Certain patterns of behaviour and certain skills are learned more easily and successfully during certain stages. These accomplishments of a person become the social expectations of that stage of development. They are known as developmental tasks. The newborns in their first week of life are able to indicate what direction a sound is coming from, can distinguish their mother’s voice from the voices of other women, and can initate simple gestures like tongue protrusion and mouth opening.

As the infant grows, the muscles and nervous system mature which lead to the development of finer skills. Basic physical skills include grasping, walking and running.

Newborns have also sensory capabilities. They can here immediately after birth. With development, proficiency at localising sound improves. Newborns respond to touch and can feel pain. Both smell and taste capacities are also present in the newborn.

The child during infancy experiences the world through senses and interactions with objects through looking, hearing, touching, mouthing and grasping.

Babies from birth are social creatures. An infant starts preferring familiar faces and responds to parent’s presence by cooing and gurgling. They become more mobile by 6 to 8 months of age and start showing a preference for their mother’s company. When frightened by a new face or when separated from their mother, they cry or show distress. On being remited with the parent or care giver they reciprocate with smiles.