Developmental Milestones

Social and Emotional

Shy or anxious with strangers
Cries when mother or father leaves
Enjoys imitating people in his play
Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys
Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings. (What do you do when he refuses a food?)
Tests parental responses to his behavior. (What do you do if he cries after you leave the room?)
May be fearful in some situations
Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others
Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
Finger-feeds himself
Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed

Movement

Reaches sitting position without assistance
Crawls forward on belly
Assumes hands-and-knees position
Creeps on hands and knees
Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position
Pulls self up to stand
Walks holding on to furniture
Stands momentarily without support
May walk two or three steps without support

Language

Pays increasing attention to speech
Responds to simple verbal requests
Responds to "no"
Uses simple gestures, such as shaking head for "no"
Babbles with inflection
Says "dada" and "mama"
Uses exclamations, such as "Oh-oh!"
Tries to imitate words

Cognitive

Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
Finds hidden objects easily
Looks at correct picture when the image is named
Imitates gestures
Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, dialing phone, listening to receiver)

Developmental Health Watch

Each baby develops in his own manner, so it's impossible to tell exactly when your child will perfect a given skill. Although the developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, don't be alarmed if his development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician if your baby displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay in the 8- to 12-month age range.

Does not crawl
Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month)
Cannot stand when supported
Does not search for objects that are hidden while he watches
Says no single words ("mama" or "dada")
Does not learn to use gestures, such as waving or shaking head
Does not point to objects or pictures

Movement

Walks alone
Pulls toys behind her while walking
Carries large toy or several toys while walking
Begins to run
Stands on tiptoe
Kicks a ball
Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Hand and Finger Skills

Scribbles spontaneously
Turns over container to pour out contents
Builds tower of four blocks or more
Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language

Points to object or picture when it's named for him
Recognizes names of familiar people, objects and body parts
Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
Uses simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
Uses two- to four-word sentences
Follows simple instructions
Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive

Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
Begins to sort by shapes and colors
Begins make-believe play

Social

Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children

Emotional

Demonstrates increasing independence
Begins to show defiant behavior
Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear then fade

Developmental Health Watch

Because each child develops at his own particular pace, it's impossible to tell exactly when yours will perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if he takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician; however, if he displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

Cannot walk by 18 months
Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks exclusively on his toes
Does not speak at least 15 words by 18 months

Movement

Climbs well
Walks up and down stairs, alternating feet
Kicks ball
Runs easily
Pedals tricycle
Bends over easily without falling

Hand and Finger Skills

Makes vertical, horizontal and circular strokes with pencil or crayon
Turns book pages one at a time
Builds a tower of more than six blocks
Holds a pencil in writing position
Screws and unscrews jar lids, nuts and bolts
Turns rotating handles

Language

Follows a two- or three-component command
Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures
Understands most sentences
Understands physical relationships ("on," "in," "under")
Uses four- and five-word sentences
Can say name, age and sex
Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they) and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
Strangers can understand most of her words

Cognitive

Makes mechanical toys work
Matches an object in her hand or room to a picture in a book
Plays make-believe with dolls, animals and people
Sorts objects by shape and color
Completes puzzles with three or four pieces
Understands concept of "two"

Social

Imitates adults and playmates
Spontaneously shows affection for familiar playmates
Can take turns in games
Understands concept of "mine" and "his/hers"

Emotional

Expresses affection openly
Expresses a wide range of emotions
By 3, separates easily from parents
Objects to major changes in routine

Developmental Health Watch

The developmental milestones give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if her development takes a slightly different course. Each child develops at her own pace. Do consult your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs
Persistent drooling or very unclear speech
Inability to build a tower of more than four blocks
Difficulty manipulating small objects
Inability to copy a circle by age 3
Inability to communicate in short phrases
No involvement in "pretend" play
Failure to understand simple instructions
Little interest in other children
Extreme difficulty separating from mother

Movement

Hops and stands on one foot up to five seconds
Goes upstairs and downstairs without support
Kicks ball forward
Throws ball overhand
Catches bounced ball most of the time
Moves forward and backward with agility

Hand and Finger Skills

Copies square shapes
Draws a person with two to four body parts
Uses scissors
Draws circles and squares
Begins to copy some capital letters

Language

Understands the concepts of "same" and "different"
Has mastered some basic rules of grammar
Speaks in sentences of five to six words
Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand
Tells stories

Cognitive

Correctly names some colors
Understands the concept of counting and may know a few numbers
Approaches problems from a single point of view
Begins to have a clearer sense of time
Follows three-part commands
Recalls parts of a story
Understands the concept of same/different
Engages in fantasy play

Social

Interested in new experiences
Cooperates with other children
Plays "Mom" or "Dad"
Increasingly inventive in fantasy play
Dresses and undresses
Negotiates solutions to conflicts
More independent

Emotional

Imagines that many unfamiliar images may be "monsters"
Views self as a whole person involving body, mind and feelings
Often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality

Developmental Health Watch

Because each child develops in his own particular manner, it's impossible to tell exactly when or how he'll perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if his development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

Cannot throw a ball overhand
Cannot jump in place
Cannot ride a tricycle
Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers
Has difficulty scribbling
Cannot stack four blocks
Still clings or cries whenever his parents leave him
Shows no interest in interactive games
Ignores other children
Doesn't respond to people outside the family
Doesn't engage in fantasy play
Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet
Lashes out without any self-control when angry or upset
Cannot copy a circle
Doesn't use sentences of more than three words
Doesn't use "me" and "you" appropriately

Movement

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
Hops, somersaults
Swings, climbs
May be able to skip

Hand and Finger Skills

Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
Draws person with body
Prints some letters
Dresses and undresses without assistance
Uses fork, spoon and (sometimes) a table knife
Usually cares for own toilet needs

Language

Recalls part of a story
Speaks sentences of more than five words
Uses future tense
Tells longer stories
Says name and address

Cognitive Milestones

Can count 10 or more objects
Correctly names at least four colors
Better understands the concept of time
Knows about things used every day in the home (money, food, appliances)

Social

Wants to please friends
Wants to be like her friends
More likely to agree to rules
Likes to sing, dance and act
Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by herself

Emotional Milestones

Aware of sexuality
Able to distinguish fantasy from reality
Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative

Developmental Health Watch

Because each child develops in her own particular manner, it's impossible to predict exactly when or how your own preschooler will perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if her development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

Exhibits extremely fearful or timid behavior
Exhibits extremely aggressive behavior
Is unable to separate from parents without major protest
Is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on any single activity for more than five minutes
Shows little interest in playing with other children
Refuses to respond to people in general, or responds only superficially
Rarely uses fantasy or imitation in play
Seems unhappy or sad much of the time
Doesn't engage in a variety of activities
Avoids or seems aloof with other children and adults
Doesn't express a wide range of emotions
Has trouble eating, sleeping or using the toilet
Can't differentiate between fantasy and reality
Seems unusually passive
Cannot understand two-part commands using prepositions ("Put the cup on the table"; "Get the ball under the couch.")
Can't correctly give her first and last name
Doesn't use plurals or past tense properly when speaking
Doesn't talk about her daily activities and experiences
Cannot build a tower of six to eight blocks
Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon
Has trouble taking off clothing
Cannot brush her teeth efficiently