While it is expected that children develop at different rates, there are certain milestones that are expected at certain times in childhood. It is important for parents to be aware of general time frames for developmental milestones in order to notice a delay and seek treatment. Early intervention is so important. All For Kids Pediatric Therapy Clinic is the leading pediatric therapy clinic in Anchorage, AK and can help evaluate if your child is meeting expected milestones. 

A Guide to Important Developmental Milestones

1. Two Months

At two-months old, your child should be able to:

• Move  head from side to side while on stomach
• Hold head up while on tummy
• Make smoother movements or arms and legs
• Turn head to sounds
• Coo and gurgle
• Attend to faces
• Begin to smile at people
• Begin to track objects with eyes

2. Two Years

Your two-year-old child should be able to: 

• Pull to standing and stand for a moment without support
• Get to a sitting position without help
• Cruise on furniture
• Take objects out of a container and put them back in
• Respond to simple verbal requests
• Look at objects when named
• Use basic gestures (e.g., waving, pointing, reaching)
• Begin to use single word phrases
• Imitate words and sounds
• Explore toys in different ways 
• Play games like “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”

3. 4 Years

A four-year-old child should be able to:

• Complete movements such as throwing a ball overhand, catching, and hopping on one foot
• Hold a crayon between their fingers
• Use scissors
• Copy some letters
• Play pretend
• Cooperate with other children
• Use sentences of 4 words
• Know some basic grammar rules (e.g., he/she)
• Tell stories
• Remember parts of stories that have been read aloud
• Sing familiar songs from memory
• Know some basic concepts (e.g., same/different, colors, shapes, numbers)

If your child is not meeting expected milestones, the therapists at All For Kids can help determine if a delay is present. All For Kids Pediatric Therapy Clinic offers a wide range of services including speech, occupational, and language therapies. Contact them today at (907) 345-0050 to schedule an evaluation or visit their website for more information about their full list of services. 

Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2mo.html for more information about milestones