Developmental Milestones

Question 1

Motor development as a newborn (neonate)

Answer 1

• involuntary releasing skills
• Asymmetric movements
• natural position: hip flexion and pelvic elevation, which results in a weight shift onto shoulders and face
• no ability to weight bear
• in prone, head will move side to side; baby will tuck chin and move to midline and sustain for a bit; no weight shift side to side

Question 2

Motor development for 1 month old

Answer 2

• physiological flexion still present, but less hip flexion and pelvis sits lower, leading to less weight shift onto shoulders, face, and UEs; no weight bearing

Question 3

Motor development at 2 months

Answer 3

• begins to use arms to push up in prone, but insufficient shoulder control to maintain weight bearing through the forearms. No active weight-bearing

Question 4

Motor development at 3 months

Answer 4

Prone: puppy position (weight bearing on forearms)

Supine: turns head side to side

Sitting: must be held in sitting position but able to stabilize head; has rounded back

Standing: able to bear some weight when held in standing

Rolling: Accidentally rolls prone to side; rolls from supine to side

Question 5

Motor development 4-6 months

Answer 5

Prone: shifts weight on forearms; bears weight on extended arms and shifts; airplane posturing and equilibrium reactions present

Supine: increased head control (lifts head up IND’ly with good control by 6 months)

Sitting: supports self in sitting momentarily and then uses arm support; at 6 months, get to sitting position from prone

Standing: increased ability to bear weight on legs; legs are held apart and turned outward; at 6 months, pulls to standing position from furniture

Rolling: rolls from prone to supine at 6 months (segmentally with initiation from head)

Question 6

Motor development 7-10 months

Answer 6

Prone/supine: able to pivot in prone and prone to sit (begins to dislike tummy time at 9 months); equilibrium reactions present

Rolling/crawling/creeping: segmental rolling initiated by head/shoulders/hip. crawls with arms and legs while in prone on belly at 7 months; reciprocal creep on hands and knees at 10 months

Sitting: rotates UB while LB remains stationary; sits without support; protective responses present when falling to side; rises to sit from supine; at 10 months, able to move seamlessly in and out of sitting position

Standing: rotates trunk over LEs; pulls to standing position by kneeling, then half kneeling; at 9 months, stands alone momentarily

Walking: cruises around furniture, turning slightly in intended direction; takes steps but falls easily; at 10 months, walking, stoops and recovers

Question 7

Motor development at 11-18 months

Answer 7

Rolling/creeping/stair climbing: continued segmental rolling, creeps and crawls, crawls up stairs and creeps back down

Sitting/standing: trunk control and equilibrium responses are fully developed; increase in variety of sitting positions

Walking: 11 months, walks with hand held, reaches out when cruising; 15 months, able to start/stop walking; 18 months, seldom falls, runs stiffly with eyes on ground

ADLS: assist with dressing; doffs shoes and socks; at 12 months, indicates when wet/soiled; at 18 months, sits on toilet when placed (with supervision)

Question 8

Motor development at 19-24 months

Answer 8

Stair climbing: walks up and down the stairs placing two feet on each step and using a handrail or holding adult’s hand

Jumping/hopping: jumps down from step

Dressing: removes unfastened coat; doffs shoes if laces untied; assists with pulling down pants; finds armholes in pullover shirts

Toileting: urinates regularly

Home management: picks up and puts away toys with parental reminders; copies parents domestic routines

Question 9

Motor development 2-3 years

Answer 9

Stair climbing: walks up stairs with 2 feet to a step without support, and alternating feet with support. walks down stairs with 2 feet on each step

Jumping/hopping: hops on one foot; jumps off floor with both feet; jumps over objects

Dressing: doffs pants with elastic waist; assists in pulling on socks, puts on front button coat/shirt; unbuttons large buttons

Toileting: achieves regular toileting with occasional accidents; verbalizes need to use the bathroom

Home management: picks up and puts away toys with reminders; copies parents domestic routines

Question 10

Motor development 3-4 years

Answer 10

stair climbing: walks up/ down stairs without support, alternating feet

Jumping/hopping: jumps off floor with both feet; jumps over objects; gallops, leading with one foot and transferring weight smoothly and evenly

Dressing: finds front of clothing; snaps and hooks front fasteners; unzips front zippers; buttons series of 3-4 buttons; unbuckles shoes or belt; dresses with supervision

Toileting: goes to bathroom IND’ly; may need help with wiping/fasteners/difficult clothing

Household management: carries things without dropping them; dusts with help; dries dishes with help; gardens with help; puts toys away with reminders; wipes up spills

Question 11

Motor development 4-5 years

Answer 11

jumping/hopping: hops in a straight line:

Dressing: removes pullover garment IND’ly; buckles shoes or belt; zips jacket zipper; puts on socks correctly; puts on shoes with assist for lace tying; consistently identifies front/back of clothing

Toileting: IND in toileting (tearing TP, flushing, washing hands, managing clothing

Home management: fixes dry cereal and snacks; helps with sorting laundry

Question 12

Motor development 5-6 years

Answer 12

jumping/hopping: skips on alternating feet, maintaining balance

Dressing: ties/unties knots; dresses unsupervised

Household management: does simple errands; does household chores without redoing; cleans sink; washes dishes with help; crosses street safely

Question 13

Official CDC milestones (2 months)

Answer 13

Movement/physical development:
- holds head up when on tummy
- moves both arms and both legs
- opens hands briefly

Social/emotional milestones:
- calms down when spoken to or picked up
- looks at your face
- seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
- smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/communication:
- makes sounds other than crying
- reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive:
- watches you as you move
- looks at toys for several seconds

