you. You can also try imitating your baby.
• Setting a regular schedule. Also, help your baby get into a routine, such as sleeping more at night than during the day.

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Language and Communication

This is where communication really starts to take off. You may start to notice that your baby actually has different cries for when they are hungry, in pain or tired. In this way, your baby can tell you what they need. Your baby will like to make sounds and have you copy them back as a conversation.

By four months, your baby is beginning to find their voice and may:

• start to babble, laugh and squeal
• copy sounds
• have different cries to let you know that they are hungry, in pain or are tired

You can help your baby learn by:

• Talking, reading and singing to your baby throughout the day
• Have “conversations” with your baby by replying to their babbles. Repeat the sound and wait them to make another.
• Describe your baby’s actions to them. For example, if your baby reaches for something say “You are reaching for your teddy bear. Do you want that bear?”

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving

Your baby is learning all the time. They are beginning to understand cause and effect – if your baby swats a toy on the infant gym, they will start to expect it to make a noise.

By four months, your baby is already figuring things out and may:

• be more awake and more curious about people and surroundings
• start to explore objects and toys with their eyes, hands and mouth
• reach for toys that they want
• recognize familiar people and things at a distance

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Encouraging play by offering toys with different colours, shapes, sizes, textures and sounds.
• Using an infant gym with objects that your baby can swat at.
• Holding a toy just out of baby’s reach for baby to reach, swat at and grab.
• Understanding that if your baby becomes fussy, squirmy or starts to cry, your baby may be telling you that they need a break.

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Movement and Physical Development

Babies develop so fast. They gain strength starting from the head and moving down their bodies. At first, they need their parents for everything, but as they develop, they learn to roll over and reach for things they want.

By four months, your baby is already figuring things out and may:

• hold their head steady, unsupported
• stretch and kick their legs to strengthen leg muscles, which prepares them for rolling over
• sit up with support
• roll from tummy to back
• bring hands to mouth
• bat at or grasp toys
• push down on legs when feet are on a hard surface

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Giving them tummy-time to help strengthen their neck, arms and shoulders.
• Once your baby can hold up their head, helping them practice sitting by propping them using your body, pillows or a supportive seat.

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You Know Your Child Best

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, or if your child:

• is missing milestones
• doesn’t watch things as they move
• doesn’t smile at people
• can’t hold their head steady
• doesn’t coo or make sounds
• doesn’t bring things to mouth
• doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
• has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference.

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For more information 

• Your child’s development: What to expect – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Read, Speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Attachment: A connection for life – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development, Canadian Paediatric Society
• 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years: Ages 0-4 – Participaction
• Activities for babies and toddlers – Active for Life

References

• Caring for Kids – Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians
• Developmental Milestones – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from four to six months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled — so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow. 

• Social and Emotional
• Language and Communication
• Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving
• Movement and Physical Development
• You Know Your Child Best

Social and Emotional

By six months, babies are increasingly aware of other people and new surroundings. Your baby may want to interact with more people and other children.

By six months, your baby is getting more interactive and may:

• recognize familiar faces and know if someone is a stranger
• like to play with others, especially you
• respond to other people’s emotions. You may notice that they smile or laugh when you are playful and happy and may cry if you seem angry or upset.

You can help your baby learn by:

• Talking to your baby to help them understand and have language for their feelings. For example, say, “You seem upset. Are you tired? Is it time for your nap?”
• Learning to read your baby’s moods. If they seem happy, keep doing what you are doing. If they are upset, take a break and comfort your baby.
• Showing your baby how to self-comfort when they are upset. For example, they may suck on their fingers to self-soothe.

See Why is my baby crying? What can I do? for tips on comforting your baby and staying calm.

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Language and Communication

It is so exciting to hear your baby learn to interact with others. All their little coos and babbles are the beginnings of speech.

