Developmental Milestones

Physical:

• Brings hands toward center of body when lying on back
• Raises head & cheek when lying on stomach
• Opens and shuts hands
• Moves legs and arms off of surface when excited

Thinking & Language:

• Interested in watching faces
• Follows moving objects
• Makes sucking sounds and cooing noises
• Pays attention to sounds such as people talking

Social/Emotional:

• Makes eye contact
• Begins to have a “social smile”
• Seems to enjoy playing with other people

Physical:

• Plays with feet in supine position
• Rolls from stomach to back
• Is able to sit by using hands to support self
• Moves toys from one hand to the other

Thinking & Language:

• Plays “Peek-A-Boo”
• Uses hands and mouth to “explore” new things
• Grasps objects dangling in front of him
• Begins to make syllable-like repetitive sounds

Social/Emotional:

• Responds to sound by making sounds
• Uses voice to express joy and displeasure
• Interested in mirrors

Physical:

• Gets to sitting position without assistance
• Pulls up to standing position on furniture, may walk 2-3 steps
• Crawls on hands and knees
• Tries to imitate scribbling
• Points with index finger
• Feeds self with finger

Thinking & Language:

• Enjoys looking at pictures in books
• Finds hidden objects easily
• Says “dada” and “mama” and may use expressions such as “uh-oh”
• Appropriately shakes head “no”
• Engages in simple games such as peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, or rolling ball to another person

Social/Emotional:

• Imitates gestures such as waving or shaking head
• May be shy or anxious with strangers
• Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
• May cry when parent leaves

Physical:

• Walks alone, may begin to run stiffly
• Pulls toy behind them while walking
• Turns over container to pour out contents
• Scribbles spontaneously

Thinking & Language:

• Listens to short story book with pictures
• Repeats words overheard in conversations
• Follows simple one-step instructions
• Finds hidden object

Social/Emotional:

• Imitates behavior of others
• May “test” parents at bed time

Physical:

• Walks into ball to “kick” it
• Climbs up/down from furniture
• Walks up/down stairs holding on to support
• Builds tour of 4 blocks or more

Thinking & Language:

• Completes simple 3-4 piece wooden puzzles
• Points to object or picture when it is named for them
• Uses 2-4 word sentences
• Begins to make-believe play

Social/Emotional:

• Demonstrates increasing independence
• Begins to show defiant behavior
• Likes to play with food when eating
• Increasingly enthusiastic about company/ other children

Physical:

• Runs easily
• Pedals tricycle
• Walks down stairs alone, placing both feet on each step
• Draws vertical and horizontal lines as well as circular strokes with pencil/crayon
• Turns pages of book one at a time
• Turns door knobs

Thinking & Language:

• Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they)
• Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects
• Knows simple rhymes and songs
• Plays make-believe with dolls, animals and people
• Sorts object by color

Social/Emotional:

• uses the word “mine” often
• says “no” but will still do what is asked
• begins to follow simple rules
• expresses wide ranges of emotion

Physical:

• Runs around obstacles, climbs ladders
• Balances on one foot for 3-5 seconds
• Can walk up and down steps with a reciprocal pattern
• Copies a drawing of a plus sign
• Holds crayon between first two fingers and thumb

Thinking & Language:

• Stacks 5 objects in order of size
• Sorts by shape and color
• Matches objects with the same function (e.g., brush/comb)
• Says 1,500 words
• Mean sentence length 4 – 5 words
• Articulates /b/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /y/

Social/Emotional:

• Usually takes turns
• Shows empathy for others
• Begins to prefer playing with others rather than alone
• Shows pride in accomplishments
• Plays in group games with simple rules
• Separates from parents without crying