Early Childhood Development Chart · • Coordinates play, putting one toy aside to play with...

Early Childhood Development ChartDevelopmental milestones help caregivers know what to look for as a baby grows. If a child is not frequently and consistently demonstrating more than a few of the indicators, it is important to share this information with a healthcare professional. Listed below you will find some of the most common markers from birth to 6 years.

0 - 3 Months 3 - 6 Months 6 - 9 Months

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• Observes as an object slowly passes by • Brings hand to mouth• Watches moving objects, looking

side-to-side • Self-examines hands• Moves toys to mouth

• Intentionally repeats actions with repetitive moves

• Inspects items in different ways• Removes cloth from face• Drops and watches objects fall• Plays with given hand-toy

• Copies familiar movements• Locates partially hidden items• Shifts an object from one hand to

another to grasp an item• Moves toward a wanted toy• Perseveres to grasp an out-of-reach

object

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n • Reacts to loud sounds• Cries when distressed and differently

for hunger, tiredness and pain• Turns toward voices• Vocalizes different sounds• Responds with coos to guardian’s

addresses

• Laughs• Responds to his or her name• Replies with sounds when addressed• Expresses pleasure and displeasure

vocally• Copies sounds

• Waves “bye-bye” and does other simple rituals

• Vocalizes two or more consonants• Sways to music• Says designated name for guardian• Varies vocal pitches and tones

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l • Gazes at adult faces• Engages through smiles and coos• Knows familiar faces and things• Calms when comforted• Expresses anger, excitement and

other emotions

• Gives self-comfort, like thumb-sucking• Expresses desire to be carried• Smiles or pats at own mirrored image• Behaves differently with guardians and

strangers• Begins social engagement

• Reaches for known people• Indicates preferences for specific toys,

activities, places• Shows affection• Engages in simple games, like

peek-a-boo• Reacts to children and adults differently

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• Nurses with a closed seal on nipple• Swallows liquids easily• Manages sucking, swallowing and

breathing• Takes pleasure in baths• Sleeps in four-to-10-hour blocks

• Eats mashed food• Displays preferences and distastes for

specific foods• Sucks on thumb or hand• When eating, moves food around with

tongue• Swallows with closed mouth

• Eats from spoon with closed lips• Sleeps all night• Holds or supports own bottle when

drinking• Intentionally removes socks• Eats finger foods independently

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• Maintains weight on legs when held upright

• Joins hands when lying supine• Raises head when lying prone• Grasps for out-of-reach objects when

held sitting up• Holds small objects in each hand

simultaneously • Rolls from side onto back

• Moves objects from hand-to-hand• Hits two items together• Sits up for five or more seconds when

hips supported• Rolls from supine to prone position• Shifts from side to back

• Uses furniture supports while walking sideways

• Stands alone by grasping support • Pinches with thumb and forefinger to

pick up things• Pulls self forward in prone position

with arms• Uses index finger to point• Shifts from back position to sitting

independently

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9 - 12 Months 12 - 18 Months 18 - 24 Months 24 - 30 Months

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• Admires printed images• Pushes toys on wheels• Engages adults by touch • Unstacks rings from toy’s

post• Understands that objects

moved out of view still exist

• Views picture books with adult

• Puts small objects in containers

• Uses common items• Interplays with two related

objects• Coordinates play, putting

one toy aside to play with another

• Names four or five objects without prompting

• Uses substitutes for real items

• Matches items with photos of them

• Stacks several blocks

• Duplicates finger- and word-games

• Knows personal age• Comprehends quantities

like “one” and “one more”• Matches simple shapes• Names each room in

residence

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• Complies with simple directions

• Answers questions related to “where”

• Points out known people, animals and toys

• Says familiar greetings without prompting

• Stops briefly upon hearing “no”

