Milestones
Are you wondering if your child is developmentally where they should be? The following charts should be able to help you identify whether your child’s development is where it should be at their age. If you’re concerned about your child’s development – whether it’s motor skills, speech and language, or sensory processing – we’re here to help. Our team of experienced pediatric occupational, speech, and physical therapists offers FREE phone consultations to guide you through your child’s developmental milestones and answer any questions you may have. Call us at (619) 940-4128 to speak with a specialist today.
Birth - 6 months
- Discriminates speech from non-speech sounds
- Smiles when spoken to
- Displays different cries for various needs
- Babbles (pa, ba, mi)
- Coos and squeals
- Giggles and laughs
- Vocalizes and makes facial expressions when happy or upset
- Smiles
- Cries to express discomfort
- Explores objects with hands and mouth
- Searches with eyes for sound
- Follows a moving person with eyes
- Examines objects visually
- Bangs objects on a table
- Reaches toward objects
- Uses various palmar grasping patterns
- Grasps objects and brings them to mouth
- Transfers objects between hands
- Plays with hands together at midline
- Lifts head (3–4 months)
- Raises trunk when lying on stomach (4–6 months)
- Kicks reciprocally when lying on back
- Sits propped on hands
- Plays and bounces when supported in standing
- Rolls between positions
6 - 12 months
- Recognizes words for familiar objects/people
- Responds to own name
- Listens selectively
- Starts to respond to simple words and phrases (“no,” “come here”)
- Babbles longer sounds (mimi, bababa, upup)
- Makes gestures (e.g., waves, reaches, shakes head no) and imitates simple gestures
- Imitates various speech sounds
- Lifts arms to be picked up
- Interacts with other infants briefly
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Responds to mirror playfully
- Shows dependence on mother
- Plays happily with parents in room
- Looks at picture books
- Begins to generalize from past experiences
- Uses intention with toys
- Removes objects from and releases objects into container
- Mouths toys
- Reaches accurately for toys
- Plays with toys at midline and transfers between hands
- Bangs objects together
- Waves toys in the air
- Rolls ball to adult
- Grasps small objects with fingertips
- Points and explores toys with index finger
- Sits independently
- Independently transitions to sitting position
- Pivots in standing position
- Stands, plays in standing with support
- Crawls (10 months)
- Walks with hand held (12 months)
12 - 18 months
- Says 1–2 words by first birthday
- Recognizes and points to body parts when asked
- Follows 1-step directions
- Understands simple questions (“Who’s that?”)
- Uses many new words
- Uses p, b, m, h, and w in words
- Begins to name pictures in books
- Imitates model
- Symbolic play with real props (e.g., pretends to drink from cup)
- Understands how objects work and their function
- Problem-solves with trial and error
- Moves away from and shares toys with parent
- Responds to others’ facial expressions
- Holds crayon and makes marks
- Holds two toys in hand, releases toys from both hands
- Stacks blocks
- Fits toys into form space (e.g., puzzle board)
- Attempts puzzles
- Opens and shuts boxes or containers
- Points to pictures with index finger
- Uses two hands in play: one to stabilize, one to manipulate
- Plays in standing
- Sits in small chair, climbs into adult chair
- Walks well, squats, retrieves objects from floor
- Flings ball
- Pulls toys while walking
- Walks upstairs with one hand supported
- Pushes/pulls objects on floor
18 - 24 months
- Asks wh- questions (e.g., “What’s that?”)
- Puts 2 words together (e.g., “more drink,” “no nap”)
- Shows affection
- Shows wide ranges of emotions
- Can be frustrated
- Enjoys solitary play (e.g., coloring, building)
- Participates in parallel play
- Uses inanimate objects to perform actions
- Begins to use non-realistic objects in pretend play
- Uses objects with functional purpose
- Laughs at someone being silly
- Has object permanence
- Links multiple steps together
- Completes 4–5 piece puzzle
- Builds block towers
- Holds crayon in fingertips
- Draws simple figures (e.g., straight line, circle)
- Strings beads
- Begins to use simple tools (e.g., toy hammer)
- Participates in multi-step tasks
- Turns book pages
- Runs, squats, climbs on furniture
- Climbs on jungle gym, slides
- Kicks ball forward
- Throws ball at large target
- Jumps in place with two feet
- Walks up and down stairs
2 - 3 years
- Understands 1,000–1,500 words
- Combines 3 words together
- Uses about 800 words
- 75–90% intelligible (understood by others)
- Uses k, g, f, t, d sounds
- Uses prepositions (in, on, under)
- Greets and initiates play with others; shows interest in peers
- Uses attention-getting words (e.g., “Look!”)
