At enCourage Preschools, we know that the first five years of your child’s life are filled with remarkable changes. During this time, they grow from a tiny newborn who relies entirely on you to an independent, curious preschooler ready to take on the world. Every age brings new developmental milestones in motor skills, language, social interactions and emotional understanding. As a parent, caregiver, or preschool teacher, understanding these milestones and knowing how to support your child through each stage can help set the foundation for a lifetime of learning and growth. Our Christian pre-k centers located in Salem, Oregon, Hillsboro, Oregon and San Antonio, Texas are committed to helping our parents understand these milestones so that you can partner with us in engaging the children we serve in age-appropriate learning activities to help them develop and grow into their full God-given potential.
Birth- 6 Months: Laying the Foundations
From 0-6 months old, your baby goes through tremendous changes. His primary focus is on developing basic motor and sensory skills. This includes:
- Gaining head control
- Pushing up during tummy time
- Tracking moving objects with their eyes
- Engaging socially through eye contact, smiling and cooing
Parent Tip: Support your baby during this time by engaging in tummy time to build body strength, and include lots of face time and talking with you to build social skills.
6-12 Months: Moving and Exploring
Your baby starts to develop some exciting skills at this age as he begins to explore and interact with the world around him, become more mobile and build language. You’ll see skills start to emerge such as:
- Crawling, pulling up and standing
- Babbling and experimenting with different noises
- Understanding object permanence– realizing that things exist even when out of sight
Parent Tip: You can support your baby in this stage by creating a safe space for him to explore and have fun with lots of peek-a-boo games.
12-18 Months: Building Independence
At 12-18 months, your baby is now a toddler and is beginning to practice some independence. At this age, many toddlers begin:
- Taking steps and walking independently
- Problem-solving by learning how to use objects such as spoons, or stacking blocks
- Beginning to say words such as “mama” and “dada”
Parent Tip: Repeat your toddler’s babble back to them to imitate conversation and build vocabulary by naming objects as your child interacts with them.
18-24 Months: Creative Exploration
From 18-24 months, your toddler begins to express more creativity as they explore. You may see his imagination start to emerge during this time. Major skills he is developing include:
- Fine motor skills such as holding crayons or turning book pages
- Imitating others by clapping or stirring with a spoon
- Desire to “do it myself”
Parent Tip: Provide lots of opportunities to be creative through coloring and imaginative play.
2 Years Old: Playing and Moving
At two years old, your little one is becoming more coordinated and is ready to move! He is refining his gross motor skills and building on his early cognitive skills. You will likely see:
- More coordinated running, climbing and jumping
- Use of short phrases or sentences
- Sorting by shapes or colors and completing simple puzzles
Parent Tip: Offer toys that promote problem-solving, such as shape sorters, and encourage lots of play through movement.
3 Years Old: Growing Imagination
At three years old, your preschooler’s imagination and cognitive understanding really start to take off. Major developments at this age include:
- Engaging in imaginative or pretend play
- Following multi-step instructions and asking “why?”
- Begin to play with other children instead of alongside
Parent Tip: Engage in pretend play with your child and play games that require practicing taking turns.
4 Years Old: Coordination and Early Learning Skills
Four-year-olds are honing in their physical coordination and are recognizing more patterns, contributing to their early literacy and math skills. You will likely see your preschooler:
- Becoming more balanced and confident when climbing or playing
- Recognizing letters and numbers
- Understanding and following rules when playing in a group
Parent Tip: Read books with your child often and point out letters and numbers as you see them throughout your day.
5 Years Old: Critical Thinking
At five years old, your preschooler is beginning to think more critically and expand his emotional bandwidth. These skills include:
- Understanding the concept of time and basic math
- Recognizing and expressing more complex emotions
- Speaking in full, correct sentences and telling stories
Parent Tip: Ask open-ended questions and provide lots of books to support language development.
As your child navigates these critical developmental milestones, having the right support can make all the difference. At enCourage Preschools, we are passionate about partnering with parents to nurture each child’s unique growth. Our programs are designed to foster cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual development in a loving, faith-filled environment. Together, we can help your child thrive during these formative years.
Contact us today to learn more about enrollment and discover how enCourage Preschools can be a part of your child’s journey! We have a Salem, Oregon Christian preschool, Hillsboro, Oregon Christian preschool and San Antonio, Texas Christian preschool with caring, compassionate teachers who love giving the children we serve the best start possible!
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), CDC – Developmental Milestones Checklist.
