Developmental Milestones*

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Nineteen to Twenty-Five
Birth to Four to Seven to Ten to Thirteen to Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six
Three Months Six Months Nine Months Twelve Months Eighteen Months Months Months

Copyright © 2002, Delmar

Acts reflexively— Holds cube in hand Sits independently Supports entire body Builds tower of two Walks up stairs Maneuvers around
sucking, stepping, weight on legs cubes independently, obstacles in a pathway
Reaches for objects Stepping reflex returns,
rooting one step at a time
with one hand so that child bounces Walks when hands are Turns the pages of a Runs in a more adult-
Swipes at objects in when held on a surface held cardboard book two Jumps in place like fashion; knees are
Rolls from back to side
front of body, in a standing position or three at a time slighly bent, arms
Cruises along furniture Kicks a ball
uncoordinated Reaches for objects in move in the opposite
Leans over and reaches or steady objects Scribbles vigorously
front of body, Runs in a modified direction
Holds head erect and when in a sitting
coordinated Stands independently Walks proficiently fashion
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steady when lying on position Walks down stairs

stomach Sits with support Walks independently Walks while carrying Shows a decided independently
Gets on hands and
or pulling a toy preference for
Lifts head and Transfers objects from knees but may fall Crawls up stairs or Marches to music
one hand
shoulders hand to hand forward steps Walks up stairs with Uses feet to propel
assistance Completes a three-
Rolls from side Grabs objects with Crawls Voluntarily releases wheeled riding toys
piece puzzle with
to back either hand objects held in hands
Pulls to standing knobs Rides a tricycle
Follow moving Sits in tripod position position Has good balance Builds a tower of six Usually uses whole
objects with eyes using arms for support when sitting; can shift
Claps hands together cubes arm movements to
positions without paint or color
Stands with adult’s falling
assistance Throws ball forward,
Takes off shoes and where intended
Learns pincer grasp, socks
using thumb with Builds tower using
forefinger to pick up eight or more blocks
objects
Imitates drawing circles
Uses finger and thumb and vertical and
to pick up objects horizontal lines
Brings objects together Turns pages in book
with banging noises one by one
Fingers work together
to scoop up small
objects
Strings large beads on a

Introduction
shoelace

3
*The developmental milestones listed are based on universal patterns of when various traits emerge. Because each child is unique certain traits may develop at an earlier or later age.
 Developmental Milestones*(continued)

4
LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
Nineteen to Twenty-Five
Birth to Four to Seven to Ten to Thirteen to Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six
Three Months Six Months Nine Months Twelve Months Eighteen Months Months Months

Introduction
Communicates with Babbles spontaneously Varies babble in Uses preverbal gestures Has expressive vocabu- Continues using Continues using
cries, grunts, loudness, pitch, and to influence the lary of 10 to 20 words telegraphic speech telegraphic speech
Acquires sounds of
and facial expressions rhythm behavior of others combining three or
native language in Engages in “jargon Able to combine three four words
Prefers human voices babble Adds d, t, n, and w Demonstrates word talk” words
to repertoire of comprehension skills Speaks in complete
Coos Canonical, systematic Engages in telegraphic Talks, 25 percent of
babbling sounds sentences following
consonant-vowel Waves good-bye speech by combining words being under- word order of native
Laughs pairings; babbling Produces gestures to two words together standable
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Speaks recognizable language

Smiles and coos to occurs communicate, often by
first word Experiences a burst of Refers to self by name
initiate and sustain pointing Displays effective
Participates in language development conversational skills
interactions with Initiates familiar games Joins three or four
interactive games May say mama or dada
caregiver with adults Comprehends words into a sentence
initiated by adults but does not connect Refers to self as me or I
approximately
words with parents Comprehends rather than by name
Takes turns while 50 words
approximately
interacting Talks about objects and
300 words
events not immediately
Expressive language present
includes a vocabulary
Uses grammatical
of approximately 250
markers and some
words
plurals
Vocabulary increases
rapidly, up to 300
words
Enjoys being read to if
allowed to participate
by pointing, talking,
and turning pages

