Developmental Milestones and Early Detection
Developmental Milestones
Developmental Milestone represents what an average child can do around at a particular age. How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development.
While most of these milestones typically take place during a certain window of time, parents and caregivers must remember that each child is unique. Not all kids are going to hit these milestones at the same time.
Following are the developmental milestones, which the children should achieve at different age groups.
Physical development
Holds head steady and unsupported
Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows
Brings hands to mouth
Begins to sit without support
Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)
Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys
Social Development
Enjoys playful face-to-face interaction with people
Maintains eye contact with familiar people during playful interaction
Knows familiar faces and begins to recognize strangers
Notices and responds to sounds
Enjoys varied playful movement experiences (e.g. bouncing on knees)
Communication
Coos and makes gurgling sound, shows playful interaction
Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, tired
Is usually happy when not hungry or tired
Is able to calm with experiences such as rocking, touching, and calm sounds
Physical development
Puts things in her mouth
Picks up things like cereal’s between thumb and index finger
Sits without support
Start to Crawl
Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other
Can get into sitting position
Pulls to stand
Social Development
Maintains eye contact with people during playful interaction
Enjoys playing with musical toys
Is able to enjoy a wide variety of touch, noise, and smells
Enjoys various types of movement, such as being gently swung in the air by parents
Is interested in playing with colorful objects
Raises hands towards adult to be picked up
Enjoys moving to explore the environment when placed on floor
Communication
Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa
Copies sounds and gestures of others
Understands “no”
Looks at familiar objects and people when named
Plays peek-a-boo
Reacts to sudden noises or sounds
Uses fingers to point at things
Physical development
Maintains balance in sitting or standing while using two hands together to explore toys
Is able to turn head to look at objects without losing balance while standing
Crawls to get desired item
Makes an attempt to walk
Is able to take steps toward motivating item
Drinks from a cup
Eats with a spoon
Points to one body part
Claps hands
Stacks two objects or blocks
Social Development
Shows affection to familiar people
Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
May cling to caregivers in new situations
Points to show others something interesting
Points to one body part
Communication
Responds to yes/no questions with head shake/nod
Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures for example, sits when you say “sit down
Points to show someone what he wants
Says several single words
Meaningfully uses “mama” or “dada”
Physical development
Walks independently
Squats to pick up a toy
Holds and drinks from a cup
Stands on tiptoe
Kicks a ball
Social Development
Copies others, especially adults and older children
Points to things or pictures when they are named
MayShows independence
Plays mainly beside other children
Knows names of familiar people and body parts
Says sentences with 2 to 4 words
Follow 2-step related directions, e.g. “Pick up your coat and bring it to me.”
Points to things in a book
Communication
Uses gestures and words during pretend play
Names objects and pictures
Begins to use 2 word phrases
Understands action words
Enjoys listening to stories
Uses simple pronouns (me, you, my)
Understands new words quickly Identifies
Physical development
Runs easily
Walks up and down stairs- one foot on each step
Attempts to pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
Makes an attempt to throw a ball, Can maintain balance to catch ball
Is able to walk and maintain balance over uneven surfaces
Coordinates hand and finger movements needed to participate in table top games and activities
Social Development
Copies adults and friends
Takes turns in games
Shows a wide range of emotions
Shows concern for a crying friend
Shows affection for friends without prompting
Separates easily from mom and dad
Attempts to dress and undresses self
Is able to transition to new environment or activity
Communication
Follow 2-step unrelated directions, e.g. “give me the ball and go get your coat”
Says first name, age, and sex
Names a friend
Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
Understands “mine” and “yours”
Physical development
Coordinates movement needed for quicker sport-like activities (e.g. soccer, kickball, hopscotch, and gross motor video games)
Can run with good balance
Is able to color and do finer eye hand coordination activities like lacing
Has adequate endurance and strength to play with peers
Can maintain balance to catch ball or when gently bumped by peers
Uses appropriate force when playing with peers or pets or when holding objects
Is able to maintain good sitting posture needed to sit in chair
Enjoys swinging on playground swings
Social Development
Enjoys playing in small groups with children of the same age
Is able to initiate and play with another child of the same age
Is able to play in new social situations
Enjoys playing with variety of toys intended for children of the same age
Is aware of risky and unsafe environments and behavior
Enjoys sitting to look at or listen to a book
Usually does not bring non-food objects to mouth
Is able to play with one toy or theme for 15 minute periods of time
Communication
Asks “what” and “where” questions
Understands “why” questions
Sing nursery rhymes
Count on fingers
Uses plurals, e.g. “dogs”
Makes clear sentences
Simple understanding of concepts including color, space, time
Early Detection of Developmental Delays
Understanding the developmental milestones and what age range is typical for kids to meet them, you and your healthcare professional can keep a watchful eye on your child's growth and development. If you ever have a concern about your child, be sure to talk to your doctor. If your child does have developmental delays, getting early intervention can help lead to more successful outcomes.
Following are some red flags, which will help you to detect a delay in your child’s milestone. Act early by getting help!
0-6 months
Can’t hold head steady
Doesn’t smile or shows no affection for caregivers
Doesn’t respond to sounds around him
Has difficulty getting things to mouth
Doesn’t make cooing or vowel sounds (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”)
Doesn’t roll over in either direction
Seems very stiff, with tight muscles or floppy
No eye contact
Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
6-12 months
Doesn’t crawl
Can’t sit when supported
Doesn’t transfer objects from one hand to the other
Doesn’t reach out to objects
Doesn’t seem to recognize familiar people
Doesn’t point to things
Loses skills he once had
12-18 months
Doesn’t point to show things to others
Finds it difficult to stand or walk
Doesn’t copy or imitate others
Doesn’t have a vocabulary of atleast 6 words or doesn’t gain new words
Doesn’t notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns
Loses skills he once had
18- 24 months
Doesn’t use 2-word phrases (for example, “drink milk”)
Doesn’t know what to do with common things, like a brush, phone, fork, spoon
Doesn’t copy actions and words
Doesn’t follow simple one step instructions
Doesn’t walk steadily or still not walking
Cannot take changes in routine
Loses skills she once had
2-3 years
Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
Drools or has very unclear speech
Can’t work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles, turning handle)
Doesn’t speak in sentences
Doesn’tDoesn’t understand simple instructions
Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe
Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys
Doesn’t make eye contact
Loses skills he once had
3-5 years
Has trouble scribbling
Unsteady walking and running
Shows no interest in interactive games or make-believe
Ignores other children or doesn’t respond to people outside the family
Speaks unclearly or Doesn’t talk about daily activities or experiences
Doesn’t show a wide range of emotions
Is easily distracted, has trouble focusing on one activity for more than 5 minutes
Doesn’t play a variety of games and activities
Can’t brush teeth, wash and dry hands, or get undressed without help
Unable to follow instructions
Loses skills he once had