• Sets items “in” or “on” another, as directed

• Uses a specific word, sound or signal for drink

• Indicates three or more body parts when prompted

• Responds to “yes” and “no” questions

• Calls familiar television and movie characters by name

• Says two-word phrases• Points out 15 or more

images of recognized items upon hearing their names

• Recalls names of two or more playmates

• Identifies six or more parts of the body

• Speaks in a whisper• Names familiar objects

from their descriptions• Talks in two-to-three-word

sentences• Comprehends negative

phrases, such as “…is not”• Uses plurals

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• Copies expressions, movements and sounds

• Repeats actions that generate happy reactions

• Shares toys with guardians• Plays well in small groups

for short periods• Self-comforts with a blanket

or soft toy

• Moves from guardian willingly when in known environments

• Tries to comfort upset people

• Acts with independence, as is possible

• Has fun with pretend play• Looks to guardian for

direction in new situations

• Is proud of accomplishments

• Quietly listens to entertainment, such as stories and music

• Sings common songs• Says “please” and “thank

you”, sometimes with prompting

• Requests help, as needed

• Looks at others during conversations

• Takes turns• Distinguishes happy and

sad emotions in others• Evades common dangers• Determines specific items

as his or hers

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• Munches food with texture • Drinks from a lidded cup

independently • Drinks from an unlidded

cup with help• Dresses, undresses and

washes hands cooperatively

• Uses a spoon to stir• Frets when diaper is soiled• Assists with simple tasks• Washes hands and face

independently• Uses a straw

• Removes outer clothing independently

• Partly dresses self• Opens doors, using the

handle• Eats independently with

a spoon• Stows familiar objects

after use

• Removes shoes, socks and baggy pants independently

• Washes and dries hands and face independently

• Sits on toilet for a supervised minute or longer

• Handles small animals and children with care

• Pierces food with fork

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• Scribbles without direction• Walks a few steps with

support• Grasps writing tools• Switches from standing to

sitting with coordination• Starts and stops walking

with control

• Favors the same hand for activities

• Balances while moving from squat to stand

• Crawls down steps, backwards

• Scrambles on low-level playground apparatus

• Holds paper steady with one hand when drawing

• Walks backwards• Imitates vertical, horizontal

and circular movements• Throws an overhand ball

with coordination• Draws circles and lines

without prompting• Climbs stairs with

alternating feet

• Moves arms and legs in opposite directions when walking

• Catches ball against chest• Jumps with feet together• Manipulates clay• Holds pencil, adult-style



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• Knows personal gender• Stacks rigs in size-order• Counts to five• Masters four-or-five-piece

puzzle• Matches items by size,

color and shape• Uses blocks to build a

bridge

• Distinguishes between “same” and “different”

• Matches objects used for similar tasks

• Comprehends “heavy” and “light”

• Understands amounts, such as “more” and “less”

• Coordinates items according to similar characteristics

• “Reads” picture book stories by retelling them

• Builds six-block pyramid• Sketches people• Copies personal name• Includes three or more

features in drawings of facess

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• Comprehends difference between “big” and “small”

• Explains activities currently engaged in

• Answers questions about “who” and “whose”

• Inquires about “what” or “where” something is

• Recognizes what “beside” and “under” mean

• Knows primary colors• States full name• Recalls details of a recited

short story• Speaks with contractions• Talks in appropriately in

past tense• Includes pronouns when

speaking

• Demonstrates emotions through facial and physical expressions

• Comprehends passive sentences

• Expresses causes and effects when speaking

• Describes five or more simple words

• Expresses anger verbally instead of physically

• Demonstrates empathy

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• Hugs and kisses younger children in affection

