Developmental Milestones

Movement

• Raises head and cheek when lying on stomach (3 mos.)
• Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach (3 mos.)
• Stretches legs out when lying on stomach or back (2-3 mos.)
• Opens and shuts hands (2-3 mos.)
• Pushes down on his legs when feet are placed on firm surface (3 mos.)

Visual

• Watches face intently (2-3 mos.)
• Follows moving objects (2 mos.)
• Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance (3 mos.)
• Starts using hands and eyes in coordination (3 mos.)

Hearing and Speech

• Smiles at the sound of voice (2-3 mos.)
• Cooing noises; vocal play (begins at 3 mos.)
• Startles to loud noise (1-3 mos.)

Social/Emotional

• Begins to develop a social smile (1-3 mos.)
• Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops (2-3 mos.)
• Imitates some movements and facial expressions

Developmental Red Flags

• Does not seem to respond to loud noises
• Does not follow moving objects with eyes by 2 to 3 months
• Does not smile at the sound of your voice by 2 months
• Does not grasp and hold objects by 3 months
• Does not support head well at 3 months
• Does not reach for and grasp toys by 3 to 4 months
• Does not bring objects to mouth by 4 months
• Does not push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface by 4 months
• Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions

Movement

• Pushes up on extended arms (5 mos.)
• Pulls to sitting with no head lag (5 mos.)
• Sits with support of his hands (5-6 mos.)
• Sits unsupported for short periods (6-8 mos.)
• Supports whole weight on legs (6-7 mos.)
• Grasps feet (6 mos.)
• Transfers objects from hand to hand (6-7 mos.)
• Uses raking grasp (not pincer) (6 mos.)

Visual

• Looks for toy beyond tracking range (5-6 mos.)
• Tracks moving objects with ease (4-7 mos.)
• Grasps objects dangling in front of him (5-6 mos.)

Language

• Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice (4-7 mos.)
• Responds to sound by making sounds (4-6 mos.)
• Uses voice to express joy and displeasure (4-6 mos.)
• Syllable repetition begins (5-7 mos.)

Cognitive

• Finds partially hidden objects (6-7 mos.)
• Explores with hands and mouth (4-7 mos.)
• Struggles to get objects that are out of reach (5-7 mos.)

Social Emotional

• Enjoys social play (4-7 mos.)
• Interested in mirror images (5-7 mos.)
• Responds to other people’s expression of emotion (4-7 mos.)

Developmental Red Flags

• Seems very stiff, tight muscles or floppy
• Head still flops back when body is pulled to sitting position
• Does not respond to sounds around them
• Has difficulty getting objects to mouth
• Does not roll over (stomach to back) by 6 months
• Cannot sit with help by 6 months

Movement

• Gets to sitting position without assistance (8-10 mos.)
• Crawls forward on belly
• Assumes hand and knee position
• Creeps on hands and knees
• Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position (10-12 mos.)
• Pulls self up to standing position
• Walks holding on to furniture
• Stands momentarily without support
• May walk two or three steps without support

Hand and Finger Skills

• Uses pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger)
• Bangs two cubes together
• Puts objects in/out of container (10-12 mos.)
• Pokes with index finger

Cognitive

• Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Finds hidden objects easily (10-12 mos.)
• Looks at correct picture when image is named
• Imitates gestures (9-12 mos.)

Language Milestones

• Responds to simple verbal requests and “no”
• Babbles with inflection (8-10 mos.)
• Babbles “dada” and “mama” (8-10 mos.)
• Uses exclamations such as “oh-oh”

Developmental Red Flags

• Does not crawl
• Cannot stand when supported
• Says no single words (“mama” or “dada”)
• Does not sit steadily by 10 months
• Does not babble by 8 mos. (“dada,” “baba,” “mama”)

Movement

• Walks alone (12-16 mos.)
• Pulls toys behind him while walking or carries toys (13-16 mos.)
• Begins to run stiffly (16-18 mos.)
• Climbs onto and down from furniture unsupported (16-24 mos.)
• Walks up and down stairs holding on to support (18-24 mos.)

