Milestones in children development
By 6 months
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Watched faces with interest and follows moving objects
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Recognises familiar objects, people; smiles at the sound of your voice
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Begins to develop a social smile
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Likes to play with others, especially parents
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Turns head toward sounds
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Responds to people's emotions
By 1 year
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Enjoys playing social games such as 'peek-a-boo'
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Makes sounds or actions to get attention
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Follows simple instructions
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Looks at the right picture or item when it's named
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Uses simple gestures like shaking head for "no" and waving for "bye"
By 18 months
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Simple pretend play, like feeding a doll
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Says several simple words
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May be afraid of strangers
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Shows affection to familiar people
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Points to get attention from others
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Follows instruction with 2 or 3 steps
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Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences
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Dresses and undresses independently
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Understands turn taking when playing games
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Copies a circle with a pencil or crayon
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Knows own name, age, and gender
By 3 years
When should I seek help?
These are common milestones and early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder that a child may display during development. However, every child is unique.
Every child grows and develops at different speeds. He/she may or may not display all or some of these behaviours.
If your child is displaying any of these behaviours, approach a healthcare professional for a developmental assessment or connect with us to clarify any concerns you may have.