Welcome

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Lifts head briefly, reflexive grasping
• Language: Coos and makes vowel sounds
• Cognitive: Looks at faces, tracks objects with eyes
• Social-Emotional: Smiles responsively, recognizes familiar voices

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• Little or no response to loud sounds
• Does not follow objects visually
• Excessively stiff or floppy muscle tone

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Rolls over both directions, reaches for toys
• Language: Laughs, babbles using consonants ("bababa")
• Cognitive: Responds to own name, explores toys by mouth
• Social-Emotional: Enjoys playful interaction, notices emotions

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• No smiling or joyful expressions
• No attempts to roll or reach by 6 months
• Limited or no vocalizations or babbling

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Sits unsupported, begins crawling, transfers objects hand-to-hand
• Language: Understands "no," babbles with intent ("mamama")
• Cognitive: Explores cause-and-effect, object permanence emerging
• Social-Emotional: Stranger anxiety may develop, clearly attached to caregivers

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• Unable to sit even briefly
• Doesn’t respond to name or familiar voices
• No babbling or attempts to communicate

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Pulls to stand, cruises along furniture, precise finger grasp
• Language: Says first words ("mama," "dada"), follows simple commands
• Cognitive: Imitates gestures, solves simple problems (finding hidden toys)
• Social-Emotional: Engages in simple interactive games (peek-a-boo)

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• Does not stand or attempt to pull up
• No clear words or sounds resembling words
• Shows minimal interaction or response to games

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Walks independently, stacks two to three blocks
• Language: Speaks at least 10 words, points to objects when named
• Cognitive: Points to body parts, follows two-step directions
• Social-Emotional: Begins pretend play, expresses emotions more clearly

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• Not walking by 18 months
• Limited eye contact or interaction
• Fewer than 5 clear words by 18 months

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Runs, kicks a ball, climbs stairs with assistance
• Language: Combines two words ("more milk"), vocabulary expanding rapidly
• Cognitive: Sorts shapes/colors, demonstrates memory of routines
• Social-Emotional: Shows empathy, parallel play with peers

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• Not speaking two-word phrases by 24 months
• Loss of previously acquired skills
• Limited interest in social interaction or play

🚼 Skills: 

• Motor: Jumps, pedals tricycle, builds towers of blocks
• Language: Uses sentences of 3+ words, follows complex instructions
• Cognitive: Begins counting, recognizes colors, shapes, and letters
• Social-Emotional: Plays cooperatively, shows independence

🔺 Red Flags (ask for help if):

• Difficulties with basic communication or interaction
• Frequent tantrums beyond typical range
• Significant difficulty following directions

Motor:

• Tummy Time: Brief sessions throughout the day to strengthen neck muscles.
• Grasping Games: Gently touch baby's palm with your finger or a soft toy to encourage grasping reflex. 

Language:

• Gentle Talking & Singing: Soft, repetitive sounds and songs during daily routines. 
• Face-to-Face Interaction: Talk and coo face-to-face, encouraging vocal responses.

Cognitive:

• Visual Tracking: Slowly move brightly colored objects or your face from side to side to enhance visual skills.
• Mirror Play: Hold baby in front of a mirror to encourage visual focus and recognition.

Social-Emotional:

• Responsive Smiling: Smile often and consistently respond to baby's smiles.
• Skin-to-Skin Time: Encourage bonding through regular physical closeness.

Motor:

• Rolling Games: Place toys just out of reach to encourage rolling and reaching.
• Toy Exploration: Provide varied textures and shapes to grasp and explore.

Language:

• Babbling Conversations: Mimic and respond enthusiastically to baby’s vocalizations.
• Storytime with Expression: Short, colorful books with rhythmic language.

Cognitive:

• Name Recognition: Frequently use baby’s name in interactions to strengthen recognition.
• Sensory Play: Safe items (textured balls, rattles) for exploring orally and by touch.

