Developmental Milestones
by Susan Peterson
March 09, 2008
The Early Childhood program, also known as the Bee's, provides education to children from birth to age five with developmental concerns. The following is a list of developmental milestones that children should acquire at certain ages. As you refer to the age ranges and skills indicated, note that all children develop at different rates and that the ages indicated are only guidelines.
| Birth to 4 months | 2 years |
| Varies cries to make wants and needs known | Combines three to four words in phrases |
| Coos back and forth in conversation |
Asks many questions |
| Rolls from side to back | Expands vocabulary to around 200 words |
| Holds and swipes objects |
Jumps with both feet off the ground |
| Smiles and laughs | Climbs up and down stairs |
| Knows and prefers your voice | Fits objects together of different sizes/ shapes |
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Listens to stories being read, points to pictures |
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| 4 to 8 months | Washes and dries hands |
| Grasps and explores toys | Removes own clothes, shoes |
| Rolls over in both directions | Plays beside other children, sometimes joins in |
| Transfers objects from hand to hand | |
| Turns and looks toward sounds | 3 years |
| Follows objects with eyes 180 degrees | Uses new words in short sentences |
| Recognizes mother's voice | Asks many questions and tells stories |
| Responds to his/her name, and to "no" | More coordinated with running, climbing and jumping |
| Pedals a tricycle | |
| 8 to 12 months | Stands one one foot for 1-2 seconds |
| Babbles many different sounds | Matches colors and shapes |
| Feeds self with fingers | Learns about gender and family differences |
| Object permanence | Toilet training |
| Sits without support, stands with support |
Learns to plays with other children |
| Responds to simple commands, like "come here" | |
| Cruises to explore the environment | 4 years |
| Places cubes in cups and dumps them out again | Identifies primary colors, basic shapes |
| Cries and fusses when separating from you |
Uses sentences of 4-5 words in conversations |
| Improves drawing, building, and cutting skills | |
| 12 to 18 months | Draws simple person |
| Uses words to make requests | Copies circle and sometimes a square |
| Turns pages in a book a few at a time | Explores sizes, shapes, colors, volumes |
| Scribbles with a crayon | Counts objects 1-10 |
| Walks independently | Participates in dramatic and pretend play |
| Places pegs or forms into boards or shape boxes | Hops on one foot, runs, jumps, and climbs |
| Expresses many emotions with more intensity | Balances on one foot for 3 seconds |
| Recognizes some numbers, letters | |
| 18-24 months | Dresses self, brushes teeth |
| Says two to three word phrases | |
| Climbs on furniture | 5 years |
| Throws and kicks a ball | Uses all types of sentences, some complex |
| Pretends with dolls and household items | Uses alternating feet on stairs, skips |
| Completes simple puzzles and fits toys together | Follows three-step directions |
| Points to pictures and body parts | Recognizes own printed name |
| Shows more independence with strong emotions |
Plays simple board games |
| Follows simple spoken directions | Draws with more detail |
| Is very imitative with sounds and actions | Asks who, what, when, where questions |
| Builds 4-6 block tower | Talks about feelings, spatial relations |
| Feeds self with spoon | Stays with one activity for at least 10-12 minutes |
| Uses "me, mine, I" in speaking | Defines objects by their use |
