Child Development

To a child, each day holds endless possibilities and many opportunities for learning.

Your Baby's First Year
The first 12 months of your baby's life! Month-by-month information on how to care for your child.

Important Milestones: By the End of the First Year (12 Months)
Babies develop at their own pace so it's impossible to tell exactly when your child will learn a given skill. These developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect, but don't be alarmed if your baby's development takes a slightly different course.

By End of Second Year

By End of Third Year

By End of Fourth Year

By End of Fifth Year

Learning to Read
One of the most precious gifts you can give your child is the love of reading. This valuable gift will incite your child to love learning in his or her lifetime, and will help them perform better in school. Here are some things you can do with your child to help them become a reader. (Files require Acrobat Reader to open.)

Taking Charge of the Television (339KB)

Match My Sounds (311KB)

Books and Babies (298KB)

Chatting with Children (309KB)

Material used with permission from "Helping Your Child Become a Reader," published by the US Department of Education, Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, Washington, DC 20202.