Question

Difficulty: EasyNormal Growth and Development

During well-child visits, developmental surveillance is critical for early identification of delays. Various gross motor, fine motor, and adaptive milestones predictably emerge at specific ages. Match each set of developmental milestones to the most appropriate chronological age of the child.

  • Pulls to stand, uses an immature (3-finger) pincer grasp, and plays peek-a-boo9 months
  • Walks well independently, scribbles spontaneously, and drinks from a cup15 months
  • Runs, builds a tower of 4 cubes, and removes own clothing18 months
  • Hops on one foot, copies a square, and engages in cooperative play48 months (4 years)

Answer

The milestones match as follows: Pulls to stand/immature pincer is 9 months. Walks well/scribbles is 15 months. Runs/4-cube tower is 18 months. Hops on one foot/copies square is 48 months (4 years).
Each chronological age corresponds to predictable milestones. 9 months: pulling to stand and immature pincer grasp. 15 months: walking well and scribbling. 18 months: running and 4-cube tower. 48 months: hopping on one foot and copying a square.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first set of milestones: pulls to stand, immature pincer grasp, plays peek-a-boo.
These align with the 9-month developmental age.
Before walking (12 months), infants pull to stand (9 months). The pincer grasp is immature (using three fingers) before refining into a mature two-finger grasp at 12 months.
2
Analyze the second set of milestones: walks well independently, scribbles, drinks from a cup.
These align with the 15-month developmental age.
By 15 months, the unsteady walking of a 12-month-old becomes confident walking. Fine motor control advances to allow holding a cup and scribbling spontaneously.
3
Analyze the third set of milestones: runs, builds a 4-cube tower, removes clothing.
These align with the 18-month developmental age.
At a year and a half, gross motor skills progress to running, and adaptive skills progress to basic independence such as removing own clothing.
4
Analyze the fourth set of milestones: hops on one foot, copies a square, cooperative play.
These align with the 48-month (4-year) developmental age.
Shape copying follows a predictable sequence: line (2 years), circle (3 years), square (4 years), triangle (5 years). Cooperative play and hopping are also distinct 4-year milestones.

Key Concept

Normal pediatric growth and development requires recognizing expected milestones across gross motor, fine motor, and adaptive/social domains at standardized ages.
Rate this question