Child development

A journey through each key stage

At 6 months

Babies will be discovering the world around them, using their senses and will often become fascinated with their own hands. They are now beginning to become more physically confident and may sit and reach for items of interest.

At 1 year

Children are starting to embark on taking their first steps and will cruise around a room to discover experiences that excite them. They have awareness of the adults around them and may seek comfort from those they have built bonds with. Children at this stage will display a great sense of pride when babbling their thoughts and are now starting to use single words.

At 2 years

Children’s neurological pathways erupt at 2 years old and they become extremely inquisitive about the world around them. They start to play alongside others and begin to communicate their needs and relish in exploring their physical boundaries by crawling through tunnels and jumping into puddles.

At 3 years

Now that your child has turned 3 years old, they are wanting to know more about their community, asking the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions. They are beginning to form long-lasting friendships and share experiences with their peers, often role modelling those that have had an impact on them.

At 4 to 5 years

Between the ages of 4 to 5 years old, children have a greater understanding of themselves and are able to make decisions within their everyday life. They are beginning to understand the concept of humour and will often enjoy sharing a joke or two with others.

Find out more about the Early Foundation stage