Developmental Milestones for Children

	Physical Development	Fine Motor Development	Language Development	Mental Development	Social Development
One Month	Average weekly weight gain is 5 to 6 ounces until 6 Months Average monthly height growth is 1 inch until 6 Months Head sags when not supported Raises head slightly when lying on stomach	Briefly regards objects Hands form a fist/are tightly closed Occasionally brings hands to mounth Wraps fingers around object when placed in palm of hand	Cries when uncomfortable Makes low throaty noises Responds to voice	Is egocentric Can distinguish tastes Expects feedings at certain intervals Briefly watches objects	Makes eye contact when alert Quiets when picked up Regards faces and reacts to stimulation
Three Months	Switches from reflex to voluntary body control Sits when supported with minimum head bobbing Turns head toward bright colors Makes fists with both hands	Briefly grasps objects Visually follows moving objects Hands open most of the time Actively holds a toy Hands come together at eye level-center of vision Pulls at blankets or clothing Visually follows objects 180 degrees Bears weight on forearms while on tummy	Makes vowel-like sounds Responds with vocalization to mother's smile and voice Listens to voices Cries less Makes cooing sounds	Is attentive for up to 15 minutes at one time Follows object from side to side of body Repeats actions for their own sake Recognizes bottle or breast	Begins to understand that hands and feet are extensions of self Stop crying when parents approach Responds with total body to face he recognizes
six months	Average weekly weight gain is 3 to 5 ounces for next 6 Months Chews and bites Reaches for objects and picks up Roll from stomach to back	Brings object to mouth Pulls blanket off face Plays with hands at center of their vision or in front of their face Holds onto objects for up to 30 seconds Both hands on bottle or breast Knows what it is reaching for Looks or goes after dropped objects Transfers objects from hand to hand Reaches for an object with one arm	Vowels begin to be interspersed with more consonants Babbles and becomes more active during exciting sounds Vocalizes pleasures and displeasures	Picks up blocks briefly and directly Inspects objects at length Senses the relationship between hands and objects they manipulate	Shows fear of strangers and excitement to familiar people Laughs when head covered with towel Laughs out loud Holds out arms when wants to be picked up
nine months	Crawls with one hand full Crawls up stairs Builds a tower of two blocks Gets down from standing Clasps hands or bangs objects together	Bangs toys on surface Hands to feet/feet to mouth Holds two objects, one in each hand Bangs, drops, shakes toys Uses both hands to play with toys Bangs two objects together Grasps small objects using thumb against side of index finger Plays pat-a-cake/claps hands	Uses words meaningfully Responds to 1 or 2 words other than name Imitates coughs, tongue clicking, and hissing	Fears heights, aware of vertical space Beginning of intelligence, assigns symbols to events Begins to show a quality of persistence	Recognizes mother and self in mirror Percieves mother as a serperate person; father as a seperate person probably
12 months	Crawls on hands and knees Birth weight is tripled Walks with help Drinks from a cup and eats from spoon with help Sits without support	Pokes with index finger Lets go of objects in an awkward way Reaches for objects that are close With demonstration will release cube into cup Places cube on cube, tries to stack objects Uses finger and thumb to pick up objects that are small Holds crayon in a way that allows them to color	Says 2 to 8 words Imitates sounds of animals Controls intonations, patterns of those similar to parents	Stacks two blocks Searches for a hidden object, even if he hasn't seen it hidden, but only remembers where it was last seen Understands no and bye-bye	Distinguishes from self and others Fears strange people and places Waves bye-bye, plays patty cake and peek-a-boo
13 to 18 months	Soft spot on top of head closes Abdomen protrudes Imitates housework Needs 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night Walks without help	Turns more than one page at a time Builds tower of two cubes Removes lid from shoe box to retrieve toy Holds foot out to put shoe on Holds two cubes in one hand Scribbles on paper Removes both socks and shoes Builds tower of three or four cubes Places two shapes in a puzzle Puts several blocks into a cup/container	Says 4 to 6 six words at 15 months, 10 or more at 18 months Points to desired objects Vocalizes voice up and down	Understands relationship between object and use Beginning concept of "up" and "down" Recognizes familiar pictures	Feeds self with hands Enjoys being the center of attention Prefers certain people to others Begins to adjust to babysitter Likes to look at pictures