Copyright © 2002, Delmar

*The developmental milestones listed are based on universal patterns of when various traits emerge. Because each child is unique certain traits may develop at an earlier or later age.
 Developmental Milestones*(continued)
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Nineteen to Twenty-Five
Birth to Four to Seven to Ten to Twelve Thirteen to Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six
Three Months Six Months Nine Months Months Eighteen Months Months Months

Copyright © 2002, Delmar

Cries for assistance Recognizes people by Enjoys looking at Solves sensorimotor Explores properties of Points to and identifies Uses objects for purposes
their voice books with familiar problems by deliber- objects by acting on objects on request, other than intended
Acts reflexively objects ately using schemas, them in novel ways such as when reading a Uses private speech
Enjoys repeating acts,
Prefers to look at such as shaking a con- book, touring, etc. while working
such as shaking a rattle, Distinguishes familiar Solves problems
patterned objects, tainer to empty its
that produce results in from unfamiliar faces through trial and error Sorts by shapes and Classifies objects based
bull’s-eye, horizontal contents on one dimension, such
the external world colors
stripes, and the human Engages in goal- Experiments with as toy cars versus blocks
Points to body parts
face Searches with eyes for directed behavior cause-and-effect Recognizes self in
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upon request Follows two-step

source of sounds relationships such photographs and
Imitates adults’ facial Anticipates events directions
Drops toys intention- as turning on mirror
expressions Enjoys watching hands
Finds objects that are ally and repeatedly televisions, banging on Concentrates or attends
and feet Demonstrates deferred
Searches with eyes for totally hidden looks in the direction drums, etc. to self-selected activities
imitation for longer periods of
sources of sounds Searches for a partially of the fallen object
Imitates behaviors that Plays body time
hidden object Engages in functional
Begins to recognize are slightly different Waves good-bye identification games
play Points to and labels
familiar people at a Uses toys in a than those usually Shows evidence of Imitates novel objects spontaneously,
distance purposeful manner performed Finds objects that have
stronger memory behaviors of others such as when reading a
been moved while out
Discovers and repeats Imitates simple actions Begins to show interest capabilities book
Identifies family of sight
bodily actions such as in filling and dumping Coordinates pretend
Explores toys using Follows simple, one- members in photo-
sucking, swiping, and containers Solves problems play with other children
existing schemas such step directions graphs
grasping with internal
as sucking, banging, Gains a nominal sense
Categorizes objects by representation
Discovers hands and grasping, shaking, etc. of numbers through
appearance
feet as extension of Categorizes self and counting and labeling
self Looks for objects others by gender, race, objects in a set
hidden in a second hair color, etc.
Begins developing
location
concepts about
opposites such as big
and small, tall and short,
in and out
Begins developing con-
cepts about time such as
today, tomorrow, and
yesterday

Introduction
5
*The developmental milestones listed are based on universal patterns of when various traits emerge. Because each child is unique certain traits may develop at an earlier or later age.
 Developmental Milestones*(continued)

6
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Nineteen to Twenty-Five
Birth to Four to Seven to Ten to Thirteen to Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six
Three Months Six Months Nine Months Twelve Months Eighteen Months Months Months

Introduction
Turns head toward a Seeks out adults for Becomes upset when Shows a decided Demands personal Shows enthusiasm for Observes others to see
speaking voice play by crying, cooing, separated from a preference for one or attention company of others how they do things
or smiling favorite adult two caregivers Engages primarily in
Recognizes primary Imitates behaviors of Views the world only
caregiver Responds with entire Acts deliberately to Plays parallel to other others from own, egocentric solitary or parallel play
body to familiar face maintain the presence children perspective Sometimes offers toys
Bonds to primary Becomes increasingly
by looking at the of a favorite adult by to other children
caregiver person, smiling, clinging or crying Enjoys playing with aware of the self as a Plays contently alone
siblings separate being or near adults Begins to play
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Finds comfort in the kicking legs, and

