What is "Age Appropriate"

These were simply cut and pasted from a trusted Children's Ministry website and are here as a tool and are by no means hard and fast rules. hope this helps you as you are learning about the ages and stages for your kids!

By 12 months
Behavior Characteristics
• Anxious or shy around strangers
• Cries when separated from Mom or Dad
• May be fearful, especially in new situations
• Feeds self with fingers
• Can sit without assistance
• May test adult response to behavior
• Walks holding onto furniture
• Responds to simple verbal requests and “no”
• Says simple phrases: “mama,” “dada,” “no,” “uh-oh”
• May use sign language to indicate needs and desires
Learning Characteristics
• Loves to explore objects
• Can find correct image when it’s named
• Can find hidden objects
• Begins using items correctly
(hairbrush, toothbrush, phone, etc.)
Adapted in part from “AAP Children’s Health Topics:
Developmental Stages”

By end of 3 years
Behavior and Age-Group Characteristics
• Physical development is well-rounded; climbs, runs,
kicks balls, pedals tricycle, and bends over with ease
• Can hold a pencil in writing position and create
vertical, horizontal, and circular strokes with ease
• Can follow complex commands (two- or threecomponent
commands)
• Understands most sentences and
can say name, age, and sex
• Speech is generally understandable
to those outside immediate family
• Imitates others
• Expresses affection
• Can take turns
• Separates easily from parents
Learning Characteristics
• Can match objects (image, color, and category)
• Plays make believe
• Sorts objects well (shape, size, and color)
• Objects to major routine changes
Adapted in part from “AAP Children’s Health Topics:
Developmental Stages”

By end of 5 years
Behavior and Age-Group Characteristics
• Physically agile (hops, somersaults, swings,
climbs, skips)
• Dresses and cares for most personal needs
(uses eating utensils, cares for own toilet needs,
and put on and take off own clothing)
• Speaks sentences of more than 5 words
• Tells longer, more complex stories
• Says name and address
Learning Characteristics
• Counts 10 or more objects
• Has some grasp of concept of time
• Typically will agree to rules
• Shows independence
• Sometimes demanding,
sometimes cooperative
Adapted in part from “AAP Children’s Health Topics:
Developmental Stages”

By age 10 to 12
Behavior and Age-Group Characteristics
• Interested in teen culture
• May wear braces
• May have done some paid work
• Watches around 3 hours of TV per day
• Loves to socialize with both sexes
• Girls are typically taller than boys, but boys are
preparing for a big growth spurt
• Typically gossips about
friends and foes
Learning Characteristics
• Can solve abstract problems using logic
• Seeks independence from adults,
especially parents
• Relies on peers for advice and
interaction in and out of school
• May show anxiety in form of
physical symptoms
(headaches, stomachaches)

Adapted in part from “Behavior and
Development,” TodaysParent.com