24 months	Average yearly weight gain is 4 to 6 pounds Gait is steadier and more like an adult	Strings three beads Snips paper in one place with scissors Unzips zipper Draws in a straight line Separates pop beads in one place Turns pages one at a time Places three shapes in a puzzle	Forms short sentences with vocabulary of about 300 words Uses pronouns Verbalizes need for food, drink, and toilet	Refers to self by name Invents new ways to play with a toy Begins mental problem-solving and play Has insight and forethought Builds tower of 4-8 blocks	Dawdles Is negative Wants to make friends, but unsure how Likes to imitate parents
2 1/2 years	Birth weight is quadrupled Primary teeth complete Can build tower of 8 blocks Copies circle from model Throws ball about 4-5 feet	Removes screw on cap from bottle Places rings on stand in any order Imitates making a train with cubes Draws a straight horizontal line Removes shirt, pants and shorts with help for fastners Able to turn a door knob	Gives first and last names Enjoys rhymes and singing	Is egocentric Symbolic and fantasy play Begins to understand the concept of time Uses symbols increasingly	Separates easily from parents Notices sex difference Independant in toileting except for wiping
3 years	Average yearly weight gain is 4 to 6 pounds Begins to use scissors Balances on one foot for 5 seconds Runs easily Rides a tricycle Uses a toilet	Draws circles, end point within one-half inch of beginning Imitates making a bridge with cubes Demonstrates hand washing Cut paper from one side to the opposite side with scissors	Vocabulary of about 900 words Talks in sentances of about nine words Asks many questions Repeats common rhymes Says sounds a, m, b, p, n, l, w	Repeats three numbers Still engages in fantasy play Builds tower of 9-10 cubes	Less negative More friendly Begins to understand taking turns and sharing Begins to learn meaning of simple rules
4 years	Balances on one foot for 4 - 8 seconds Jumps from step Cuts straight with scissors Copies a circle	Unbuttons large buttons Winds up toy by turning knob Cuts entire length of traced line within one-half inch of the line Pulls on shorts Draws a cross with intersecting lines Begins to show a hand preference Strings 4 to 5 beads Copies the word "Stop" Draws a person with at least 8 body parts Copies a diamond Imitates building steps with blocks	Asks question- "What, Where, Who?" Speaks clearly ad is understood by non-family members Gives reasonable answers to basic questions Says sounds of d, g, f, k, y	Dresses and undresses with little help Gives first and last name Counts to 5 Builds a tower of 10 blocks	Shows many emotions Parallel play with other children
5 years	Skips using alternate feet Catches large balls Bathes self Walks backwards toe to heel	Fold paper in half with edges within 1/8" of each other Cuts square within 1/8" of lines	Speaks clearly in sentances up to 5 - 6 words	Dresses alone Counts up to 10 objects Copies familiar shapes (square, circle, triangle) Put objects behind, in front of, under, back, ect.	Plays with boys and girls Likes palying with adults or older children
6 years	Climbs, skips, hops, and gallops Learning to ride bikes	Connects dots ith straight line Touches each finger to thumb rapidly Colors within lines without crossing lines Imitates building a pyramid of cubes Copies the word "Stop" Copies a diamond	Uses all types of sentance structure Prints letters Draws a person with at least 8 body parts Imitates building steps with blocks	Able to define objects use (a spoon being something you eat with) Describes objects seen in pictures Recognizes shapes, numbers Makes decisions easily	Likes to have a best friend Developing a sense of right and wrong Likes small group play Knows right from left
7 to 12 years	Dexterity increases Skates, rides bikes Agility and coordination improves Motor skills improve Girls have sudden growth spurts	Increasingly skillful with hands Likes to build things Fond of puzzles, board games, and cards Is learning to write in cursive	Thinks in concrete terms Able to read and write	Curious about the function and use of objects Concrete operational stage (age of relational thinking and concrete concepts)	Privacy is important Hero worship begins Wants to be involved in clubs May reject Santa Claus and Easter Bunny
13 to 16 years	Body changes associated with puberty Increases in height/weight May become more clumsy	Learning to type Able to write stories Able to draw a person with appropriate body parts	Able to understand advanced levels of communication May respond with monosyllable answers High level of comprehension and vocabulary	Concerned aboud body image and function Begins to develop abstract thinking and logic Enjoys developing intellectual powers	Concern for privacy Tends to be self-conscious Beginning interest in opposite sex Peer groups more important than family Mood swings Period of conflict with parents Adopt extremein mannerisms, clothing, and music, ect.