Developmental Milestones

First Year

0-3 months

• Turns head to both sides while on back
• Bears weight on forearms / hands while on belly
• Watches a speaker's mouth
• Quiets to familiar voices
• Vocalizes to show pleasure

3-6 months

• Sits with support
• Rolls from back to belly/ belly to back
• Turns head toward sound
• Smiles in response to speech
• Makes raspberries
• Reaches / grasps for objects
• Makes eye contact

6-9 months

• Sits independently
• Scoots backwards
• Imitates gestures
• Begins to babble
• Shouts or vocalizes to gain attention
• Transfers objects between hands
• Rakes small objects to pick up (like Cheerios™)

9-12 months

• Pulls up to stand; stands briefly with no support
• Crawls / creeps forward
• Says "mama" and "dada;" babbles
• Waves hi / bye
• Picks up small objects with fingertips
• Holds own bottle / sippy cup
• Pokes / points with index finger

Second Year

12-15 months

• Stands alone well
• Walks with 1 hand held / no support
• Follows 1-step commands
• Says 8-10 words

15-18 months

• Pulls toy behind while walking
• Walks independently; walks up stairs with 1 hand held
• Requests assistance
• Can identify 6 body parts
• Understands words like "no" and "bye"
• Says 15 words
• Holds crayon with whole hand, thumb up
• Drinks from a cup

18-21 months

• Moves on riding toys without pedals
• Walks down stairs with 1 hand held
• Runs fairly well; dances
• Pretends to play musical instruments
• Identifies named pictures
• Imitates short phrases

21-24 months

• Jumps in place
• Throws ball overhand
• Follows 2-step commands
• Says 50 words
• Takes off socks and shoes
• Uses a spoon; drinks from a straw
• Points to named body parts / clothing
• Imitates a vertical line on paper

Age 2 - 2 1/2

• Runs well; jumps forward
• Rides a tricycle
• Throws and kicks a ball
• Understands "big" and "little"
• Uses 3-word phrases
• Matches shapes and colors
• Responds to simple questions
• Uses pronouns (I, me, my)
• Completes tasks like stacking or simple puzzles

Age 2 1/2 - 3 

• Stands from lying on back using a sit-up
• Walks up stairs, alternating feet
• Understands the concept "all"
• Says first and last name
• Follows 3-step commands
• Answers / asks "wh-" questions
• Speaks in 3-5-word sentences
• Strings large beads
• Imitates a horizontal line on paper
• Helps with dressing / undressing
• Understands concepts like colors, shapes, and gender differences

Age 3 - 4

• Kicks a stationary ball
• Jumps from bottom step with both feet
• Dresses / undresses self (no fasteners)
• Feeds self with little to no spilling
• Places small pegs into small holes
• Strings small beads
• Holds pencil with tripod grasp (3 fingers)

Age 4 - 5

• Gallops forward
• Walks forward while holding a large toy
• Cuts along a straight /curvy line
• Manages buttons, snaps, and zippers
• Copies a cross on paper
• Feeds self soup with little to no spilling
• Folds paper neatly in half
• Puts a key in lock to open