# Handout 3.2: Ages and Stages Chart and Demo Sheet

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________ Period: ______

**Directions:** Three parts. Part 1 is the egg demo: predict, watch, write. Part 2 is the Ages and Stages chart: eight cells are blank, and the eight milestone strips at the bottom of the page fill them. Cut the strips or draw a line from each strip to its cell. Part 3 is the caregiver table: for three ages, one thing the caregiver gives and one safety step that matches the child's newest skill. Every age on this page is "about." Children are not on a schedule, and a pediatrician, not a babysitter, decides if a child is behind.

### Word bank in other languages

[Check with a native speaker before printing.]

| English | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
| baby | bebek | bebê | bebé |
| child | çocuk | criança | niño, niña |
| caregiver | bakıcı | cuidador | cuidador |
| safe | güvenli | seguro | seguro |
| to grow | büyümek | crescer | crecer |

## Part 1: The egg demo

**Before the napkin.** Does the egg exist? (circle) YES  NO

**Under the napkin.** Does the egg exist now? (circle) YES  NO

What would a 6-month-old do when the egg goes under the napkin? (circle one)
   a. Stare at the napkin, then look away like the egg was never there
   b. Pull the napkin off and grab the egg

What would a 12-month-old do? (circle one)
   a. Stare at the napkin, then look away like the egg was never there
   b. Pull the napkin off and grab the egg

**Object permanence** means (in your own words): ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

| Before about 8 months | After about 8 months |
|---|---|
| Out of sight means: | The baby now: |
| | |
| | |

**Why should you care?** One way object permanence shows up in your life right now (peek-a-boo, missing someone far away, knowing your phone is in your bag): write it here and copy it onto a sticky note for the wall.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

## Part 2: The Ages and Stages chart

Eight cells are blank. Fill them with the milestone strips at the bottom of the page. Picture cues: an arm for physical, a lightbulb for intellectual, a heart for emotional, two figures for social.

| Age (about) | Physical (arm) | Intellectual (lightbulb) | Emotional (heart) | Social (two figures) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth to 3 months | Lifts head briefly when on tummy; grips a finger | Follows a face or a bright object with the eyes | Calms when held; cries to say something is wrong | Starts to smile at people |
| 3 to 6 months | **[blank 1]** | Reaches for a toy and brings it to the mouth | Laughs; shows excitement | Likes to look at self in a mirror; knows familiar faces |
| 6 to 12 months | **[blank 2]** at about 6 months; crawls; pulls up to stand | Searches for a hidden toy (object permanence, about 8 months); knows own name | Cries when a parent leaves (separation anxiety) | **[blank 3]** with people they do not know |
| 1 to 2 years | **[blank 4]** at about 12 months; climbs onto low furniture | Points to ask for things; follows a one-step direction | Has big feelings and no words for them yet; tantrums are common | Copies what adults do; plays next to other children |
| 2 to 3 years | Runs; kicks a ball; starts to use a spoon | **[blank 5]**; knows some body parts; sorts shapes | Says "mine"; shows more independence; still needs comfort | **[blank 6]** (plays beside other children, not yet with them) |
| 3 to 5 years | Hops on one foot; uses child scissors; draws a person with parts | **[blank 7]** (a block is a phone, a box is a boat); counts to 10 | Starts to name feelings; can wait a short time | Takes turns; plays with other children; has a best friend |

Extra blank: **[blank 8]**, first real words, go in the Intellectual column at 6 to 12 months (write "first real words at about 12 months" in that cell).

**Milestone strips (cut apart or draw a line):**

| Strip | Milestone |
|---|---|
| A | Rolls over (about 4 to 6 months) |
| B | Sits without help (about 6 months) |
| C | Walks (about 12 to 15 months) |
| D | First real words ("mama," "ball") (about 12 months) |
| E | Two-word sentences ("more juice") (about 2 years) |
| F | Pretend play (about 2 to 3 years, grows through 5) |
| G | Stranger wariness (about 8 to 12 months) |
| H | Parallel play (about 2 years) |

Grade 6: fill blanks 1, 2, 4, and 7 only.

Check your do now guesses. Circle any guess that was more than six months off: sitting ____ walking ____ first word ____

## Part 3: What a caregiver gives, and safety by stage

The rule: **every new skill is a new hazard.** Copy the board list of what young children need from a caregiver, then fill the table.

What young children need from a caregiver: ________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Sentence starter: "A ___ year old can ___, so the caregiver should ___."

| Age | Newest skill | One thing the caregiver gives (a need met) and why | One safety step that matches the skill and why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | rolling, sitting, grabbing | | |
| 2 years | walking, climbing, saying "mine" | | |
| 4 years | running, pretend play, asking why | | |

Grade 6: fill the 2-year row only. IEP and 504: any two rows.

Grade 8 stretch: **What the brain is doing.** In the first three years, the brain builds connections between its cells faster than at any other time. The connections that get used stay; the ones that do not get trimmed. Talking, holding, sleep, and real food are what feed that. Write two sentences: what does this mean for someone caring for a 1-year-old?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

## Exit card (3-2-1)

3 milestones with their age range: __________________________________________________________________

2 things a young child needs from a caregiver: _______________________________________________________

1 safety step that matches a skill (write the skill and the step): _________________________________________

* * *

## Teacher key

**Part 1:** yes; yes; 6-month-old, a; 12-month-old, b. Object permanence: knowing that objects and people keep existing even when you cannot see, hear, or touch them. Before 8 months: out of sight, out of mind; no searching. After: searches, lifts blankets, cries when a parent leaves because the baby now knows the parent exists somewhere else.

**Part 2 blanks:** 1, A (rolls over); 2, B (sits without help); 3, G (stranger wariness); 4, C (walks); 5, E (two-word sentences); 6, H (parallel play); 7, F (pretend play); 8, D (first real words, written into the 6 to 12 month Intellectual cell).

**Part 3, sample answers.** 6 months: gives a safe place to roll and reach, being held and talked to; safety, never leave the baby on a changing table or bed unstrapped, keep small objects away from the mouth. 2 years: gives words for feelings, the same answer every time, patience; safety, gates on stairs, cabinet locks, move chairs from counters, outlet covers, hold hands near a street. 4 years: gives books, questions answered, chances to play with other children; safety, helmet on wheels, scissors supervised, pretend play checked for real hazards (a "boat" that is a bathtub with water). Any answer with a "because" that connects the skill to the step earns credit.

Milestone ranges follow the CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklists (revised 2022, ages by which most children reach each milestone). [Sal: confirm against the current CDC page before printing.]