Speech, Swallowing, & Voice Specialists of Hawaii
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4-6 MONTH OLDS
Social/Emotional & Cognitive Milestones
Typical milestones during this age range
Social/Emotional
Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
Maintains eye contact with familiar people during playful interaction
Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops
Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning.
Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger
Likes to play with others, especially parents
Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy
Likes to look at self in a mirror
Enjoys musical toys
Raises hand to be picked up
Enjoys peek-a-boo
Vocalizing in response to playful interactions
Able to stay calm during car rides (when not hungry or tired)
Enjoys bath time
Generally happy
Cognitive
Lets you know if happy or sad
Responds to affection
Reaches for toy with one hand
Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it
Follows moving things with eyes from side to side
Looks around at things nearby
Brings things to mouth
Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
Begins to pass things from one hand to the other
Watches faces closely
Our sensory and motor skills play a big role in how we mature socially, emotionally, and cognitively. For this reason, some motor and sensory milestones for this age group are also listed below as they are intricately entangled in your child's social/emotional and coginivite development.
Motor
Holds head steady, unsupported
Learning to control body against gravity
Visual fixation and tracking
Reaches for toys while on tummy
While lying on back, transfers toy from one hand to the other
While on back, reaches both hands to play with feet
Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back
Begins to sit without support; uses own hands to support self if needed
Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys
Brings hands to mouth
When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows
Rocks back and forth when on all fours
Sensory
Uses both hands to explore toys
Generally happy when not hungry or tired
Brings hands and objects to mouth
Able to calm with rocking touching, and gentle sounds
Is not upset or fearful of everyday sounds, like playing with musical instruments
Enjoys a variety of movements (i.e., being gently swung)
Plays with toys of varied textures