Developmental Chart for Babies

Understanding how babies learn can help you make the most of teaching opportunities. Babies learn foundational spiritual truths the same ways they learn other things-through their senses, by doing, and through relationships.

Newborn

Sees objects 8 to 10 inches from eyes.
Searches for something to suck.
Keeps hands fisted but grasps adult's finger when palm is touched.
Communicates through crying.
Enjoys touching, holding, and rocking.
Responds to soothing teachers at church.

1 to 3 Months

Eyes slowly follow moving objects.
Holds head up and turns it from side to side.
Finds hands and mouths them; attempts to grasp objects.
Responds to human voices.
Expresses unhappiness and excitement; smiles and coos.
Learns trust as needs are met by teachers.

4 to 6 Months

Uses hands together; can grasp, hold, and mouth objects.
Rolls from stomach to back-turns and twists in all directions.
Sits up with support.
Responds to name.
Coos, gurgles, chuckles with joy; may begin to understand more of what you say.
Responds to happy times at church.

7 to 9 Months

Transfers objects from hand to hand; has good control in manipulating objects; waves bye-bye.
Sits up for longer periods of time; sits freely with good head control.
Begins to scoot, crawl, pull to standing position, and sidesteps around objects.
Watches your mouth; starts imitating sounds; begins to learn "no."
Gets excited about playing, especially with parents, cries when separated from mother.
Develops associations between good feelings and hearing about God and Jesus.

10 to 12 Months

Coordinated hands; may feed self or hold cup.
Crawls well; may stop to pick up objects; pulls up to standing position.
Enjoys playing games, rolling back and forth, and imitating teachers and parents; shows preference for favorite toy.
Begins to understand what adults say; may say mama and dada; learns independence.
Shows feelings of hurt, anger, and happiness.
Likes the same familiar teachers at church.

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