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These are some general developmental milestones. Please keep
in mind if your child was born early, correct for his or her
age (e.g. born at 32 weeks gestation, add 2 months to the
milestone). All children grow and develop at their
own pace. If you have concerns, contact your pediatrician
or COTC and see if a referral is appropriate.
| 0-3 Months |
- Moves head from side to side while lying on stomach
- Prefers human faces over other shapes
- Startles at loud noises
- Brings hands to mouth
- Smiles at familiar faces
- Clasps hands together
- Lying on stomach, brings head up, placing weight
on forearms
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- Recognizes some sounds, including parents’
voice
- Focuses and follows objects 8 to 12 inches
away
- Raises head and chest when lying on stomach
- Bats at objects
- Begins to babble
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| 3-6 Months |
- Holds head steady
- Brings objects to midline
- Turns to voice
- Rolling front to back
- Pulls up to a sitting position on her own if you
grasp her hands
- Transfers objects hand to hand
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- Lying on stomach, brings head up with extended arms
- Laughs
- Reaches for and grasps objects
- Rolls back to front
- Sits with support
- Plays with feet when on back
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| 6-9 Months |
- Babbles
- Sits independently
- Creeps on tummy (“commando crawl”)
- Waves “bye-bye”
- Supports weight on feet when held in an upright
position
- Pulls self up to stand
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- Brings feet to mouth when on back
- Raking grasps
- Rocks on all fours
- Transfers objects from hand to hand
- Grasp small objects by using thumb and index or
forefinger (primitive)
- Feeds self, finger food like raisins or bread crumbs
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| 9-12 Months |
- Stranger anxiety
- Neat pincer grasp (thumb opposing index finger)
- Purposefully says "mama" and/or "dada"
as a greeting or to call a parent.
- Independently moves across the floor to get a desired
object
- Stands alone
- Stoops and recovers
- Tries to communicate by pointing or reaching for
what he/she wants.
- Visually and manually explore toys, revealing a
growing curiosity.
- Tries to imitate words
- Says 3-5 words
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- Understands “no”
- Begins isolated finger movements (e.g. poking with
index finger)
- Plays with an object with both hands while sitting
independently
- Pulls to stand and cruises holding onto furniture
or an adult’s hand
- Walks with one hand held
- Picks up small objects with thumb and fingers
- Turns the pages of a book (thick or plastic board
pages)
- Indicates recognition of familiar people by facial
expression or by physically approaching the familiar
person.
- Responds to “no” and simple verbal requests
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| 12-18 Months |
- Able to scribble with a large crayon (if able to
keep from putting it in his/her mouth).
- Takes off shoes and socks
- Walks alone with heels flat on the floor (few falls)
- Builds tower of 4 cubes
- Uses sippy cup
- Use a vocabulary of four to ten words
- Coordinate the use of both hands well. For example,
holds a container in one hand while putting something
into it with the other.
- Responds to her/his name
- Points to at least two pictures on request.
- Ten to twenty word vocabulary
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- Separation distress
- Squat and play
- Helps with dressing
- Spoon feeds
- Walks up stairs with one hand held
- Follows simple verbal directions to perform a single
task. For example, "Give me the ball."
- Running
- "Talks" in long, jabbering sentences as
if holding an understandable conversation with you.
- Uses thumb and first finger easily to pick up a
very small object.
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| 18-24 Months |
- Pulls toys behind them while walking
- Begins to run
- Climb on and off furniture without help
- Recognize names of familiar people, objects and
body parts
- Use two- to four-word sentences (“want snack”)
- Snips with scissors
- Imitates behavior of others
- Identifies at least 4 body parts
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- Carries a large toy or several toys while walking
- Kicks a ball
- Walks up and down stairs while holding on
- Points to body parts
- Follows simple instructions
- Begins to sort objects by shapes and colors
- Turns pages in a book
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| 24-36 Months |
- Feeds self (with some spilling)
- Helps with undressing
- Copies vertical, horizontal, and circular strokes
- Removes twist caps from bottles
- Names four body parts
- Hand dominance developed (not defined until much
later)
- Kicks ball
- Opens doors
- Strings beads
- Washes and dry hands
- Turns pages one at a time
- Dresses self with help
- Walks up steps, alternating feet
- Walks in a straight line
- Avoids some dangers, like a hot stove or a moving
car
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- Able to follow two step commands
- Runs well
- Turns door handle
- Puts shoes and socks on
- Starting to Toilet train
- Jumps on two feet
- Climbs stairs with alternating feet
- Cuts paper in half with demonstration
- Hold a glass in one hand
- Throws a ball overhand
- Puts on shoes (but not tie laces)
- Uses the toilet with some help
- Walks on tiptoes if shown how
- Counts 2 to 3 objects
- Follows simple one-step command
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| 3 – 4 Years |
- Climbs well
- Pedals tricycle
- Holds pencil in writing position- emerging
adult grasp
- Stands on one leg for 2-3 seconds
- Runs easily
- Follows a two- or three step command
- Understands most sentences
- Uses four and five word sentences
- Completes puzzles with three or four pieces
- Goes upstairs and downstairs without support
- Catches bounced ball most of the time
- Draws circles and squares independently
- Understands the concepts of "same"
and "different"
- Tells stories
- Understands the concept of counting and may
know a few numbers
- Recalls parts of a story
- Increasingly inventive in fantasy play
- Demonstrates more independence
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- Walks on tip toes
- Matches primary colors
- Walks down stairs, alternating feet
- Cuts out a circle
- Bends over easily without falling
- Recognizes and identifies almost all common
objects and pictures
- Understands physical relationships ("on,"
"in," "under")
- Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they) and some
plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
- Hops and stands on one foot up to five seconds
- Kicks ball forward
- Draws a person with two to four body parts
- Begins to copy some capital letters
- Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand
- Correctly names some colors
- Follows three-part commands
- Cooperates with other children
- Dresses and undresses
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| 4 - 5 Years |
- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Hops, somersaults
- May be able to skip
- Draws person with body
- Dresses and undresses without assistance
- Usually cares for own toilet needs
- Speaks sentences of more than five words
- Correctly names at least four colors
- Knows about things used every day in the home
(money, food, appliances)
- Wants to be like their friends
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- Tripod -3 finger hold on writing tool
- Swings, climbs
- Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
- Prints some letters
- Uses fork, spoon and (sometimes) a table knife
- Recalls part of a story
- Counts 10 or more objects
- Understands the concept of time
- Wants to please friends
- More likely to agree to rules
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