Development

Here is a list of common developmental milestones that your child should be meeting per age group. If your child is not meeting these milestones, you should talk to your child’s pediatrician to see if further testing or intervention services are needed.

6 to 9 months

• Grasps both feet with hands and holds them,
• Rolls from front to back and back to front,
• Uses arms to pull self forward,
• Sits unsupported,
• Bangs cup on a table,
• Crumples paper with hands,
• Grasps blocks or cubes,
• Babbles and produces 4 or more sounds,
• Starts to combine sounds such as ba, da, ka

9 to 12 months

• Gets up on hands and knees and rocks,
• Scoots while in sitting position,
• Pulls to stand,
• Claps hands,
• Bangs two objects together,
• Gives items to an adult,
• Uses thumb and index finger to pick up food,
• Shouts to get attention,
• Plays peek a boo,
• Says mama or dada along with two other words

12 to 16 months

• Walks 8 feet while holding an adults hand,
• Creeps up 2 stairs,
• Can kneel,
• Throws ball,
• Places objects into open container,
• Opens book,
• Scribbles on paper
• Recognizes their name,
• Waves bye,
• Imitates familiar words

16 to 20 months

• Creeps backwards done the stairs,
• Walks ten feet,
• Walks backwards,
• Stacks 2 cubes,
• Uses “more” and “up”
• Uses 10-20 words,
• Combines 2 words,
• Identifies eyes, nose and toes

20 to 24 months

• Runs 10 feet,
• Walks sideways,
• Jumps clearing floor,
• Kicks ball,
• Completes 3 piece puzzle,
• Imitates vertical lines,
• Turns pages singly in thick paged book,
• Stacks 4-6 cubes,
• Has conversations with dolls or during play,
• Asks “what’s this”
• Uses 200 words,
• Stays with one toy for about 6 minutes,
• Begins to sort toys by colors and shapes.

24 to 30 months

• Walks down steps without assistance,
• Runs 30 feet,
• Stacks 10 cubes,
• Snips paper with scissors,
• Uses an adult grasp on pencil during coloring,
• Imitates horizontal lines during coloring tasks,
• Strings 4 beads,
• Remove twisting lid,
• Uses 450 words,
• Can tell you their first name,
• Answers “where” questions
• Holds fingers to tell age,
• Match 4 colors.

30 to 36 months

• Jumps forward landing greater than 12 inches,
• Stands on 1 foot for 3 seconds,
• Catches an 8 inch ball,
• Draws a circle,
• Unbuttons and buttons shirt,
• Can imitate 3 and 4 block structures,
• Can answer yes and no questions,
• Can state first and last name,
• Learns 50 new words a month,
• Takes turns during games,
• Spontaneously shows affection to playmates,
• Pedals tricycle-unable to steer around objects,
• Beginning to pump a swing by themselves

4 years old

• Independently pedals tricycle; maneuvers around objects and turn around,
• Dresses self and asks for help when needed,
• Bounces a ball 2-3 in a row,
• Cuts food with age/child appropriately,
• Connect a series of dots to create a simple design
• Can list items in categories such as: animals and food,
• Answers why questions,
• Begins to understand the concept of “same” and “different”
• Plays with toy(s) independently and appropriately 5 to 15 minutes per sitting,
• Participates in a conversation,
• Begin to identify/recognize days of week, months and or seasons.

5 years old

• Tie their shoes,
• Catches a tennis ball with hands/chest,
• Draws a person with 6+ parts (head, body, arms, legs, eyes, nose, mouth, shoes, hands, ears, hair, etc)
• Prints first name in uppercase or lowercase letters without a prompts or demonstration,