Developmental Milestones

Check out these milestones that represent typical development. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, please feel free to contact us today by dialing 1-833-939-0336.

If your child isn’t able to do some of the items listed in their age range or for any tasks listed for a younger child, please talk to your child’s healthcare provider.

Click on the age you want to learn more about:

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Table Header Communication	Makes gurgling sounds & coos Smiles when you talk to him
Table Header Gross Motor	Moves arms and legs while on back Holds head up longer than a few seconds when on tummy Moves head side to side while on back
Table Header Fine Motor	Loosens fist when you put a toy near her hand Touches face with hands
Table Header Problem Solving	Looks at objects that are 8-10 inches away Follows a toy with eyes as it is moved side to side (10 inches away) Follows a toy with eyes as it is moved up and down (10 inches away)
Table Header Personal-Social	Cries when wet, hungry, tired, or wants to be held Smiles at you after you smile at him or her
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t respond positively to attempts to engage Doesn’t use both hands and both legs equally well Can’t hold up head briefly while on tummy time Doesn’t respond to loud sounds Doesn’t calm self briefly by bringing hands to mouth

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Table Header Communication	Smiles or gets excited to see you after you return Stops crying when he hears parent’s voice Laughs
Table Header Gross Motor	Holds head straight up while resting on her forearms Holds head steady while sitting (unsupported) Rolls from tummy to back
Table Header Fine Motor	Grasps toys briefly Grabs or scratches at clothes or objects
Table Header Problem Solving	Looks at small toy while being held in a sitting position Puts toys in his mouth
Table Header Personal-Social	Touches hands when brought to center of body Smiles at you before you smile at her
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t watch things as they move Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions Isn’t able to put feet flat on surface while you support him Can’t hold head steady

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Table Header Communication	Plays with sounds, including grunts and growling Makes sounds beginning with consonants, i.e. ka, ga, ba, da
Table Header Gross Motor	Rolls back to tummy While you hold both hands, he supports his own weight while standing
Table Header Fine Motor	Picks up small toy and holds in center of hand Tries to pick up small foods with a raking motion
Table Header Problem Solving	Reaches for a toy with both hands while sitting Tries to get a toy she can see while on her back Passes a toy back and forth from one hand to the other
Table Header Personal-Social	Plays with self in mirror Plays with feet
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	If her movements are not symmetrical Shows no affection for caregivers Doesn’t try to reach for objects around him Doesn’t respond to sounds around him Struggles getting items to mouth Doesn’t roll in either direction Seems stiff or floppy

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Table Header Communication	Plays peek-a-boo Makes two-syllable consonants sounds, i.e. baba, gaga, kaka, dada Follows one command without gestures, i.e. “come here”
Table Header Gross Motor	Sits up straight on floor for several minutes Bends down to pick up toy and returns to standing while holding onto furniture Crawls
Table Header Fine Motor	Picks up small toys (rigid objects) and string (floppy objects) with thumb and finger Picks up string (can be attached to a toy) with thumb and finger (floppy object)
Table Header Problem Solving	Bangs objects together or on table Tries to get small foods out of a clear bottle (may not dump yet) Dumps objects out of containers either by himself or by copying you
Table Header Personal-Social	Feeds herself a cracker Puts toy in your hand, but doesn’t let go of toy Can push arms through a sleeve once his arm is in the hole of the sleeve
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t respond to her name Doesn’t sit with help or bear weight on legs with support Doesn’t babble, i.e. mama, baba, dada Doesn’t play back and forth games Doesn’t look where you point Doesn’t move toys from one hand to the other Doesn’t recognize familiar people

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Table Header Communication	Can play a nursery game without parent showing him how, such as “Peek-a-boo” Says 3 words (a “word” is a sound baby uses consistently to mean something) Points to something to let you know he wants it
Table Header Gross Motor	Lowers self with control while holding onto furniture Walks beside furniture while holding on with one hand Takes several steps while you holds hands
Table Header Fine Motor	Throws small ball forward Helps turn the pages of a book after you lift a page for him to grasp
Table Header Problem Solving	Finds a toy under a blanket after watching you hide it Puts a toy or two in a container
Table Header Personal-Social	Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing Throws a ball to you for you to return it to him Plays with a stuffed animal by hugging it Shy or nervous with strangers
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t crawl Doesn’t point to things Doesn’t say single words, i.e. mama or dada Loses skills once able to do Doesn’t learn gestures such as waving or shaking head

