Guide To Development
Developmental Milestones
• 1-2 months: Reflexive grasp: place a finger into the palm of their
hand, child will grasp finger.
• 3-5 months: Holds rattle for 15-30 seconds.
• 3-5 months: Brings hands to midline.
• 5-6 months: Holds bottle.
• 8 months: Transfers small objects from one hand to the other hand.
• 11 months: Removes socks.
• 12 months: Removes 2-3 pegs from peg board.
• 14 months: Opens books.
• 15-16 months: Places 1-3 pegs into peg board.
• 18-24 months: Imitates a vertical line.
• 20-24 months: Imitates a circular scribble.
• 20-23 months: Strings one one-inch bead.
• 21-24 months: Imitates a horizontal line.
• 23-25 months: Holds crayon with thumb and fingers.
• 23-25 months: Strings three one-inch beads.
• 23-25 months: Snips with scissors.
• 29-31 months: Holds crayon with supinated grasp.
• 29-30 months: Transfers small object from palm to fingers.
• 29-30 months: Washes hands with assistance.
• 18-21 months: Unzips large zipper.
• 20-30 months: Holds small cup with one hand.
• 21-23 months: Open doors by turning knobs.
• 21-32 months: Puts on shoes with assistance.
• 24-30 months: Holds spoon with palm up grasp.
• 26-32 months: Undresses with assistance.
• 26-28 months: Pulls pants up with assistance.
• 30-36 months: Uses fork.
• 30-36 months: Buttons large buttons.
Gross Motor Skills
• 3-4 months: While lying on stomach, begins to elevate head and upper
trunk.
• 3-4 months: While lying on back, brings both hands to midline.
• 5 months: Rolls from back to side.
• 6 months: Maintains balance for 3-8 seconds when placed in sitting
position.
• 7 months: Rolls from back to stomach.
• 9 months: Can reach to front and sides and may end up moving into
hands/knees position.
• 9-10 months: Pushes up onto hands and knees and rocks back and forth.
• 9-10 months: May begin to "crawl" backwards before forwards.
• 10 months: Creeps on hands and feet.
• 11 months: Begins to pull to stand.
• 12 months: Begins to cruise around table to obtain a toy.
• 12-15 months: Raises up to sitting position from stomach/back.
• 13 months: Maintains balance in standing position for 1-5 seconds.
• 14 months: Begins to walk unsupported 1-5 steps.
• 15 months: Walks 4-10 feet with narrow base of support.
• 15 months: Takes steps with arms held up near shoulders and has
difficulty stopping/starting without falling.
• 15 months: Begins to lower self to floor from standing position safely
and with control.
• 15-16 months: With supervision, creeps up 1-2 steps on hands and
knees.
• 17-18 months: Walks up 1-4 steps with support of rail or hand.
• 21-22 months: Walks down 1-4 steps with support of rail or finger.
• 23-24 months: Runs 5-10 feet.
• 25-30 months: Jumps.
Cognitive Skills/Behaviors
• 0-1 month: Quiets when picked up.
• 0-6 months: Shows pleasure when touched and handled.
• 2-3.5 months: Searches with eyes for sounds.
• 2.5-4 months: Begins play with rattles.
• 3-7 months: Turns eyes and head to sound of hidden voice.
• 3-5 months: Plays with own hands, feet, fingers, toes.
• 5-9 months: Touches toy or adult's hand to restart an activity.
• 5-9 months: Works for desired, out of reach object.
• 5.5-8 months: Shows interest in sounds of objects.
• 6-10 months: Plays "Peek-a-boo."
• 6-9 months: Plays 2-3 minutes with a single toy.
• 6-8 months: Looks for family members or pets when named.
• 6-7 months: Responds to facial expressions.
• 7-8 months: Imitates familiar gesture.
• 9-11 months: Imitates new gesture.
• 8-11 months: Overcomes obstacle to obtain object.
• 9-12 months: Uses locomotion to regain object; resumes play.
• 9-11 months: Listens to speech without being distracted by other
sources.
• 9-12 months: Knows what "no" means and reacts.
• 10-14 months: Enjoys looking at picture books.
