Developmental Milestones from Birth to Five

Lesson 3 of 5 in Child Development & Observation Language · 30 minutes

Read about the typical milestones young children reach in five domains — gross motor, fine motor, language and communication, social-emotional, and cognitive — from birth through age five. These are typical ages, not strict deadlines. The Looksee Checklist (formerly the Nipissing District Developmental Screen), made in Ontario by the not-for-profit ndds, is one common reference. Knowing these milestones helps you describe what you see, support what's emerging, and recognize when a referral might be useful.

What you'll learn

Identify the five development domains used by Canadian early-years professionals
Recall typical milestones at six common ages (6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years)
Use the phrase 'typical age, not strict deadline' when discussing milestones with families
Recognize when an observation might warrant a conversation with the lead about a referral
Find the Looksee Checklist or your province's developmental screening tool

From the lesson

Five Domains of Development

Canadian early-years professionals describe children's development in five domains:

1. Gross motor — big-muscle movement (sitting, walking, running, climbing) 2. Fine motor — small-muscle movement (grasping, drawing, using tools) 3. Language and communication — understanding words, speaking, gestures 4. Social-emotional — relationships, feelings, self-regulation 5. Cognitive — thinking, problem-solving, memory, early literacy and numeracy

These domains overlap. A two-year-old stacking blocks is using fine motor (the grip), cognitive (the planning), and possibly language (talking about it). When you write an observation, you can name multiple domains.

A Note Before…