• Recalls rhymes, songs and dances for others

• Switches to new activities when prompted

• Engages with group members

• Behaves independently, as is possible

• Shares toys with others• Enjoys board games with

others• Plays circle games with

others• Spontaneously helps with

chores• Calms after active play

• Puts things away appropriately

• Understands affable teases• Gets permission before

using others’ things• Shares personal feelings• Demonstrates pride in

accomplishments

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• Pours liquid with help• Controls most toileting

needs during the day• Fills glass with water

independently• Brushes teeth

independently• Locates possessions easily

• Manages buttons and snaps

• Covers self when coughing or sneezing

• Hangs clothes properly• Wipes spills• Completes easy errands

• Dresses independently• Self-serves from plated

food• Desires bathroom privacy• Responds to questions

about “what to do if…”• Clicks car seatbelt

independently

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• Threads small beads• Cuts with scissors• Steps forward, heel-to-toe• Balances on one foot for a

short period• Kicks an unmoving ball six

feet or farther

• Duplicates drawing of a cross

• Hops forward, using one foot

• Hammers down pegs• Turns and avoids objects

when running• Jumps 20 inches or more

forward, with feet together

• Sketches a copy of a square

• Gallops• Jumps over short items• Glues with control• Steps down stairs with

alternate feet • Walks on toes

Regular visits to the pediatrician will help keep your child’s health and developmental progress in-check. Additional supports for children from birth through age 5 with suspected developmental delays or diagnosed disabilities are available through the Mid-Hudson Regional Early Childhood Direction Center.


References Judith K. Voress and Nils A.

Pearson

Folio, M.R., & Fewell, R.R. (2000). Peabody developmental motor scales-Second edition. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Kipping, P., Gard, A., Gilman, L., & Gorman, J. (2012). Speech and language development (3rd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Linder, T.W. (1993). Transdisciplinary play-based assessment. Baltimore, MD; Brookes.

Voress, J., K., & Maddox, T. (2013). Developmental assessment of young childre. Second edition. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.


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• Knows “first”, “last” and “middle” positions

• Comprehends difference between “real” and “pretend”

• Knows what “zero” means• Understands meanings of “half”

and “whole”• Identifies 20 or more letters

• Draws figures with six or more distinguishable parts

• Matches counted items to numerical figures

• Knows some printed words• Predicts next steps or actions• Writes first name without prompts

• Counts 20 or more items• Draws at least five recognizable items• Knows birthday month and day• Writes first and last name without

prompts• Describes what three or more body

parts do• Reads at least 10 words

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n • Recognizes words that rhyme• Makes simple associations• Uses possessive words correctly• Speaks in sentences of at least

five words

• Answers time-related questions• Speaks in complex sentences• Recalls stories without cues from

imagery• Describes three or more features

of an object• Engages in group conversations

• Speaks with irregular verbs, as appropriate

• Knows seasonal activities• Shares simple jokes• Distinguishes personal right from left• Uses “yesterday” and “tomorrow”

appropriately• Identifies three or more pieces of

currency

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l • Presents exchanges for an item or activity

• Accepts appropriate criticism• Uses others’ belongings by asking

permission• Shares personal feelings • Displays pride in completed tasks

• Offers help, as needed• Assists in group efforts• Uses polite behaviors• Enjoys competitive activities• Responds appropriately in social

situations

• Apologizes for hurt feelings• Finishes pencil/paper games• Accepts denials of small requests• Answers telephone and relays

messages appropriately• Completes chores independently for

20 minutes

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• Safely crosses street • Asks for plated food that’s out-of-reach• Distinguishes correct shoe for each foot• Moves used dishes to sink or

dishwasher• Sets appropriate water temperature

for bathing

• Chooses appropriate clothing for weather and occasion

• Straightens personal bed• Uses toilet independently, including

wiping and re-dressing• Combs personal hair• Brushes teeth independently

• Puts together simple breakfast and lunch

• Sets and clears dining table independently

• Manages food-spreads with a table knife

• Bathes independently• Wipes furniture clean

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• Cuts in a straight line• Stands steadily on one foot• Moves through the air on a swing

independently• Easily connects finger to thumb• Rolls a somersault

• Bounces and catches hand-sized ball• Colors pictures within lines• Completes three or more sit-ups• Jumps to the side, keeping feet

together• Cuts a square, using scissors

• Skips• Copies diamond shapes• Drop-kicks a ball• Dribbles 8-inch-to-10-inch ball with

one hand

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