Developmental Milestones

Newborn (1 week)

makes brief eye contact

social language and self-help

Newborn (1 week)

-cries with discomfort
-calms to adult voice

verbal language (expressive and receptive)

Newborn (1 week)

-reflexively moves arms and legs
-turns head to side when on stomach

gross motor

Newborn (1 week)

-holds fingers closed
-grasps reflexively

fine motor

1 month

-calms when picked up or spoken to
-looks briefly at objects

social language and self-help

1 month

-alerts to unexpected sound
-makes brief short vowel sounds

verbal language (expressive and motor)

2 months

smiles responsively (social smile)

social language and self-help

2 months

vocalizing with simple cooing

verbal language (expressive and motor)

2 months

lifts head and chest in prone

gross motor

2 months

opens and shuts hands

fine motor

4 months

laughs aloud

social language and self-help

4 months

-turns to voice
-vocalizes with extended cooing

verbal language (expressive and motor)

4 months

-rolls over prone to supine
-supports on elbows and wrists in prone

gross motor

4 months

-keeps hands unfisted
-plays with fingers in midline
-grasps object

fine motor

6 months

-pats or smiles at reflection
-begins to turn when name called

social language and self-help

6 months

Babbles

verbal language (expressive and motor)

6 months

-rolls over supine to prone
-sits briefly without support

gross motor

6 months

-reaches for objects and transfers
-rakes small object with 4 fingers
-bangs small object on surface

fine motor

9 months

-uses basic gestures (holds arms out to be picked up, waves “bye-bye”)
-looks for dropped objects
-picks up food with fingers and eats it
-turns when name called

social language and self-help

9 months

Says “Dada” or “Mama” nonspecifically

verbal language (expressive and motor)

9 months

-sits well without support
-pulls to stand
-transitions well between sitting and lying
-balances on hands and knees
-crawls

gross motor

9 months

What age do infants sit well without support, pull to stand and crawl?

12 months

-looks for hidden objects
-imitates new gestures

social language and self-help

12 months

-Says “Dad” or “Mom” with meaning
-Uses 1 word other than Mom or Dad or personal names
-follows verbal command that includes a gesture

verbal language (expressive and motor)

12 months

takes first independent steps and stands without support

gross motor

12 months

-drops object in a cup
-picks up small object with 2-finger pincer grasp
-picks up food and eats it

fine motor

15 months

-imitates scribbling
-drinks from cup with little spilling
-points to ask for something or to get help

social language and self-help

15 months

-uses 3 words other than names
-speaks in sounds that seem like unknown language
-follows directions without a gesture
-Looks around when parent says, “Where is…?”

verbal language (expressive and motor)

15 months

squats to pick up objects
crawls up a few steps
begins to run

gross motor

15 months

makes mark with crayon
drops object into and takes object out of container

fine motor

18 months

-engages with others for play
-helps dress/undress self
-points to pictures in books
-points to object of interest to draw attention to it
-turns and looks at adult if something happens
-begins to scoop with spoon

social language and self-help

18 months

-Uses 6-10 words other than names
-Identifies at least 2 body parts

verbal language (expressive and motor)

18 months

-walks up with 2 feet per step with hand held
-sits in small chair
-carries toy while walking

gross motor

18 months

-scribbles spontaneously
-throws small ball a few feet while standing

gross motor

2 years

-plays alongside other children
-takes off some clothing
-scoop well with spoon

social language and self-help

2 years

-uses 50 words
-combines 2 words into phrase or sentence
-follows 2-step command
-uses words that are 50% intelligible to strangers

verbal language (expressive and motor)

2 years

kicks ball
jumps off ground with 2 feet
runs with coordination
climbs up a ladder at a playground

gross motor

2 years

stacks objects
turns book pages
uses hands to turn objects (knobs, toys, lids)

fine motor

2 ½ years

-urinates in potty or toilet
-plays pretend with toys or dolls
-pokes food with fork

social language and self-help

2 ½ years

uses pronouns correctly
explains the reason for things

verbal language (expressive and receptive)

2 ½ years

walks up steps using one foot then the other
runs well without falling

gross motor

2 ½ years

-grasps crayon with thumb and fingers instead of fist
-catches a large ball
-copies a vertical line

fine motor

3 years

-goes to the bathroom and urinates by self
-plays and shares with others
-puts on coat, jacket, or shirt by self
-begins to play make-believe
-eats independently

social language and self-help

3 years

-uses 3-word sentences
-uses words that are 75% intelligible to strangers
-understands simple prepositions
-tells a story from a book or TV
-compares things using words such as bigger or shorter

verbal language (expressive and receptive)

3 years

-pedals tricycle
-climbs on a off couch or chair
-jumps forward

gross motor

3 years

-draws a single circle
-draws a person with head and one other body part
-cuts with child scissors

fine motor

4 years

-enters bathroom and has bowel movement by self
-dresses/undresses without much help
-plays make-believe

social language and self-help

4 years

-uses 4-word sentences
-uses words that are 100% intelligible to strangers
-answers questions
-tells a story from a book

verbal language (expressive and receptive)

4 years

-climbs stairs, alternating feet without support
-skips on one foot

gross motor

4 years

-draws a person with at least 3 body parts
-draws a simple cross
-unbuttons and buttons medium-sized buttons
-grasps a pencil with thumb and fingers instead of fist
-draws recognizable pictures

fine motor

5 years

-spreads with a knife
-dresses/undresses without help
-goes to bathroom independently
-is dry throughout the day
-plays and interacts with peers
-answers “why” questions

social language and self-help

5 years

tells a story of 2 sentence or more
follows directions for 4 individual prepositions
counts 5 objects
names 3 or more numbers
names 4 or more letters out of order

verbal language (expressive and receptive)

5 years

beginning to skip
walks on tiptoes when asked
catches a bounced ball with 2 hands

gross motor

5 years

copies a triangle
draws a 6-part person
copies first name
cuts well with scissors
writes 2 or more letters

fine motor

6 years

cuts most food with a knife
ties shoes
is dry day and night
chooses preferred foods
starts/continues conversations with peers
plays or interacts with at least one “best friend”

social language and self-help

6 years

tells story with beginning, middle, and end
masters all consonant sounds and combinations
counts 10 objects
can do simple addition and subtraction with objects

verbal language (expressive and receptive)

6 years

rides a standard bike
hops on one foot 3-4 times
catches small ball with 2 hands

gross motor

6 years

draws a 12-part person
prints 3 or more simple words without copying
writes first and last names in uppercase or lowercase letters

fine motor

7, 8, 9 and 10 years

-shows the ability to get along with others and control emotions
-chooses to eat healthy foods and participate in physical activity every day
-forms caring, supportive relationships with family members, other adults, and peers

11-14, 15-17, 18-21 years

-Forms caring, supportive relationships with family members, other adults, and peers
-Engages in a positive way with the life of the community
-Engages in behaviors that optimize wellness and contribute to a healthy lifestyle (healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors; chooses safety)
-Demonstrates physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and moral competencies
-Exhibits compassion and empathy
-Exhibits resilience when confronted with life stressors
-Uses independent decision-making skills
-Displays a sense of self-confidence, hopefulness, and well-being