| Birth - 3 months |
-Follow a toy with his/her eyes
-Looks toward sounds |
-Makes sounds and coos
-Has different cries to tell you when they are hungry or soiled |
-Looks at your face and smiles
-Stops crying when held or talked to
-Enjoys being touched or held close |
-Looks toward lights and bright colors
-Gets excited to be fed |
-Puts hand/toys to mouth
-Holds up head for a few seconds
-Brings his/her hands together at the middle of his/her body |
| 3 - 6 months |
-Looks at their hands
-Plays with rattles by shaking or feeling them
-Looks for a dropped toy |
-Looks when you use a firm voice or say “NO”
-Imitates cooing sounds |
-Smiles, cries, babbles and makes other noises to get your attention |
-Eats stage 1 or pureed baby food
-Helps to hold bottle during feedings
-Stays entertained with a toy for 15 or more seconds |
-Reaches to grab a toy
-Holds their head up when you hold him/her
-Holds a toy for several seconds to play with it |
| 6 - 9 months |
-Plays simple game of peek
-a boo, clapping hands or “so big!”
-Touches your hand to restart a game
-Uncovers a toy that is hidden |
-Looks when you call his/her name
-Makes a variety of sounds that includes vowels/ consonants (mama, dada)
-Imitates your actions and facial expression |
-Looks at themselves in the mirror
-Enjoys listening to you sing or talk to them
-Responds differently to unfamiliar people |
-Eats stage 1 or 2 baby food without gagging
-Reaches or moves to toys the want
-Feeds themselves a cracker or cookie |
-Rolls from their stomach to their back
-Sits independently for several seconds
-Moves a toy from one hand to the other
-Picks up small objects |
| 9 - 12 months |
-Touches a toy to make it move or make noise
-Plays with toys in other ways such as banging two together or pushing along the floor
-Looks at pictures in a book |
-Says “mama” and “dada” meaningfully
-Looks for their cup or shoes when saying “cup” or “shoes”
-Tries to imitate sounds and words you say to him/her |
-Likes to cuddle, hug and give kisses
-Shows a reluctance or fear of strangers |
-Uses their fingers to eat some foods
-Cooperates with dressing and helps to push arms and legs through
-Plays for up to 10 minutes with toys independently |
-Puts objects into a cup or container
-Pulls to stand on furniture or while holding your hands
-Turns pages in a cardboard book
- Crawls to get around |
| 12 - 15 months |
-Dumps objects out of a container and puts them back in
-Puts a circle in a puzzle or peg in a hole
-Takes a lid off of a box to find a toy or object |
-Points to a few body parts
-Says at least 3 words other than mama and dada
-Tries to repeat words
-Understands phrases such as “no
-no” and “all gone” |
-Plays ball by rolling it or throwing it back and forth
-Likes to be in sight and hearing familiar adults
-Lets you know their likes and dislikes |
-Uses their fingers to feed themselves
-Begins to use a spoon
-Holds sippy cup or bottle on their own |
-Walks alone for several steps
-Stoops or squats to pick up toys and objects
-Stacks two blocks
-Scribbles on paper with crayon |
| 15 - 18 months |
-Pushes buttons to start a toy or turn on/off the TV
-Explores toys in different ways such as banging, throwing, etc. |
-Says at least 10 words
-Points, uses gestures, and makes sounds to let you know what they want
-Points to familiar pictures in a book that you have named |
-Copies adult activities such as doing housework
-Begins to show affection with hugs and kisses
-Likes to be around other children |
-Feeds themselves with a spoon but with some mess
-Cooperates with dressing and undressing |
-Climbs onto and off of furniture
-Carries a large toy while walking
-Drops objects into small containers
-Builds a tower of 3 or 4 blocks |
| 18 - 24 months |
-Tries to do simple puzzles
-Enjoys nursery rhymes and simple songs
-Recognizes self and family members in photos |
-Says 2 to 3 words together
-Names the pictures in a book of familiar objects
-Understands simple questions and directions
-Points to body parts when asked |
-Plays while sitting next to another child when they each have their own toys
-Defends their own possessions and expresses ownership
-Shows a wide variety of |
-Feeds themselves with a spoon or fork
-Takes off loose clothing such as a jacket or shorts
-Understands what objects can be eaten or not eaten |
-Walks up and down steps while holding onto something
-Kicks and throws a ball
-Uses their thumb and index finger to pick up small items |
| 24 - 32 months |
- Matches assorted simple shapes or colors
-Pretend plays such as feeding a baby or crashing cars
-Understands the concept of “one”
-Finds the right tool or object to use for a certain task or activity |
Asks questions like “what’s that”
-Tells you their first name
-Puts two words together
-Tries to get your attention with words
-Places a toy or object in the right place when you tell them to put it “in”, “on”, or “under” |
-Shares toys with others while playing
-Helps clean up their toys
-Uses words instead of hitting or crying to indicate anger, hunger, or being upset |
-Puts on some clothing without any help
-Plays alone in one room for short periods of time while you are in another room
-Sits on the potty for a few minutes or is curious about the potty |
-Stands on one foot for a second without holding onto support
-Runs up to 20 feet without falling
-Jumps forward with both feet together
-Opens doors by turning the knob or pushing the door handle |
| 32 - 36 months |
-Completes 3 or 4 piece puzzles
-Understands the difference between big and little
-Holds up their fingers to tell you their age. |
Uses two -three word phrases consistently
-Talks while playing with toys
-Follows complex directions
-Likes to listen to and understands a short story |
-Takes turns playing simple games
-Shows sympathy towards others when they are upset
-Says “no” or throws a temper tantrum when things don’t go their way
-Participates in group play |
-Listens and pays attention to a story while in a small group
-Puts on their own jacket
-Understands danger such as running into a street that is not safe |
-Walks up and down stairs without help
-Copies a circle
-Climbs a ladder of a slide and slides down |