By six months, your baby is developing language skills and may:

• talk back by responding to your sound by making a sound back
• say vowel sounds such as “eh,” “ah” and “oh”
• respond to their name
• make sounds to tell you that they are happy or unhappy
• use their voice to get attention and express feelings

You can help your baby learn by:

• Talking, reading and singing to your baby throughout the day
• Having “conversations” with your baby by replying to their babbles. Repeat the sound and wait for them to make another.
• Placing baby in a highchair or somewhere they can watch your everyday activities. Explain what you are doing and let baby see, touch and hear common objects.
• Using “reciprocal” play — when baby smiles, you smile; when they make sounds, you copy them.
• Repeating your child’s sounds and say simple words with those sounds. For example, if your child says “bah,” say “bottle” or “book.”

Parent Tips

• Baby talk is fine, but also speak real words to your baby to help them learn language and meaning.
• When you ask your baby a question, give them plenty of time to respond. It takes a while for the baby to think and then make a sound back.

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving

More and more, your baby is learning how to get things that they want and is curious about things around them.

By six months, your baby is becoming more curious about the world around them and may:

• may be curious and try to get objects that are out-of-reach
• look around and notice more things
• bring items to mouth
• pass things from one hand to the other

You can help your baby learn by:

• Reading books to your child every day. Praise them when they babble and “read” too.
• When your baby looks at something, pointing to it and talking about it.
• When baby drops a toy on the floor, picking it up and giving it back. This game helps them learn cause and effect.
• Pointing out items around your home to your baby and name them.

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Movement and Physical Development

Movement, skills and strength develop so quickly. Playing with your baby as they grow and develop helps them develop new abilities.  Anticipating what your baby will be able to do next will help you plan and keep your baby safer.

By six months, your baby is becoming a bit independent and may:

• roll both ways – from front to back and from back to their front.
• sit without support
• support weight on legs and may bounce when standing
• pick up small toys with one hand and transfer them from one hand to the others.
• rock back and forth, or crawl backward before moving forward.

You can help your baby learn by: 

• Playing on the floor with your baby every day.
• Encouraging rolling by placing a toy within sight and a little bit out of reach so they can roll to get the toy.
• Holding your baby up while they sit or support them with pillows. Provide only as much support as baby needs. Let your baby look around and give them toys to look at while they balance.
• Many babies will enjoy playing with “shakers” that make noise. To make a shaker for your baby, fill a small plastic bottle (e.g. a medicine bottle with a child proof cap) with beans or rice. Let your baby shake it to make noise. You can then create another shaker with something different inside. See if your baby prefers one sounds over the other.

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You Know Your Child Best

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, moves, or if your child:

• is missing milestones
• doesn’t try to get things that are in reach
• shows no affection for caregivers
• doesn’t respond to sounds around them
• has difficulty getting things to mouth
• doesn’t make vowel sounds (“ah,” “eh”, “oh”)
• doesn’t roll over in either direction
• doesn’t laugh or make squealing sounds
• seems very stiff, with tight muscles
• seems very floppy, like a rag doll

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

Back to top

For more information 

• Your child’s development: What to expect – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Attachment: A connection for life – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Benefits & guidelines Canadian 24-Hour movement guidelines for the early years: Ages 0-4 – Participaction
• Activities for babies and toddlers – Active for Life

References

• Caring for Kids – Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians
• Developmental Milestones – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from six to nine months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow.

• Social and Emotional
• Language and Communication
• Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving
• Movement and Physical Development
• You Know Your Child Best

Social and Emotional

Your baby knows who are their family and friends and who are strangers. Your bond with your baby makes them feel safe and secure and helps them develop confidence and self-esteem.

By six months, your baby is becoming more aware of other people. They may:

• be afraid of strangers
• be clingy towards you and other familiar people, especially in unfamiliar environments.
• have favourite toys

You can help your baby learn by:

• recognizing that these are normal parts of development and are signs that they have a strong relationship with you
• paying attention to the way your baby reacts to new situations and people; try to continue to do things that make your baby happy and comfortable.
• staying close as your baby moves around more, so they know that you are near.
• using words to describe your baby’s feelings. For example, “You are upset that I took away the car keys. You can play with this toy instead.”
• getting to know your baby’s favourite toys
• offering choices of foods

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Language and Communication

Your baby may start to understand simple words and start using some gestures.