• 12-14 months: Understands pointing.
• 12-18 months: Makes detours to retrieve objects.
• 14-15 months: Helps turn pages.
• 15-19 months: Matches objects.
• 15-18 months: Brings objects from another room on request.
• 15-19 months: Identifies one body part.
• 16-19 months: Understands most noun objects.
• 18-20 months: Points to several clothing items on request.
• 18-22 months: Matches sounds to animals.
• 19-24 months: Sorts objects.
• 19-24 months: Recognizes self in photograph.
• 19-22 months: Identifies three body parts.
• 21-24 months: Turns pages one at a time.
• 22-24 months: Identifies six body parts.
• 24-36 months: Plays with water and sand.
• 24-30 months: Understands concept of one.
• 24-28 months: Recognizes familiar adult in photo.
• 24-30 months: Engages in simple make-believe activities.
• 18-24 months: Obeys two part (related) commands.
• 24-29 months: Obeys two part (separate) commands.
• 26-30 months: Matches shapes - circle, triangle, square.
• 26-33 months: Knows own sex or sex of others.
• 27-30 months: Listens to stories.
• 29-33 months: Matches primary colors.
• 30-36 months: Sorts shapes – circle, triangle, square (toys).
• 30-36 months: Points to larger or smaller of two spoons.
• 30-36 months: Enjoys being read to and looks at books independently.
• 30-36 months: Plays house.
• 33+ months: Sorts colors and points to several colors when named.
Language Skill/Behavior
• 0-1 month: Cries when hungry or uncomfortable.
• 1-5 months: Cry varies in pitch, length and volume to indicate needs
e.g., hunger, pain.
• 1.5-4 months: Laughs.
• 2-7 months: Coos open vowels (aah), closed vowels (ee), diphthongs (oy
as in boy).
• 2.5-5.5 months: Squeals.
• 3.5-4.5 months: Laughs when head is covered with a cloth.
• 4-6.5 months: Babbles consonant chains "baba-baba."
• 5-6 months: Vocalizes attitudes other than crying – joy, anger.
• 6-9 months: Waves or responds to "bye-bye."
• 6.5-11.5 months: Says "dada" or "mama," nonspecifically.
• 7-15 months: Produces these sounds frequently in babbling: b, m, p, d,
t, n, g, k, w, h, f, v, th, s, z, l, r.
• 7.5-12 months: Babbles with inflection similar to adult.
• 9-14 months: Shows understanding of words by appropriate behavior or
gesture.
• 11-14 months: Says "dada" or "mama," specifically.
• 11-12.5 months: Repeats sounds or gestures if laughed at.
• 12-18 months: Babbles intricate inflection.
• 12-14 months: Uses single-word sentences.
• 12-19 months: Gestures spontaneously to indicate needs.
• 13-15 months: Says "no" meaningfully.
• 13-18 months: Names one or two familiar objects.
• 15-17.5 months: Vocalizes wishes and needs at the table; names desired
items.
• 15.5-21 months: Makes sounds in babbling, but often substitutes those
sounds in words.
• 18-22 months: Uses jargon with good inflection and rate.
• 18-23 months: Attempts to sing songs with words.
• 19-21.5 months: Names two pictures.
• 21-24 months: Tells experience using jargon and words.
• 23-27 months: Sings phrases of songs.
• 24-27.5 months: Produces the following sounds clearly: p, b, m, k, g,
w, h, n, t, d.
• 24-30.5 months: Uses expressive vocabulary of 50+ words.
• 24-29 months: Names five pictures.
• 24-28.5 months: Experiments with communication- frustrated when not
understood.
• 24-36 months: Answers questions.
• 27-40 months: Refers to self using pronoun.
• 27.5-32 months: Produces sounds correctly at beginning of words.
• 29-31 months: Replaces jargon with sentences.
• 30-31.5 months: Vocalizes for all needs.
• 30-36 months: Participates in storytelling.
• 30.5-35 months: Uses expressive vocabulary of 200+.
• 34+ months: Relates experiences more frequently using short sentences.
• 34.5+ months: Asks questions beginning with "what," "where," "when."
