DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES OF
A CHILD
From Birth to 7 months | From 8 to 12 months | From 12 to 24 months |
From 24 to 36 months | From 3 to 4 years | From 4 to 5 years | From 5 to 6 years
Birth to three years old is a critical time for child and parent. At this age, children are showing signs of development daily, while parents anxiously await each early milestone.
PARC’s Discovery Learning Center is offering Developmental Stages of a Child, a free guide to help parents through those early years.
The DLC preschool offers a wide range of evaluation and intervention services for children who are at risk for developmental delays or physical challenges. Free screening evaluations are also available.
From 8 to 12 months
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- Gets to sitting position without help
- Gets on hands and knees to creep
- Pulls up to stand, walks holding furniture
- Stands briefly without help
- May walk 2 or 3 steps without help
- Bangs blocks together
- Puts objects in and takes objects out of container
- Tries to imitate scribbling
- Says “mama,” “dada,” “uh-oh”
- Tries to say words; repeat sounds
- Cries when mother or father leaves; is anxious with strangers
- Shows preference for certain toys and people
- Finger feeds self
- Extends arm/leg to help in dressing
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From 12 to 24 months
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- Walks alone and pulls a toys
- Carries toys while walking
- Begins to run
- Stands on tip-toe
- Kicks a ball
- Climbs up and down on furniture
- Walks up and down stair with support
- Uses spoon and drinks from cup
- Turns container upside down to pour out contents
- Builds tower of 4 blocks
- Can say several single words (by 18 months)
- Uses phrases and 2 to 4 word sentences by 24 months
- Repeats words overheard in conversation
- Finds objects hidden under 2 or 3 covers
- Sorts objects by shape and color
- Plays make-believe; imitates others
- Shows independence
- Enthusiastic about company of other children
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From 24 to 36 months
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- Climbs and runs easily
- Walks up and down stairs with alternating feet
- Bends over without falling
- Pedals a tricycle
- Holds a pencil to make circles and straight lines
- Turns pages of book one at a time
- Builds tower of more than 6 blocks
- Turns handles, opens doors
- Turns small objects like screws, nuts, bolts, jar lids
- Understands directions (on, in, under)
- Understands most sentences, uses pronouns (I, you) and plurals (cars, dogs)
- Recognizes/identifies common objects/pictures
- Uses 4- and 5-word sentences
- Knows name, age, gender
- Completes 3 and 4 piece puzzles
- Understands the concept of “two”
- Takes turns in games
- Understands “mine” and “his/hers”
- Expresses affection and wide range of emotions
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From 3 to 4 years
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- Hops and stands on one foot up to 5 seconds
- Goes up and down stairs without support
- Kicks ball forward; throws ball overhand
- Catches ball most of the time
- Draws people with 2 to 4 body part
- Uses scissor
- Draws circles, squares, copies square shapes, and begins to copy some capital letters
- Knows some colors and a few numbers
- Follows 3-part instruction
- Recalls parts of a story
- Understands concepts of same and different
- Engages in fantasy play; often cannot distinguish between what is real and fantasy
- Dresses and undresses self
- Cooperates with other childre
- Negotiates solutions to conflicts
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From 4 to 5 years
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- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Hops, somersaults, swings, climbs
- May be able to skip
- Copies geometric patterns and shapes
- Draws a person with a body; prints some letters
- Uses eating utensils
- Cares for own toileting need
- Recalls part of a story; can tell longer stories
- Speaks sentences of more than 5 words
- Counts 10 or more objects; names at least 4 colors correctly
- Wants to please and be like his friends
- Likes to sing, dance, act
- Becoming aware of sexuality
- Able to distinguish fantasy from reality
- Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative
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From 5 to 6 years
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- Can identify “What’s wrong with this picture?”
- Can sort objects by appearance or function
- Makes judgments about time and speed (fastest/slowest); size, length, weight (bigger/smaller); distance (closest/farthest)
- Concentrates on a task for 15 minutes and understands when it is complete
- Knows letters of the alphabet and their sounds
- Listens, remembers and follows 3 verbal directions in sequence
- Counts to 20; tells time on the hour and half-hour (with a conventional clock)
- Names days of week in order
- Can print first name independently; prints letters of alphabet and numbers
- with an example to follow
- Describes/retells events/stories in logical sequential order
- Can sing and/or dance to two different, familiar songs
- Can skip with alternating feet; throw a ball overhand; run through an
- obstacle course; go up and down stairs carrying a safe object
- Can assemble a 10-piece puzzle
- Plays group games following rules; displays good sportsmanship
- Speaks and acts appropriately in most social, work and play situations;
- observes basic etiquette
- Understands and follows basic safety rules and procedures
- (crossing street, bike riding, fire)
- Independent self-care skills: dressing, bathing, hygiene,
- eating, use of utensils, toileting
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