Mrs. Heather Welborn is the Lead Infant Teacher.  She has been employed with Little Dreamers Academy for more than eight years.  She brings with her twenty total years of childcare experience. She is the mother to two sons, a daughter and has a middle school-age step-daughter.  Mrs. Heather has her TCC in Early Childhood Education and more than 225 hours of state-approved professional development in infant and toddler care.

Mrs. Ashley Carpenter is the Lead Teacher in the Infant B (One Year Old) Classroom.  Mrs. Ashley has been employed with Little Dreamers Academy for more than five years.  She is the mother of two children, a a toddler son and an elementary-age daughter.  Mrs. Ashley has her TCC in Early Childhood Education.  She has more than 175 hours of state-approved professional development hours in infant and toddler care.  

For more information about developmental milestones and signs of developmental delay, visit  www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones

Eighteen Months
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Likes to hand things to others as play, may have temper tantrums, may be afraid of strangers, shows affection to familiar people, plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll, may cling to caregivers in new situations, points to show others something interesting, explores alone but with parent close by

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION
Says several single words, says and shakes head “no," points to show someone what he wants

COGNITIVE

Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon, points to get the attention of others, shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed, points to one body part, scribbles on his own, can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit down”

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL
Walks alone, may walk up steps and run, pulls toys while walking, can help undress herself, drinks from a cup, eats with a spoon

Twelve Months
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Is shy or nervous with strangers,
cries when mom or dad leaves, has favorite things and people, shows fear in some situations, hands you a book when he wants to hear a story, repeats sounds or actions to get attention, puts out arm or leg to help with dressing

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION
Responds to simple spoken requests, uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye," makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech), says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”

COGNITIVE

Explores things in different ways like
shaking, banging, throwing, finds hidden things easily, looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named, starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair, puts things in a container and takes things out of a container, pokes with index finger

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL
Gets to a sitting position without help, pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”), may take a few steps without holding on, may stand alone

Nine Months 
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

May be afraid of strangers, may be clingy with familiar adults, has favorite toys

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION
Understands “no," makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa,” copies sounds and gestures of others, uses fingers to point at things

COGNITIVE

Watches the path of something as it falls, looks for things he sees you hide, plays peek-a-boo, puts things in her mouth, picks up things like cereal between thumb and index finger

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL

Stands holding on, can get into sitting position, sits without support, pulls to stand, crawls

Six Months 
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Likes to play with others - especially
parents, likes to look at self in mirror

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION
Strings vowels together when babbling (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”) and likes taking turns with parent while making sounds, begins saying consonant
​sounds (jabbering with “m,” “b”), responds to own name

COGNITIVE

Looks around at things nearby, brings things to mouth, begins to pass things from one hand to the other

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL

Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front), begins to sit without support, supports weight on legs and might bounce when standing, rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward

Two-Four Months 
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Begins to smile at people, can briefly
calm himself, tries to look at parent, begins to copy some movements
and ​facial expressions like smiling or
​frowning

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION
Coos, makes gurgling sounds,
turns head toward sounds, later begins to babble with expression
and
copy sounds

COGNITIVE

Pays attention to faces, begins to 
​follow things with eyes, begins to
act bored (cries, fussy) if activity
​does not change, responds to affection, begins to use hands and eyes together - such as seeing a toy and reaching for it

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL

Can hold head up, begins to push up
when lying on tummy, makes 
smoother movements with arms
​and legs, may begin to roll over from
tummy to back, begins to push down
​with feet when on hard surfaces

Infants & Ones