Social-Emotional:

• Face and Emotion Games: Use exaggerated facial expressions to encourage recognition and imitation of emotions.
• Interactive Playtime: Peek-a-boo, gentle tickling games, and soft music for rhythmic interaction.

Motor:

• Supported Sitting & Crawling Encouragement: Place toys slightly out of reach to encourage crawling.
• Object Transfers: Hand objects back and forth between hands during play.

Language:

• Labeling & Simple Commands: Clearly name objects and frequently use simple phrases like “give me” or “come here.”
• Interactive Songs: Incorporate gestures or actions (e.g., "Itsy Bitsy Spider").

Cognitive:

• Hide-and-Find: Partially cover toys with cloth to promote understanding of object permanence.
• Cause & Effect Toys: Use simple toys that produce sounds or movement when interacted with.

Social-Emotional:

• Comfort & Security Games: Gentle cuddling and reassurance to navigate stranger anxiety.
• Turn-taking Activities: Encourage back-and-forth interactions, such as rolling a ball to each other.

Motor:

• Cruising Practice: Arrange furniture safely for baby to pull up and move around.
• Fine Motor Activities: Small, safe finger foods for self-feeding and precision grasp practice.

Language:

• Daily Routine Words: Emphasize consistent words (“cup,” “milk,” “bye-bye”) associated with routines.
• Command Games: Simple directions like “wave bye-bye” or “give me the toy.”

Cognitive:

• Imitation Play: Encourage mimicking gestures, such as clapping or blowing kisses.
• Problem-Solving Games: Simple puzzles or hiding toys under cups for baby to find.

Social-Emotional:

• Interactive Games: Frequent play sessions involving peek-a-boo or simple chase games.
• Socially Responsive Play: Praise efforts when baby engages or interacts socially.

Motor:

• Independent Walking & Obstacle Courses: Safe, supervised spaces with soft obstacles to navigate.
• Stacking & Sorting: Blocks and shape sorters to practice fine motor control.

Language:

• Point-and-Name Activities: Clearly naming objects as baby points to encourage vocabulary.
• Interactive Storytime: Encourage child to identify pictures and repeat simple words.

Cognitive:

• Body Part Games: Songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” to learn body parts.
• Simple Directions: Games involving two-step instructions (“Find your shoes and bring them here”).

Social-Emotional:

• Pretend Play: Introduce simple role-playing (feeding a doll, pretend cooking).
• Emotion Recognition: Use storybooks showing different emotions, labeling feelings clearly.

Motor:

• Physical Play: Activities like kicking balls, simple running games, or climbing with assistance.
• Creative Building: Use blocks, large puzzles, or simple art materials to enhance coordination.

Language:

• Two-Word Encouragement: Praise and expand on two-word sentences ("More milk" → "You want more milk").
• Sing-Along & Rhyming: Simple rhymes and songs to expand vocabulary rhythmically.

Cognitive:

• Color & Shape Sorting: Games or puzzles involving sorting by colors or shapes.
• Routine-based Memory Games: Asking simple questions about daily routines to build recall skills.

Social-Emotional:

• Empathy Activities: Model and encourage comforting a doll or stuffed animal.
• Parallel Play Dates: Short play sessions near other children to enhance social comfort and interest.

Motor:

• Active Play: Encourage jumping, tricycle riding, simple obstacle courses.
• Fine Motor Art Projects: Coloring, painting, or using playdough to develop precise hand movements.

Language:

• Complex Commands: Games involving multiple instructions (“Take the ball, put it on the chair, then clap”).
• Storytelling and Conversation: Encourage storytelling and discussing daily events using full sentences.

Cognitive:

• Counting & Alphabet Games: Songs and playful activities to introduce counting, letters, and simple recognition tasks.
• Interactive Matching & Memory Games: Matching cards, puzzles, and memory card games.

Social-Emotional:

• Cooperative Play Activities: Group games and simple tasks requiring sharing, turn-taking, and collaboration.
• Independence-Building Activities: Encouraging self-care (dressing, simple chores) with positive reinforcement.