By nine months, most babies will be putting sounds together, and may:

• say sounds like “ma-ma” and “da-da”
• copy other people’s sounds and gestures
• begin to understand the word “no”
• start using simple gestures such as waving hello and goodbye
• start to point at things

You can help your baby learn by:

• talking, reading and singing to your baby throughout the day
• encouraging your baby by copying the sounds they make
• making new sounds to encourage your baby to copy you
• teaching your baby wave to other people
• as you read to your baby, point at the pictures in the book, and let baby do the same
• describing what your baby is looking at; for example, “red, round ball”
• talking about what your baby wants when they point at something.

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving

You may notice that your baby is getting more playful – with you and with their toys.

By nine months, your baby’s brain is developing quickly and they may:

• continue to be curious and enjoy playing with a variety of toys
• enjoy banging objects together to make noise.
• start to understand that something or someone still exists, even if it is out of sight. This is called object permanence.
• look for a toy that they see you hide. Before learning object permanence, your baby will act as if the toy disappeared. Once they gain this skill, they will lift up a blanket to uncover the toy.

You can help your baby learn by:

• playing games such as peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek
• play games with “my turn, your turn”
• showing your baby how to bang objects together
• while your baby is watching, covering a toy that they are playing with and let them find it
• continuing routines
• rolling balls back and forth, pushing toy cars and trucks, and putting blocks in and out of a container

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Movement and Physical Development

Your baby will be increasingly mobile and playful.  Parents can give their babies opportunities to play and develop. Anticipating your child’s next physical milestone can help you keep them safer.

Between six and nine months of age, your baby will become a lot more mobile and may:

• scoot around on their tummy
• start crawling
• be able to get into a sitting position and sit without support
• pull to stand by holding onto furniture or a person
• pick up small items up between their thumb and first finger
• learn to let go of objects. Babies enjoy throwing toys onto the floor and having you “go and fetch” them.

You can help your baby learn by:

• giving them opportunities to use their fingers by giving small foods such as Cheerios and cooked peas
• playing “come and get me.” Chase after your baby as they move and hug your baby when you catch them
• placing some of your baby’s toys on the couch or a table so your baby can practice standing while playing with their toys
• providing room for your baby to move and explore in a safe area
• putting your baby close to things that they can pull up on safely

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You Know Your Child Best.

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, or if your child doesn’t:

• bear weight on legs with support
• sit with help
• babble
• play games involving back-and-forth play
• respond to their own name
• recognize familiar people
• look to where you point
• transfer toys from one hand to another

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

Back to top

For more information

• Your child’s development: What to expect – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Attachment: A connection for life – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Benefits & guidelines Canadian 24-Hour movement guidelines for the early years: Ages 0-4 – Participaction
• Activities for babies and toddlers – Active for Life

References

• Caring for Kids – Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians
• Developmental Milestones – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves offers important clues about their development.

This is a general guide to infants from nine to 12 months of age. Remember, each child is unique and will grow and develop at their own pace. It is normal for a child to be behind in some areas and ahead in others. For babies born prematurely, milestones are based on their corrected age (your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks or months they were born early).

Babies can’t be spoiled so feel free to play, cuddle and respond to all your baby’s cues and cries. You can help your baby learn and grow. 

• Social and Emotional
• Language and Communication
• Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving
• Movement and Physical Development
• You Know Your Child Best

Social and Emotional

Your baby will have learned so much about interacting with others over the past year.  Keeping your baby close emotionally and letting them set the pace in new situations will help them develop.

Between nine and 12 months, babies begin to do things with a goal in mind and may:

• cry when you leave the room
• act shy with strangers
• show fear in some situations
• start to help you by sticking out an arm or leg when you are dressing them
• hand you a book when they want to hear a story
• repeat sounds or actions to get attention
• play games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a cake

You can help your baby learn by:

• understanding that new places and people are good experiences for your baby but can be scary
• letting your baby watch and listen in new situations and be there to comfort them. Let them move at their own speed.
• giving your child time to get to know a new caregiver. Bring a favorite toy, stuffed animal, or blanket to help comfort your child.
• always say goodbye to your baby when you leave instead of sneaking out and reassure them that you will be back
• saying “no” firmly to unwanted behaviours. Do not yell, spank, or give long explanations.
• give your child lots of hugs, kisses, and praise for good behavior.
• spending more time encouraging wanted behaviors than punishing unwanted behaviours (try to give four times as much encouragement for wanted behaviours as redirection for unwanted behaviors)
• praising baby and thanking them for being so helpful when dressing

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Language and Communication

By 12 months, your baby will understand some of what you are saying. Parents can use everyday activities such as bathing and mealtime as opportunities to promote language.