Question 14

Official CDC milestones (4 months)

Answer 14

Movement/physical:
- holds head steady without support when parent is holding
- holds a toy when you put it in their hand
- uses arm to swing at toys
- brings hand to mouth
- pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

Social/emotional:
- smiles on their own to get your attention
- chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh
- looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Language/communication:
- makes cooing sounds
- makes sounds back when you talk to them
- turns head towards the sound of your voice

Cognitive:
- if hungry, opens mouth when she sees breast or bottle
- looks at their hands with interest

Question 15

Official CDC milestones (6 months)

Answer 15

movement/physical:
- rolls from tummy to back
- pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
- leans on hand to support himself when sitting (in the front first)

Social/emotional:
- knows familiar people
- likes to look at themselves in mirror
- laughs

Language/communication:
- takes turns making sounds with you
- blows raspberries
- makes squealing noises

Cognitive:
- puts things in her mouth to explore them
- reaches to grab a toy she wants
- closes lips to show she doesn’t want food

Question 16

Official CDC milestones (9 months)

Answer 16

Movement/physical:
- gets to a sitting position by herself
- moves things from one hand to her other hand
- uses fingers to rake food towards herself
- sits without support

Social/emotional:
- is shy, clingy or fearful around strangers
- showers several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry and surprised
- looks when you call her name
- reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
- smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

language/communication:
- makes different sounds like “mamamamam” and “bababaab”
- lifts arms to be picked up

Cognitive:
- looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like spoon or toy)
- bangs two things together

Question 17

Official CDC milestones (12 months)

Answer 17

Movement/physical:
- pulls up to stand
- walks holding onto furniture
- drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
- picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

Social/emotional: plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language/communication:
- waves “bye”
- calls a parents “mama” or “dada”
- understands “no” - pauses briefly or stops when you say it

Cognitive:
-puts something in a container
- looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Question 18

Official CDC milestones (15 months)

Answer 18

Movement/physical:
- takes a few steps on their own
- uses fingers to feed themselves

Social/emotional:
- copies other children when playing
- shows you an object they like
- claps when excited
- hugs stuffed doll or other toy
- shows you affection

Language/communication:
- tries to say one or two words (besides mama and dada)
- looks at a familiar object when you name it
- follows directions given with both a gesture and words
- points to ask for something or to get help

Cognitive:
- tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup or book
- stacks at least two small objects (blocks)

Question 19

Official CDC milestones (18 months)

Answer 19

Movement/physical:
- walks without holding onto anyone or anything
- scribbles
- drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
- feeds herself with fingers
- tries to use a spoon
- climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Social/emotional:
- moves away from you but looks to make sure you are close by
- points to show you something interesting
- puts hands out for you to wash them
- looks at a few pages in a book with you
- helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

Language/communication:
- tries to say three or more words besides mama or dada
- follows one-step directions without any gesture

Cognitive:
- copies you doing chores, like sweeping with broom
- plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Question 20

Official CDC milestones (2 years)

Answer 20

movement/physical:
- kicks a ball
- runs
- walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- eats with a spoon

Social/emotional:
- notices when other are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying

Language/communication:
- points to things in a book when you ask “where is the ___”
- says at least two words together “more milk”
- points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
- uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

Cognitive:
- holds something in one hand while using the other hand
- tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
- plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

Question 21

Official CDC milestones (30 months)

Answer 21

Movement/physical:
- uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
- takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or open jacket
- jumps off the ground with both feet
- turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her

Social/emotional:
- plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
- shows you what she can do by saying “look at me!”
- follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say “its clean up time”

Language/communication:
- says about 50 words
- says two or more words together, with one action word (like doggy run)
- names things in a book when you point and ask “what is this?”
- says words like “I” “me” or “we”

Cognitive:
- uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
- shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
- follows two-step instructions like “put the toy down and close the door”
- shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “which one is red?”

Question 22

Official CDC milestones (3 years)

Answer 22

Movement/physical:
- strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
- puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
- uses a fork

Social/emotional:
- calms down with 10 minutes after you leave her, like a childcare drop off
- notices other children and joins them to play

Language/communication:
- talks with you in conversation using at least two back and forth exchanges
- asks who, what, where, or why questions
- says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running”
- says first name, when asked
- talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time

Cognitive:
- draws a circle, when you show him how
- avoids touching hot objects when warned

Question 23

Official CDC milestones (4 years)

Answer 23

Movement/physical:
- catches a large ball most of the time
- serves himself food or pours water, with adult supervision
- unbuttons some buttons
- holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not fist)

Social/emotional:
- pretends to be somethings else during play (imaginative)
- asks to go play with children if none are around
- comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
- avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights
- likes to be a helper
- changes behavior based on where she is

Language/communication:
- says sentences with four or more words
- says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
- talks about at least one things that happened during his day
- answers simple questions like “what is a coat for?”

Cognitive:
- names a few colors of items
- tells what comes next in a well-known story
- draws a person with three or more body parts

Question 24

Official CDC milestones (5 years)

Answer 24

Movement/physical:
- buttons some buttons
- hops on one foot

Social/emotional:
- follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
- sings, dances, or acts for you
- does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating

Language/communication:
- tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events
- answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
- keeps a conversation going with more than three back and forth exchanges
- uses or recognizes simple rhymes

Cognitive:
- counts to ten
- names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- uses words about time, like “yesterday”
- pays attention for 5-10 minutes during activities
- writes some letters of their name
- names some letters when you point to them