Infant/Toddler-MELDS

Domain: Physical Development and Health

This document can be used for planning within this Domain.  You can type directly into the “My Planning” boxes.

Domain

Goal Topic

Indicators- Birth-8
months

My Planning

Physical
Development
and Health

Perceptual
Development

Reflexes at birth:
stepping, palmar
grasp, startle reflex,
rooting and sucking,
hand-to-mouth, and
moves arms in
swimming motion.

Reflexes that develop
after birth: bicycle
kicking, body follows
turn of head, and
protects self when
falling.

Indicators- 6-18
Months
Continue to integrate
information gathered
from the senses:
- shows increased
ability to concentrate
and begin to show
sustained interest in
people, objects and
activities
- shows increased
desire to explore
sensory information
- oral exploration of
objects decreases
with age
- shows increased
enjoyment of varieties
of sensory
information

Visual information
more refined:
- depth perception
established; seeks
and responds to

My Planning

Indicators- 16-36
Months

My Planning

Sensory thresholds
do not interfere with
desire to explore
surroundings:
- continues to show
increased ability to
concentrate with
multiple sensory
stimulation present
- increased cognitive
and motor skills
allows increased
ability to explore and
form meaning from
sensory information

Visual discrimination
more refined:
- ability to
discriminate finer
detail in tandem with
cognitive

  MELDS Toolkit Funded by Preschool Development Grant #90TP0097-01-00, 2024

increased visual
stimulation

development (i.e.
may notice
caregiver’s earring)

Hearing information
more refined: ability
to discriminate
sounds in a noisy
setting.

Hearing
discrimination more
refined:
- ability to isolate
familiar sounds in
tandem with cognitive
development (i.e.
hears siren outside,
points and says, “Fire
truck!”)

Initially visual system
immature (attentive to
objects of contrasting
colors).

Increased ability to
detect detail and
coordinate visual
information from each
eye.
Infant may become
fixated visually.
Preference for slower,
high pitched sounds.
Can distinguish
parents’ voice from
that of a stranger.
Shows enjoyment of
motion such as
rocking, jiggling,
bouncing, or being
carried around.

  MELDS Toolkit Funded by Preschool Development Grant #90TP0097-01-00, 2024

Physical
Development
and Health

Gross Motor
(Large Muscle)

Exhibits beginning
stages of large muscle
control:
- head control, lifts chin,
lifts head, lifts both head
and shoulders, supports
self on flexed elbows

Coordination of muscle
control:
- turns from back to
stomach and stomach
to back, moves by
rolling, inches forward
on stomach or back, sits
unsupported, begins
bouncing when held

Exhibits increasing
control of large
muscles and body
movement:
- sits up, crawls or
creeps, pulls to stand,
cruises while holding
on to furniture, stands
alone, climbs out of
crib, walks alone,
runs with a wide
stance, walks upstairs
holding a hand, stops
and walks backwards
a few steps, climbs
simple structures

Uses arms and legs
with increasing
purposefulness:
throws, carries,
pushes, pulls, dumps
objects, scoots on or
rides wheel toys
without pedals

Exhibits more control
and coordination of
large muscle and
body movement:
- walks fast, walks on
tiptoes, walks
backwards, walks
upstairs holding a
railing (or hand), runs
with control, climbs
well, throws a ball
with aim, may jump in
place, may balance
briefly on 1 foot, rides
tricycle

Uses arms and legs
with more
purposefulness:
catches a ball by
trapping it with
arms and hands,
pounds object with
intention and
precision, creates
simple block
structures, pushes
foot into shoe, takes
off shoes

  MELDS Toolkit Funded by Preschool Development Grant #90TP0097-01-00, 2024

Begins to use arms and
legs purposefully:
- claps hands, pounds
on things, kicks at
objects, holds arms out
for jacket or so shirt can
be taken of

Stares at objects,
especially faces;
begins to coordinate
eyes.

Grasp reflex
diminishing.

Reaches for objects
with both arms, but
hands are fisted:
reaches with one arm
and grasps at will,
grasps – releases –
“re-grasps” and
releases again, begins
to grasp with thumb
and forefinger

Brings objects to
mouth.

Engages in creative
movement
spontaneously and
when prompted by
music or adult.

Uses a crayon to
imitate
marks/scribble.

Holds object with
one hand and
manipulates it with
the other: brushes
dolls hair, holds and
winds a music box

Scoops up and
takes with hand to
manipulate or pick
up objects, sand,
food, etc.

Brings two blocks
together to make
noise.

Uses thumb and
forefinger to pick up
small items.

Folds blanket,
cloth, paper, etc.

Handles a cup or
spoon for self-
feeding.

Pours liquid from
small pitcher.

  MELDS Toolkit Funded by Preschool Development Grant #90TP0097-01-00, 2024

Physical
Development
and Health

Fine Motor
(Small Muscle)

Beginning eye hand
coordination:
Transfers object from
one hand to another
Follows slow moving
object with eyes.

Follows slow moving
object with eyes.

Begins to show
preference for one
hand.

Undresses self and
unties shoes.

Can turn pages of a
board book

Displays signs of self-
comforting: Sucks
thumb to pacify self

Making progress
with self-feeding.

Physical
Development
and Health

Self-Help and
Adaptive Skills

Shows signs of self-
feeding, begins to hold
own bottle/cup,
begins to feed self
with fingers

Shows interest in
dressing self:
pushes arm through
sleeve, takes

Shows preference
for one hand.

Puts on easy
clothing. Holds
spoon, fork, cup,
but may still spill.
Can use paintbrush
but doesn’t control
drips.
Can turn pages of a
book.

Progressing well with
self-feeding and self-
serving:
- holds spoon, fork,
cup
- feeds self
- pours own water
from small container -
sets items on table
and removes after
eating

Continues to show
interest in dressing:
undresses self, puts
on clothes (no

  MELDS Toolkit Funded by Preschool Development Grant #90TP0097-01-00, 2024

Alerts caregiver in own
way when physically
uncomfortable:
hungry, tired, wet
pants, etc.

clothes off, unties
shoes

Shows interest in
toileting at end of this
stage:
- watches others
engaged in toileting,
- explores sitting on
potty chair

Shows interest in
helping with chores,
mimics adult
behavior.

Makes attempts at
self-help:
- takes off socks
- pulls on bib

buttoning), shoes,
jacket, hat

Shows increased
interest and
proficiency with
toileting skills:
- willing to use toilet
- washes hands after
toileting

Increased interest
in helping with
chores and physical
care:
-attends to blowing
nose
- cleans tables
- picks up toys

  MELDS Toolkit Funded by Preschool Development Grant #90TP0097-01-00, 2024

