Understanding Your Little One's Development

Developmental Milestones from 6 Weeks to 6 Years

What to Expect & How to Support Your Child’s Growth

Every child grows at their own pace—but knowing typical developmental milestones can help families better support, celebrate, and understand their child's progress. At Rise Learning Center, we observe, nurture, and guide children through every stage—from sleepy newborns to confident kindergartners.

Here’s a general breakdown of social, physical, and cognitive milestones by age, plus tips for supporting each stage at home and in the classroom.

Infants: 6 Weeks to 12 Months

What to Expect:

• Physical: Lifts head, rolls over, begins to sit up and crawl

• Cognitive: Begins tracking movement, recognizes faces, explores with hands/mouth

• Social: Smiles, coos, responds to voices, forms early attachments

How to Support:

• Offer tummy time daily to build strength

• Talk, sing, and make eye contact often

• Use safe toys that encourage reaching and graspi

Young Toddlers: 12–24 Months

What to Expect:

• Physical: Walking, climbing, throwing

• Cognitive: Follows simple directions, points to objects, starts problem-solving

• Social: Imitates behavior, shows preferences, experiences separation anxiety

How to Support:

• Name objects and narrate your actions

• Encourage choices (e.g., “blue cup or green cup?”)

• Offer comfort and consistency during transitions

Toddlers: 2–3 Years

What to Expect:

• Physical: Runs, jumps, starts potty training

• Cognitive: Begins imaginative play, knows body parts, understands “mine”

• Social: Parallel play, expresses more emotions, copies adults

How to Support:

• Provide toys for pretend play and movement

• Read books with simple stories and ask questions

• Validate big feelings and model calm behavior

Preschoolers: 3–4 Years

What to Expect:

• Physical: Hops, pedals tricycle, better hand coordination

• Cognitive: Understands basic time concepts, counts to 5–10, names some colors

• Social: Takes turns, shows empathy, may have imaginary friends

How to Support:

• Play simple board games to build patience

• Encourage open-ended questions and storytelling

• Reinforce routines and celebrate independence

Pre-K & Kindergarten: 4–6 Years

What to Expect:

• Physical: Skips, catches a ball, prints some letters

• Cognitive: Recognizes letters/numbers, understands cause and effect, increased focus

• Social: Follows group rules, builds friendships, solves conflicts with guidance

How to Support:

• Create learning moments at home (cooking, sorting, storytelling)

• Practice name writing and basic math through play

• Encourage teamwork, kindness, and problem-solving

At Rise Learning Center, we celebrate every milestone—big or small—and understand that development is not one-size-fits-all. If you ever have concerns about your child’s development, our team is here to support you with personalized observations and recommendations and we encourage you speak with their pediatrician.

Please visit the CDC for more information on milestones and to download a milestone checklist/tracker app! https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-in-action.html

Together, we can build the strong, joyful foundation every child deserves!