Common Developmental Delays
Developmental delays can range from mild to severe. This article provides some developmental benchmarks to help you identify these delays.
In this article, you will find:
Social-emotional benchmarks
Some social-emotional benchmarks are listed below.By about twelve months:
- enjoys exploring the environment, but makes sure parent is looking
- shows preferences for certain people, places, and things
- tests parents' reactions (such as throwing food or refusing to go to sleep)
- has frequent temper tantrums, typically no more than six a day, for fewer than ten minutes per episode, with reasonably short recovery time
- may develop fears and show new insecurities that do not significantly interfere with function (for example, she may become afraid of animals or the dishwasher, but not to the point of "freaking out")
- shows a variety of emotions affection, happiness, jealousy, fear, anger
- recognizes self in photographs and refers to self by name
- defends possessions
- separates easily from parent in familiar surroundings
- insists on doing things independently, and takes pride in achievements
- parallel plays (alongside, but not interactively) with other children
- follows directions and obeys authority figures, such as teachers
- plays cooperatively with other children, needing occasional adult help
- asks lots of questions, frequently starting with why
- plays games with rules
- accepts disappointment and failure without excessive behavioral outbursts
- has a best friend
- likes to finish what he has started
- works in a small group of children for twenty minutes or more