DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
These milestones are a framework for how children typically develop in speech, language, social and play skills. Each child is an individual and develops at their own rate, but it can helpful to use a framework to help you know what you might expect and when.
Child at 6 Months
Speech
Makes sounds in response to singing and other sounds
Makes speech-like babbling sounds, like pa, ah, mi and oh
Strings vowels together when babbling, like bababa, or upupup
Language
Responds to own name
Responds to noises and sounds
Likes taking turns with caregiver while making sounds
Social
Maintains eye contact
Likes taking turns with caregiver while making sounds
Attempts to interact with familiar adults
Play
Smiles at themselves in the mirror
Reaches for objects
Bangs object together in play
Child at 1 Year
Speech
Tries to say words, like “mama” and “dada”
Imitates many consonant and vowel sounds
Tries to say words caregiver says
Language
Understands common words for items and people (ball, milk, book, shoe, mama)
Follows simple commands (give me, come here)
Vocalizes when excited or upset
May say one or two words (dada, mama, hi, baba, dog, ball, no)
Social
Looks at person calling their name
Waves “hi” and “bye”
Points to objects to show them to others
Play
Enjoys games like “peek a boo”
Tries to get items out of reach
Uses some toys appropriately (pushes a toy car)
Child at 18 Months
Speech
Uses consonants /p/, /b/, /m/, /w/ and /h/ in words
Produces several animal sounds
Varies pitch when talking
Language
Follows 1 step commands
Identifies body parts and clothing items
Understands at least 50 words
Says several single words
Social
Points, shows and gives objects
Uses words to protest
Initiates turn taking routines (passing a toy car back and forth)
Play
Explores toys purposefully through trial and error
Plays ball with adult
Hands toy to an adult for assistance
Child at 2 Years
Speech
Speech is at least 50% understandable to strangers
Language
Understands simple questions: “yes/no” and “what’s that?”
Understands concepts “in/on/off/under” and “big/little”
Follows many 1 step directions and some 2 step directions
Says at least 50 words
Combines 2 words (more juice, want up, doggy walk)
Social
Takes turns during simple conversations
Copies adults and other children
Plays mainly beside other children and is beginning to include other children
Play
Uses common objects and toys appropriately (toy phone to ear, stacks blocks)
Plays simple make believe games
Pretends to eat with a fork or stir a spoon
Plays with dolls – brushes hair, feeds doll a bottle, covers doll with blanket
Child at 3 Years
Speech
Speech is at least 75% understandable to strangers
Uses /t/, /d/, /k/ and /g/ sounds correctly when talking
Language
Follows 2 and 3 step directions
Answers variety of concrete questions
Shows interest in how and why things work
Says full name, age, and gender
Uses different types of words: nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns
Talks about past events
Formulates sentences with at least 3 to 4 words
Social
Plays cooperatively, takes turns, shares toys with other children
Converses with adults and peers using sentences
Shows a wide range of emotions
Play
Uses imagination in play with dolls, animals and people
Acts out familiar routines (bedtime, mommy and baby)
Play will include less frequent experiences (doctor and sick child, teacher and student)
Child at 4 Years
Speech
Speech is at least 95% understandable to strangers
May make mistakes on sounds that are harder to say (/s/, /z/, /v/, /r/, /th/)
Language
Answers questions about 1 page of a simple book he/she has listened to
Comprehends complex sentences
Asks and responds to abstract questions “how/why/when/what if”
Uses simple and complex sentences with at least 5 to 6 words
Tell stories about recent experiences
Social
Would rather play with other children than by himself
Talks about what they like and don’t like
Play
Creates imaginary roles and uses props to carry out long play scenarios
Uses dolls and puppets to carry out scenes
Child at 5 Years
Speech
Speech is 100% understandable to strangers
Few articulation errors may persist, including the “r” and “th” sounds
Language
Answers questions about a book he/she has listened to
Comprehends all types of questions
Follows lengthy, complex directions
Uses compound sentences with conjunctions
Tells stories with full sentences in a logical sequence
Social
Develops friendships
Wants to please friends and be like friends
Can differentiate between reality and fantasy
Shows more independence
Play
Plans highly imaginative sequence of pretend events
Organizes what he/she needs to carry out multiple scenes – objects and other children