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Developmental Milestones

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.).

Check out these milestones that represent typical development. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, please contact us by calling 2-1-1 and asking for Help Me Grow or clicking here.

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Click on the age you want to learn more about:

Social and Emotional

  • Calms down when spoken to or picked up
  • Looks at your face
  • Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
  • Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/Communication

  • Makes sounds other than crying
  • Reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Watches you as you move
  • Looks at a toy for several seconds

Movement/Physical Development

  • Holds head up when on tummy
  • Moves both arms and both legs
  • Opens hands briefly

Social and Emotional

  • Smiles on his own to get your attention
  • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make her laugh
  • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Language/Communication

  • Makes sounds like "ooo", "aahh" (cooing)
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him
  • Turns head towards the sound of your voice.

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • If hungry, opens mouth when she sees breast or bottle
  • Looks at his hands with interest

Movement/Physical Development

  • Holds head steady without support when you are holding her
  • Uses her arm to swing at toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

Social and Emotional

  • Knows familiar people
  • Likes to look at self in a mirror
  • Laughs

Language/Communication

  • Takes turns making sounds with you
  • Blows "raspberries" (sticks tongue out and blows)
  • Makes squealing noises

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts things in her mouth to explore them
  • Reaches to grab a toy he wants
  • Closes lips to show she doesn't want more food

Movement/Physical Development

  • Rolls from tummy to back
  • Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
  • Leans on hands to support himself when sitting

Social and Emotional

  • Knows familiar people
  • Likes to look at self in a mirror
  • Laughs

Language/Communication

  • Makes a lot of different sounds like "mamamama" and "bababababa"
  • Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
  • Bangs two things together

Movement/Physical Development

  • Gets to a sitting position by herself
  • Moves things from one hand to her other hand
  • Uses fingers to "rake" food towards himself
  • Sits without support

Social and Emotional

  • Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language/Communication

  • Waves "bye-bye"
  • Calls a parent "mama" or "dada" or another special name
  • Understands "no" (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
  • Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Movement/Physical Development

  • Pulls up to stand
  • Walks, holding on to furniture
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
  • Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

Social and Emotional

  • Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
  • Shows you an object she likes
  • Claps when excited
  • Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
  • Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

Language/Communication

  • Tries to say one or two words besides "mama" or "dada," like "ba" for ball or "da" for dog
  • Looks at a familiar object when you name it
  • Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, "Give me the toy."
  • Points to ask for something or to get help

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
  • Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks

Movement/Physical Development

  • Takes a few steps on his own
  • Uses fingers to feed herself some food

Social and Emotional

  • Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
  • Points to show you something interesting
  • Puts hands out for you to wash them
  • Looks at a few pages in a book with you
  • Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

Language/Communication

  • Tries to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada"
  • Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, "Give it to me."

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
  • Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Movement/Physical Development

  • Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
  • Scribbles
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
  • Feeds herself with her fingers
  • Tries to use a spoon
  • Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Social and Emotional

  • Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
  • Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation

Language/Communication

  • Points to things in a book when you ask, like "Where is the bear?"
  • Says at least two words together, like "More milk."
  • Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
  • Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
  • Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
  • Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

Movement/Physical Development

  • Kicks a ball
  • Runs
  • Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
  • Eats with a spoon

Social and Emotional

  • Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
  • Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, "It's clean-up time."
  • Shows you what she can do by saying, "Look at me!"

Language/Communication

  • Says about 50 words
  • Says two or more words together, with one action word, like "Doggie run"
  • Names things in a book when you point and ask, "What is this?"
  • Says words like "I," "me," or "we"

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
  • Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
  • Follows two-step instructions like "Put the toy down and close the door."
  • Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, "Which one is red?"

Movement/Physical Development

  • Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
  • Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
  • Jumps off the ground with both feet
  • Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her

Social and Emotional

  • Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
  • Notices other children and joins them to play

Language/Communication

  • Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
  • Asks "who," "what," "where," or "why" questions, like "Where is mommy/daddy?"
  • Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like "running," "eating," or "playing"
  • Says first name, when asked
  • Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Draws a circle, when you show him how
  • Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her

Movement/Physical Development

  • Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
  • Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
  • Uses a fork

Social and Emotional

  • Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
  • Asks to go play with children if none are around, like "Can I play with Alex?"
  • Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
  • Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
  • Likes to be a "helper"
  • Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)

Language/Communication

  • Says sentences with four or more words
  • Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
  • Talks about at least one thing that happened during his day, like "I played soccer."
  • Answers simple questions like "What is a coat for?" or "What is a crayon for?"

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Names a few colors of items
  • Tells what comes next in a well-known story
  • Draws a person with three or more body parts

Movement/Physical Development

  • Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
  • Catches a bounced ball most of the time
  • Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food

Social and Emotional

  • Wants to please friends
  • Wants to be like friends
  • More likely to agree with rules
  • Likes to sing, dance, and act
  • Is aware of gender
  • Can tell what’s real and what’s make-believe
  • Shows more independence (for example, may visit a next-door neighbor by himself [adult supervision is still needed])
  • Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very cooperative

Language/Communication

  • Speaks very clearly
  • Tells a simple story using full sentences
  • Uses future tense; for example, “Grandma will be here.”
  • Says name and address

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Counts 10 or more things
  • Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
  • Can print some letters or numbers
  • Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes
  • Knows about things used every day, like money and food

Movement/Physical Development

  • Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
  • Hops; may be able to skip
  • Can do a somersault
  • Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife
  • Can use the toilet on her own
  • Swings and climbs

Social and Emotional

  • Shows more independence from parents and family
  • Starts to think about the future
  • Understands more about his or her place in the world
  • Pays more attention to friendships and teamwork
  • Wants to be liked and accepted by friends

Language/Communication

  • Understands more complex grammar and vocabulary

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Shows rapid development of mental skills
  • Learns better ways to describe experiences and talks about thoughts and feelings
  • Has less focus on one’s self and more concern for others

Movement/Physical Development

  • Rides a 2-wheel bicycle
  • Skips
  • Plays jump rope
  • Walks on a straight line