Hand and Finger Skills

• Scribbles spontaneously (14-16 mos.)
• Turns over container to pour out contents (12-18 mos.)
• Builds tower of four blocks or more (20-24 mos.)
• Begins to sort shapes and colors

Language

• Points to object or picture when it’s named for them (18-24 mos.)
• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts (18-24 mos.)
• Says several single words (15-18 mos.)
• Uses two-word sentences (18-24 mos.)
• Follows simple, one-step instructions (14-18 mos.)
• Repeats words overheard in conversations (16-18 mos.)

Social

• Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children (18-24 mos.)
• Demonstrates increasing independence (18-24 mos.)
• Begins to show defiant behavior (18-24 mos.)

Developmental Red Flags

• Cannot walk by 18 months
• Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks exclusively on toes
• Does not speak at least 15 words by 18 months
• Does not use two-word sentences by age 2
• By 15 months does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, spoon)
• Does not follow simple one-step instructions by 24 mos.

Movement

• Climbs well (24-30 mos.)
• Walks down stairs alone, placing both feet on each step (26-28 mos.)
• Walks up stairs alternating feet with support (24-30 mos.)
• Swings leg to kick ball (24-30 mos.)
• Runs easily (24-26 mos.)
• Pedals tricycle (30-36 mos.)
• Bends over easily without falling (24-30 mos.)

Hand and Finger Skills

• Makes vertical, horizontal, circular strokes with pencil or crayon (30-36 mos.)
• Turns book pages one at a time (24-30 mos.)
• Builds a tower of more than 6 blocks (24-30 mos.)
• Screws and unscrews jar lids, nuts, and bolts (24-30 mos.)
• Turns rotating handles (24-30 mos.)

Language

• Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures (26-32 mos.)
• Understands most sentences (24-40 mos.)
• Understands physical relationships (on, in, under) (30-36 mos.)
• Can say name, age, and sex (30-36 mos.)
• Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they) (24-30 mos.)

Cognitive

• Matches an object in hand or room to a picture in a book (24-30 mos.)
• Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people (24-36 mos.)
• Sorts objects by color (30-36 mos.)
• Completes puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces (24-36 mos.)

Developmental Red Flags

• Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs
• Persistent drooling or very unclear speech
• Inability to build a tower of more than 4 blocks
• Difficulty manipulating small objects
• Inability to copy a circle by 3 years old
• Uninterested in playing with peers

Movement

• Hops and stands on one foot up to 5 seconds
• Goes upstairs and downstairs without support
• Kicks ball forward
• Throws ball overhand
• Catches bounced ball most of the time

Hand and Finger Skills

• Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
• Uses scissors
• Draws circles and squares
• Begins to copy some capital letters
• Can feed self with spoon

Language Milestones

• Understands the concepts of “same” and “different”
• Speaks in sentences of 5-6 words
• Asks questions
• Tells stories

Cognitive Milestones

• Correctly names some colors
• Understands the concept of counting and may know a few numbers
• Follows three-part commands
• Recalls parts of a story
• Engages in fantasy play

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Cooperates/plays with other children
• Dresses and undresses
• May have imaginary friends or see monsters

Developmental Red Flags

• Cannot jump in place or ride a trike
• Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers or copy shapes
• Ignores other children
• Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet

Movement

• Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
• Hops, somersaults
• Swings, climbs
• May be able to skip

Hand and Finger Skills

• Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
• Draws person with body
• Prints some letters
• Dresses and undresses without assistance
• Uses fork, spoon
• Usually cares for own toilet needs

Language Milestones

• Speaks sentences of more than 5 words
• Uses future tense
• Tells longer stories
• Can count 10 or more objects
• Correctly names colors
• Better understands the concept of time
• Knows about things used every day in the home (money, food, etc.)

Social Milestones

• Wants to please and be with friends
• More likely to agree to rules
• Likes to sing, dance, and act
• Shows more independence

Developmental Red Flags

• Exhibits extremely aggressive, fearful or timid behavior
• Is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on any single activity for 5 minutes
• Shows little interest in playing with other children
• Rarely uses fantasy or imitation in play
• Has trouble eating, sleeping or using the toilet
• Cannot understand two-part commands and prepositions
• Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon