Child Development and What Behaviors to Expect

6 to 9 months

• Becomes very attached to parents and gets upset if you go away

• Begins to show fear

9-12 months

• Seeks attention and will cry to get it

• Shows feelings of happiness by laughing, anger by screaming, and hurt by crying

• Recognizes feelings in others through facial expressions   

12-15 months

• Looks for parental approval but they don’t always do what you say

• Able to self-soothe when upset but still seeks comfort from parents

• Reacts to changes in daily routine

18-24 months

• Likes having their own way and tests limits

• Temper tantrums

• Don’t like if you are stern with them and may cry

• Begin to have a sense of themselves and can recognize themself in a mirror

2-3 years

• Displays wide range of emotions, tries to deal with their own emotions, shows awareness of their feelings and of others

• Become more assertive and may say NO a lot

• Defend their possessions

• Watch other children play and join in briefly

• Able to wait their turn

4 years

• Able to find solutions to problems

• Ask ‘Why’ and ‘How’

• Become more independent and want to do things by themselves

• Are able to share toys with others and can play with something for about 5-15 minutes without being distracted 

5 years

• Can be demanding towards you and other times be cooperative

• Able to choose their own friends

• More likely to agree to rules

• Want to please their friends and comfort those who are upset

• Show independence