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Table Header Communication	Says 10 or more words Imitates two-word sentences (words may be difficult to understand) Can point to correct pictures
Table Header Gross Motor	Walks with very little falling Climbs on chair to reach something he wants Walks down stairs if holding your hand or railing
Table Header Fine Motor	Builds a tower with two or more blocks Can draw a line from top of paper to bottom after watching you do so Puts a spoon right side up to eat
Table Header Problem Solving	Uses an object to reach something he wants, i.e. a stick or spoon Turns bottle upside down to dump out crumb without being shown how
Table Header Personal-Social	Pulls on your hand or clothes to get attention when she needs help Drinks from cup and can put it down with little spilling May have temper tantrums
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t offer a toy to own image in mirror Doesn’t play with stuffed animal by hugging it Doesn’t walk Doesn’t say at least 6 words Doesn’t notice or care if a caregiver leaves or returns Doesn’t copy others Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Can follow three or more simple commands, i.e. close the door Says two or three word sentences, i.e. see dog or mommy come home Uses two or more words like “me”, “I”, “mine”, “you”
Table Header Gross Motor	Walks up or down at least two steps by self Runs fairly well and can stop without falling or bumping into things
Table Header Fine Motor	Gets a spoon into mouth so food doesn’t spill (excludes runny liquids) Uses turning motion with hand to turn objects like doorknobs and wind up toys Makes a tower with seven or more blocks
Table Header Problem Solving	Pretends objects are something else, i.e. a cup becomes a telephone Lines up four objects in a row after watching you do it
Table Header Personal-Social	Copies activities you do, i.e. sweep, comb hair or shave Does pretend play, i.e. feeds a stuffed animal and puts it to bed Pushes toy on wheels, steers around objects and backs out of corners if unable to turn
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t use two word phrases, i.e. drink milk You’re unable to understand most of what your child says Doesn’t copy actions or words Doesn’t follow simple instructions Doesn’t walk steadily Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Points to seven body parts when you names them Can do two simple directions in a row, i.e. put book on table, put coat away
Table Header Gross Motor	Can kick a ball without holding onto anything for support Jumps with both feet leaving the floor at the same time Can walk up stairs, using only one foot on each stair, while holding onto a railing
Table Header Fine Motor	Threads objects onto a string, such as beads, macaroni, pasta Draws a circle and line from one side of the paper to the other after watching you do so
Table Header Problem Solving	Finds chair to stand on to reach something, i.e. to “help” you in kitchen Repeats back two numbers in the same order after you say the two numbers Tells you about a “picture” she drew, even if it’s a scribble
Table Header Personal-Social	Uses a spoon to feed self with little spilling Pulls loose-fitting pants around his feet up to his waist
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t walk steadily Doesn’t understand simple instructions Doesn’t use two word sentences Doesn’t use intelligible words more than half of the time Doesn’t spontaneously imitate new words when they are heard Unable to have fears comforted Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Can tell you what is happening in the picture of a book, i.e. dog barking Says both first and last name together
Table Header Gross Motor	Stands on one foot for about 1 second without holding onto anything Throws a ball overhand Jumps forward at least six inches with both feet leaving the ground at same time
Table Header Fine Motor	Tries to cut paper with child-safe scissors Holds a pencil or crayon between fingers and thumb like an adult
Table Header Problem Solving	Makes a bridge with blocks and boxes after watching you do so Repeats back three numbers in the same order after you say the three numbers
Table Header Personal-Social	Puts on coat or shirt by self Identifies self with correct gender Takes turns by waiting while another child or adult takes a turn
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Falls down a lot If you are unable to understand child Doesn’t speak in sentences Doesn’t understand simple instructions Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys Doesn’t make eye contact Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Names at least three items from a common category, i.e. cow, dog, pig Follows three unrelated instructions, i.e. clap hands, open book, sit down Sings a song from memory, i.e. Itsy Bitsy Spider
Table Header Gross Motor	Catches a large ball with both hands from five feet away Climbs up ladder of playground slide and slides down without help Hops up and down on one foot without losing balance
Table Header Fine Motor	Puts together a five to seven piece puzzle Cuts a paper in half with child-safe scissors Colors mostly within the lines in a coloring book Draws a body with at least three body parts
Table Header Problem Solving	Identifies small circle when given choice of three different circle sizes Names at least five different colors Counts up to five objects in a row using the correct number and order Dresses up and pretends to be a different person or imaginary animal
Table Header Personal-Social	Washes hands with soap and water and dries off without help Tells the names of two or more playmates (not siblings) Dress or undresses self without help (except for snaps, buttons, zippers) Wants to please friends