Uses adults as a base for cooperatively with
human face waving arms Begins asserting self Shares affection with Engages in functional
exploration, typically other children
people other than play
Displays a social smile Participates actively in Begins developing a
Looks to others who primary caregiver Engages in sociodra-
interactions with sense of humor Defends possessions
Is quieted by a voice are exhibiting signs of matic play
others by vocalizing in Shows ownership of
distress Develops a sense of Recognizes self in Wants to do things
Begins to differentiate response to adult possessions
speech self-identity through photographs or mirrors independently
self from caregiver Enjoys observing and
the identification of Begins developing a
interacting briefly with Refers to self with Asserts independence
Smiles at familiar faces body parts view of self as
other children pronouns such by using “no” a lot
and stares solemnly at autonomous when
strangers Begins distinguishing as I or me
Likes to play and completing tasks Develops a rudimen-
boys from girls
responds to games such independently Categorizes people by tary awareness that
Distinguishes between
familar and unfamiliar as patty-cake and using salient others have wants or
adults and peekaboo characteristics such as feelings that may be
race or hair color different than their
surroundings Engages in solitary play own
Develops preferences Shows less fear of
strangers Makes demands of or
for particular people “bosses” parents,
and objects guardians, and
Shows distress when in caregivers
the presence of a Uses physical aggres-
stranger sion less and uses words
to solve problems
Engages in gender
sterotypical behavior

Copyright © 2002, Delmar

*The developmental milestones listed are based on universal patterns of when various traits emerge. Because each child is unique certain traits may develop at an earlier or later age.
 Developmental Milestones*(continued)
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Nineteen to Twenty-Five
Birth to Four to Seven to Ten to Thirteen to Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six
Three Months Six Months Nine Months Twelve Months Eighteen Months Months Months

Copyright © 2002, Delmar

Feels and expresses Expresses delight Responds to social Continues to exhibit Exhibits autonomy by Expresses affection to Experiences increase in
three basic emotions: events by using the delight, happiness, frequently saying “no” others spontaneously number of fears
Responds to the
interest, distress, and face, gaze, voice, and discomfort, anger, and
emotions of caregivers Labels several emotions Acts to comfort others Begins to understand
disgust posture to form sadness
in distress the consequences of
Begins to distinguish coherent emotional Connects feelings with
Cries to signal a need Expresses anger when basic emotions
familiar from patterns social behaviors Shows the emotions of
goals are blocked
Quiets in response to unfamiliar people pride and Learns skills for coping
Expresses fear and Begins to understand
being held, typically Expresses anger at the embarrassment with strong emotions
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Shows a preference for anger more often complicated patterns of

source of frustration
Feels and expresses being held by a familiar behavior Uses emotion words Seeks to communicate
Begins to regulate
enjoyment person Begins to show spontaneously in more feelings with
emotions through Demonstrates the
compliance to conversations or play specific words
Shares a social smile Begins to assist with moving into or out of ability to communicate
caregivers’ requests
holding a bottle experiences needs Begins to show Shows signs of
Reads and Often objects to sympathy to another empathy and caring
distinguishes adults’ Expresses happiness Begins to detect May say “no” to
having playtime child or adult
facial expressions selectively by laughing the meaning of others’ something they want Loses control of
stopped
and smiling more with emotional expressions Becomes easily hurt by emotions and throws
Begins to self-regulate May lose emotional
familiar people Begins eating with a criticism temper tantrums
emotional expressions Looks to others for control and have
spoon
cues on how to react temper tantrums Experiences a temper Able to recover from
Laughs aloud Assists in dressing and tantrum when goals are temper tantrums
Shows fear of strangers Shows self-conscious
Quiets self by using undressing blocked, on occasion
emotions such as Enjoys helping with
techniques such as Acts in loving, caring shame, guilt, and Associates facial chores such as cleaning
sucking a thumb or ways toward dolls or shyness expressions with simple up toys or carrying
pacifier stuffed animals, emotional labels grocery bags
Becomes frustrated
typically
easily Begins to show signs of
Feeds self a complete being ready for
meal when served toileting
finger foods
Desires that routines be
Claps when carried out exactly as
successfully completes has been done in the
a task past

Introduction
7
*The developmental milestones listed are based on universal patterns of when various traits emerge. Because each child is unique certain traits may develop at an earlier or later age.