By age one, most babies understand more words than they can say will be able to and may:

• say “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh oh”
• try to copy words you say.
• follow simple directions, such as “pick up the toy.”
• point to simple images in a book when you ask. For example, “show me the cat.”
• use actions to help them communicate to you what they want. For example, they may point at something they want or bring you a book when they want to hear a story.
• responds to simple spoken requests
• uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
• makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)

You can help your baby learn by:

• reading with your child every day. Let your child turn the pages. Name what is in the pictures.
• talking to your baby about what you are doing. For example, “Mommy is washing your hands.”
• talking to your baby about their actions. For example, you could say, “You are pushing your food away. I think you are telling me you are full.”
• naming something that your baby looks at or points to in the room or in a book
• building on what your child says or what points to. If they point to a truck and says “t” or “truck,” say, “Yes, that’s a big, blue truck.”

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Thinking, Learning and Problem-Solving 

Your baby continues to learn about the world and how things work.  There are so many ways that parents can help their child learn.

Your baby is learning more about their world and how they can get things that they want. Your baby may:

• find hidden things easily and enjoy finding “hidden” people and things
• learn that their actions can make things happen
• follow simple directions like “pick up the toy”
• use things properly (drink from a cup, roll a toy or pretend to talk on the phone)
• put objects into containers and take them out
• shake, bang, or throw things
• look at the right picture or thing when it’s named
• copy gestures
• let things go without help
• poke with index (pointer) finger

You can help your baby learn by:

• providing lots of safe places for your toddler to explore
• playing hide-and-seek games. Try hiding toys for your baby to find.
• letting your baby flip the light switch or ring the doorbell
• giving your child opportunities to make noise. Pots and pans, small musical instruments like a drums or cymbals or toys with buttons that they can make sounds on are fun and help your child learn.
• letting your baby play games over and over. Babies love repetition and it reinforces learning
• singing songs with actions, like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Wheels on the Bus.” Help your child do the actions with you.
• giving your child push toys like a wagon or toy “cars” that they can push or ride on

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Movement and Physical Development

“On the move” may describe your baby at one year.  Whether they are crawling, rolling or starting to walk, your baby will keep you on the go.

By one year, your baby may:

• sit without help
• start to crawl
• pull up to stand and walk while holding on to furniture. This is sometimes called “cruising”
• take a few steps without holding on
• stand
• start walking
• dance to music
• your baby will also begin using their index (pointer) finger to poke

You can help your baby learn by: 

• placing several toys in out of reach on the floor to encourage them to move by to crawl and explore
• playing music, holding your baby in a standing position and dancing together
• providing plastic blocks or other toys and some larger containers so that they can put toys in and out of the containers
• letting them put toys or other objects on and off themselves
• giving your child crayons and paper, and let your child draw freely. Show your child how to draw lines up and down and across the page. Praise your child,
• playing with blocks, shape sorters, and other toys that encourage your child to use their hands.

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You know your child best

Act early if you have concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, or if your child:

• is missing milestones
• doesn’t crawl
• can’t stand when supported
• doesn’t search for things that they see you hide
• doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada”
• doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head
• doesn’t point to things
• loses skills they once had

Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

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For more information

• Your child’s development: What to expect – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Attachment: A connection for life – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development – Canadian Paediatric Society
• Benefits & guidelines Canadian 24-Hour movement guidelines for the early years: Ages 0-4 – Participaction
• Activities for babies and toddlers – Active for Life

References

• Caring for Kids – Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians
• Developmental Milestones – Centre for Disease Control and Prevention