3. Major milestones in infancy and early childhood — PIES

• Emotional milestones infancy

• Forms attachment to caregivers.

• Develops trust and security.

• Shows a range of emotions.

• Experiences separation anxiety.

• Begins developing independence.

• Starts learning to regulate emotions.

• Social milestones infancy

• Responds to faces and voices.

• Smiles and interacts with caregivers.

• Begins responding to their name.

• Imitates others.

• Plays alongside other children.

• Begins developing social communication.

• Physical milestones ec

• Improved balance and coordination.

• Running and jumping.

• Climbing.

• Throwing and catching.

• Developing fine motor skills.

• Drawing shapes and pictures.

• Using scissors and utensils.

• Increased independence with dressing and toileting.

• Intellectual milestones ec

• Rapid vocabulary development.

• Forms increasingly complex sentences.

• Asks questions.

• Develops imagination.

• Begins understanding numbers and basic concepts.

• Develops memory and attention.

• Begins problem-solving.

• Develops early literacy and numeracy skills.

• Infancy

Infancy is approximately birth to two years.
Physical milestones

Approx. age	Examples
Newborn	Reflexes, sucking, grasping
~3–6 months	Holds head up, rolls over, reaches for objects
~6–9 months	Sits independently, begins crawling
~9–12 months	Pulls self up, may stand/walk with support
~12–18 months	Walks independently, improved coordination
~18–24 months	Runs, climbs and begins jumping

Intellectual milestones infancy

• Recognises familiar people.

• Explores objects and surroundings.

• Develops object permanence.

• Begins to understand simple instructions.

• Babbling develops into first words.

• Vocabulary increases.

• Begins simple problem-solving.

• Imitates others.

• Emotional milestones ec

• Develops greater independence.

• Begins understanding and managing emotions.

• Develops self-concept and self-esteem.

• Understands that other people have feelings.

• Begins developing empathy.

• Becomes better at delaying gratification and controlling impulses.

• Social milestones ec

• Engages in cooperative play.

• Develops friendships.

• Learns to share and take turns.

• Develops communication skills.

• Understands rules and expectations.

• Begins forming relationships outside the family.

• Learns social norms and appropriate behaviours.