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Has trouble scribbling Shows no interest in make-believe or interactive games Resists dressing, sleeping and using the toilet Ignores other children or doesn’t respond to people outside of family Can’t retell a favorite story Doesn’t understand “same” and “different” Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Uses four and five word sentences Uses past-tense words for something that already happened, i.e. we walked Uses comparison words, i.e. a car is big, but a bus is bigger
Table Header Gross Motor	Walks on tiptoes for 15 feet (about length of large car) Hops forward on one foot for a distance of four to six feet Skips using alternating feet
Table Header Fine Motor	Traces a line without going off the line more than two times Copies triangles and other shapes Copies letters in first name
Table Header Problem Solving	Counts to fifteen Gives opposites, i.e. a rock is hard, and a pillow is _____ (soft) Names at least four letters in first name
Table Header Personal-Social	Uses toilet by self (goes to bathroom, sits on toilet, wipes, flushes, washes hands) Takes turns and shares with other children
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t show wide range of emotions Shows extreme behavior (unusually fearful, aggressive, shy or sad) Easily distracted, has trouble focusing on one activity for more than five minutes Can’t tell what’s real and what’s make-believe Doesn’t talk about daily activities or experiences Doesn’t draw pictures Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Develops expressive vocabulary rapidly, about 3,000 new words during the year Understood by others consistently Tells stories with series of events using chronological narrative format Can maintain conversation topic and elaborate when listener does not understand Begins to read and uses common words to sound out unfamiliar words
Table Header Gross Motor	Uses simple combination of movements, i.e. running and kicking a ball Enjoys chasing and fleeing games, but hasn’t mastered stopping quickly Moves in response to various rhythmical beats, i.e. slow and fast
Table Header Fine Motor	Creates images that combine variety of colors, forms and lines Uses art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner Prefers artwork that show families & groups, i.e. picture of a boy with dog
Table Header Problem Solving	Counts to 200 and count backwards from 20 Understands estimations, i.e. about, near, closer to, a little less than Adds numbers together up to five, i.e. 2+3=5; subtract numbers from five, i.e. 5-1=4 Understands simple fractions Learns days of the week, months, seasons and how to tell time
Table Header Personal-Social	Shows more independence from parents and family Copes poorly with failure and does not take criticism well Identify, label and give reasons for own and others’ emotions, i.e. he’s sad because… Able to resolve conflict by asking an adult for help or talking things through
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Shows signs of hyperactivity or hypersensitivity Becomes withdrawn Refuses to go to school Resists age-appropriate challenges Insensitive to peers Complains of persistent pain or fatigue Prefers media over interactions with people Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Recognizes more words by sight Reads with greater fluency (speed, accuracy and expression) and independence Writing is more developed and interesting
Table Header Gross Motor	Rides a bike Increased skills with dance, gymnastics and other physical activities
Table Header Fine Motor	Draws objects more realistically, often using their experiences, i.e. a family eating dinner Uses different materials to create 2-D and 3-D art Uses increased detail, accuracy and interpretation to draw and discuss images Experiments with light, color and geometric shapes to create artistic designs
Table Header Problem Solving	Curious and asks lots of questions Can do simple addition and subtraction with three-digit numbers Can use rulers to measure units
Table Header Personal-Social	Attention span increases Handles last-minutes changes Tolerate less-detailed instructions Imitate actions of friends and peers at school Develop games with rules and treat peers with respect Act out real-life and imaginative situations through dramatic play and dramatization
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Shows signs of hyperactivity or hypersensitivity Becomes withdrawn Refuses to go to school Resists age-appropriate challenges Insensitive to peers Complains of persistent pain or fatigue Prefers media over interactions with people Loses skills once able to do

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Table Header Communication	Reads more to learn about different topics Chooses books based on personal preference, topic or author Writing skills continue to develop Language and literacy skills laying groundwork for future academic achievement
Table Header Gross Motor	Begins to identify self as “athletic” or “unathletic” Skill levels vary based on amount of physical activity; sedentary children less skilled
Table Header Fine Motor	Draws people with ten body parts, i.e. hair, pupils, ears, fingers, feet Draws people and objects in motion Uses color to show emotion Uses greater detail, i.e. picture of family
Table Header Problem Solving	Uses own resources or seek out assistance from peers before seeking adult help Ability to solve problems with creative strategies Counts to 1,000 Can do simple multiplication
Table Header Personal-Social	Concentrates on tasks for longer periods of time Enjoys sharing viewpoints on a variety of topics with others Developed sense of self-worth; express frustration in areas perceived as a weakness Uses coping strategies to deal with challenging situations and mask emotions
Table Header Talk to Doctor If	Shows signs of hyperactivity or hypersensitivity Becomes withdrawn Refuses to go to school Resists age-appropriate challenges Insensitive to peers Complains of persistent pain or fatigue Prefers media over interactions with people Loses skills once able to do

Developmental Milestones

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

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