From first smiles to teen years.
A free, plain-language guide to what many children do at each stage, from the first months to age 14, and what you can do that helps. Read the stage your child is in now, or read ahead to see what is coming.
Find your child’s age
General information, not medical advice. Every child develops at their own pace, and a web page can’t assess an individual child. If you have questions about how your child is growing, learning, feeling or behaving, talk to your child’s pediatrician.
Six stages, six pages
Each stage has its own page: what many children do, what you can try, the kinds of books to look for, and where the information comes from. Pick your child’s age, or read them in order.
Birth–12 months
Getting to know the world
Faces, sounds and first games: babbling, peek-a-boo and pulling up to stand.
Read this stage → Stage 2Ages 1–3
Exploring, naming and scribbling
First words, pointing at pictures and first scribbles. This is where coloring begins.
Read this stage → Stage 3Ages 3–5
Pretending, asking and telling stories
Pretend play, a lot of questions, first letters and stories with more than one event.
Read this stage → Stage 4Ages 6–8
First grade and growing independence
Longer school days, more logic, rules and friendships, and chores.
Read this stage → Stage 5Ages 9–11
Friends, privacy and the start of puberty
More independence, more peer influence, and the first body changes.
Read this stage → Stage 6Ages 12–14
Independence, body changes and big feelings
Growth spurts, strong feelings, and a wish to decide for themselves.
Read this stage →Every stage page lists its sources. When something is our own reading, we say so.
Three things that don’t change
How to choose books and activities, a few phrases that keep things light, and when to ask for help.
Choosing books and activities
Ten questions to ask before you buy any book or activity:
- Does the content match your child’s age, experience and interests?
- Are the illustrations, instructions and language clear?
- Is the level of difficulty appropriate?
- Does it offer opportunities to explore, practice or make choices?
- Is it relevant to your child’s current interests?
- Are the materials safe and well designed?
- Does the quality justify the price?
- Can it be enjoyed without requiring a perfect result?
- Does it support the kind of experience you want to offer: enjoyment, learning, creativity?
- Have you looked at the interior pages, when possible?
Phrases that keep things light
- “Let’s try one small step together.”
- “Would you like to choose what we do next?”
- “It’s okay to feel frustrated.”
- “What do you think we could try?”
- “Let’s come back to this later.”
When to seek support
Talk to your pediatrician or another qualified professional if you have concerns about:
- how your child communicates
- learning, attention or memory
- movement
- emotional well-being
- social relationships
- anything else that worries you
You can raise a concern at any time. For children under 5, the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. pages list what most children do at each age.
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