• 35+ months: Uses intelligible words about 80 percent of the time.
Social Skill/Behavior
• 0-3 months: Enjoys and needs a great deal of physical contact and
tactile stimulation.
• 0-1.5 months: Smiles reflexively.
• 0-3 months: Molds and relaxes body when held; cuddles.
• 3-5 months: Vocalizes in response to adult talk and smile.
• 3-5 months: Socializes with strangers/anyone.
• 3-6 months: Enjoys social play.
• 4-8 months: Recognizes parent visually.
• 5-8 months: Displays stranger anxiety.
• 5-9 months: Lifts arms to parent.
• 5.5-8.5 months: Smiles at mirror image.
• 6-10 months: Cooperates in games.
• 7-12 months: Shows like/dislike for certain people, objects, places.
• 9-12 months: Extends toy to show others, not for release.
• 9-12 months: Engages in simple relational play.
• 9-12 months: Explores environment enthusiastically – safety
precautions important.
• 12-15 months: Gives toy to familiar adult spontaneously and upon
request.
• 12-15 months: Acts impulsively, unable to recognize rules.
• 12-18 months: Begins to show a sense of humor – laughs at
incongruities.
• 12-15 months: Plays ball cooperatively.
• 14-15.5 months: Hugs and kisses parents.
• 15-18 months: Imitates doing housework and other real-life activities
– symbolic play with realistic props.
• 18-24 months: Expresses affection.
• 18-24 months: Shows a wide variety of emotions, e.g., fear, anger,
sympathy, modesty, guilt, joy.
• 18-24 months: Interacts with peers using gestures.
• 18-24 months: Engages in parallel play.
• 18-24 months: Enjoys solitary play for a few minutes.
• 24-30 months: Displays shyness with strangers and in outside
situations.
• 24-36 months: Enjoys a wide range of relationships; meets more people.
• 24-30 months: Enjoys experimenting with adult activities.
• 24-36 months: Engages best in peer interaction with just one older
child, not a sibling.
• 24-30 months: Values own property; uses word "mine."
• 30-36 months: Shows independence.
• 30+ months: Begins to obey and respect simple rules.
• 30+ months: Participates in circle games; plays interactive games.
• 30-36 months: Takes pride in achievements; resists help.
Self Help
• 0-1 month: Opens and closes mouth in response to food stimulus.
• 1-5 months: Coordinates sucking, swallowing, and breathing.
• 1-3 months: Stays awake for longer periods without crying - usually in
p.m.
• 2-4 months: Brings hand to mouth.
• 3.5-4.5 months: Recognizes bottle visually.
• 4-8 months: Sleeps nights 10-12 hours with night awakening.
• 4.5-5.5 months: Places both hands on bottle.
• 6.5-8.5 months: Feeds self a cracker.
• 7-12 months: Drools less, except when teething.
• 9-12 months: Finger feeds self.
• 9-12 months: Holds spoon.
• 10.5-12 months: Cooperates with dressing by extending arm or leg.
• 12-18 months: Holds and drinks from cup with some spilling.
• 15-24 months: Scoops food, feeds self with spoon with some spilling.
• 18-23 months: Distinguishes between edible and inedible objects.
• 18-24 months: Sits on potty chair or on adaptive seat on toilet with
assistance.
• 21-23 months: Opens doors by turning knob.
• 21-23 months: Helps with simple household tasks.
• 24-30 months: Understands and stays away from common dangers – stairs,
glass, strange animals.
• 24-30 months: Holds spoon in fingers - palm up.
• 24+ months: Brushes teeth with assistance.
• 24-36 months: Uses toilet with assistance – has daytime control.
• 28-32 months: Dresses self with assistance.
• 30+ months: Insists on doing things independently.
• 30-36 months: Pours liquid from small container.
• 30-36 months: Uses fork.
• 30+ months: Helps with bathing self.
• 30-36 months: Distinguishes between urination and bowel movements.
• 31+ months: Verbalizes need to use toilet – has occasional accidents.
• 32+ months: Dresses with supervision, requires assistance with
fastenings.