- Can respond to questions (e.g., “Who/what is that?”)
- Starting to ask questions (“Who?” “What?” “Why?”)
- Can follow 2–3 step directions
- Talks during pretend play
- Participates in cooperative play with turn-taking
- Understands basic use for objects (e.g., use a fork to eat)
- Can label pictures and objects
- Talks about things that aren’t in the room
- Understands negatives (not, no)
- Imitates vertical line, horizontal line, circle
- Completes 3-piece insert puzzle
- Snips paper with scissors
- Strings large beads
- Uses digital pronate grasp
- Self-feeds with spoon and fork
- Pulls down pants, helps put on socks, shirt, jacket
- Unbuttons large buttons
- Washes hands independently
- Indicates need to use bathroom; can wipe after urinating
- Runs
- Balances on one foot (2–3 seconds)
- Throws ball overhand to a target
- Jumps down from step; jumps forward with two feet
- Begins to ride a tricycle
3 - 4 years
- Uses 4 words together
- Responds when called from another room
- Understands shapes, colors, and family members
- Answers “who,” “what,” and “where” questions
- Asks “when” and “how” questions
- Understands rhyming and plurals
- Uses pronouns
- Talks about what happened earlier in the day
- Categorizes and sorts objects
- Shows sense of humor
- Aware of turn-taking and social aspects of conversation
- Prefers group play
- Interested in being a friend
- Uses imaginary objects in play
- Attempts challenging activities
- Copies vertical line, horizontal line, and circle
- Cuts on a straight line
- Uses static tripod grasp
- Manipulates objects within hand
- Puts on clothing with little assistance
- Zips and unzips
- Uses bathroom independently
- Jumps, climbs, and runs
- Begins to skip and hop
- Rides tricycle
- Alternates feet walking upstairs
- Throws ball
4 - 5 years
- Uses about 1,000–1,500 words
- Uses 4–6 word sentences
- 90% intelligible (understood)
- Masters sounds: k, g, d, t, ng, f, y
- Begins to tell stories including real and imaginary information
- Asks questions (“how,” “when,” “why”)
- Uses -ing, regular past tense -ed, possession ’s, and some irregular past tense verbs
- Responds to “why” questions
- Engages in cooperative play
- Repeats sentences
- Sings whole songs
- Acknowledges communication partner with fillers (e.g., “yeah,” “OK”)
- Uses variety of word types (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
- Attends to a group activity
- Follows 3–4 step directions
- Understands rules to games
- Colors within lines
- Cuts out a circle and square
- Copies cross, diagonal lines, square, and some numbers and letters
- Uses dynamic tripod grasp
- Completes 10-piece puzzle
- Uses two hands together well, with a dominant hand
- Strings small beads
- Puts on shoes and socks
- Can buckle belt and weave through belt loops
- Brushes teeth with supervision
- Bathes self with assistance
- Jumps down from high step, forward
- Throws ball and hits target
- Hops 4–6 steps
- Climbs on and swings from playground equipment
- Walks up and down stairs reciprocally
5 - 6 years
- Understands about 2,000–2,500 words
- Combines 5–8 words together in sentences
- Engages in conversation, uses imagination to create stories, can discuss emotions and feelings
- Begins to use manners
- Can retell stories
- Uses compound and complex sentences
- Uses all pronouns consistently
- Understands words for order (“first,” “next,” “finally”)
- Knows spatial relations (on, behind, far, etc.)
- Understands opposites, same and different
- Understands and recognizes printed letters
- Plays in groups of 2–4
- Bases play on real life
- Uses complex scripts in play
- Uses deferred imitation
- Sorts objects in various ways
- Asks questions for information
- Distinguishes left and right
- Draws a stick figure
- Copies a triangle and most uppercase letters
- Prints own name
- Completes 20-piece puzzle
- Manipulates small objects in fingertips without dropping
- Ties and unties knots
- Dresses independently
- Hops for long distances
- Skips with good balance
- Catches ball with two hands
- Kicks ball with accuracy
- Balances on one foot for 8–10 seconds
6 - 7 years
- Cooperative, tries to please others
- Has a best friend; is part of cliques
- Can regulate behavior; is less impulsive
- Performs mental operations without needing to try physically
- Solves complex problems; demonstrates flexible problem-solving
- Prints lowercase letters
- Does not reverse letters or numbers
- Cuts a variety of shapes
- Shows good dexterity for crafts
- Motor planning evident in drawing and puzzle completion
- Uses knife
- Ties shoes
- Bathes independently
- Runs fast, with endurance
- Jumps, hops, skips
- Rides a two-wheel bike
- Throws ball well at long distances
- Catches ball with accuracy
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