Developmental Milestones per CDC Flashcards
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 2 month Old
- 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 Milestones for a 2 month old
- Makes sounds other than crying
- Reacts to loud sounds
Cognitive Milestones for a 2 month old
- Watches you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 2 month old
- Holds head up when on tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs
- Opens hands briefly
What are important questions to ask about development at every well- child visit?
- What are some things you and your baby do together?
- What are some things your baby likes to do?
- Is there anything your baby does or does not do that concerns you?
- Has your baby lost any skills he/she once had?
- Does your baby have any special healthcare needs or was he/she born prematurely
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 4 month old
- Smiles on his own to get your attention
- Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make her laugh
- Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 4 month old
- Makes sounds like “ooo” “aaah” (cooing)
- Makes sounds back when you talk to him
- Turns head towards the sound of your voice
Cognitive Milestones for a 4 month old
- If hungry, opens mouth when she sees breast or bottle
- Looks at his hands with interest
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 4 month old
- Holds head steady without support when you are holding her
- Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
- Uses her arms to swing at toys
- Brings hands to mouth
- Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 6 month old
- Knows familiar people
- Likes to look at himself in the mirror
- Laughs
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 6 month old
- Takes turns making sounds with you
- Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
- Makes squealing noises
Cognitive Milestones for a 6 month old
- Puts things in her mouth to explore them
- Reaches to grab a toy he wants
- Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 6 month old
- Rolls from tummy to back
- Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
- Leans on hands to support himself when sitting
Social/ Emotional Development Milestones for a 9 month old
- Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
- Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry and suprised
- 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 Milestones for a 9 month Old
- Makes different sounds like “mamama” and “bababa”
- Lifts arms to be picked up
Cognitive Milestones for a 9 month old
- Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like a spoon or toy)
- Bangs two things together
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones
- Gets to a sitting position by herself
- Moves things from one hand to her other hand
- Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
- Sits without support
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 12 month old
- Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 12 month old
- Waves “bye-bye”
- Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
- Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
Cognitive Milestones for a 12 month old
- Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 12 month old
- Pulls up to stand
- Walks, holding on to 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 Milestones for a 15 month old
- Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
- Shows you an object she likes
- Claps when excited
- Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
- Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 15 month old
- Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
- Looks at a familiar object when you name it
- Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say “give me the toy”
- Points to ask for something or to get help
Cognitive Milestones for a 15 month old
- Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
- Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 15 month old
- Takes a few steps on his own
- Uses fingers to feed herself some food
Social/ Emotional Milestones for an 18 month old
- 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 Milestones for an 18 month old
- Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
- Follows one-step directions without any gestures like giving you the toy when you say “give it to me”
Cognitive Milestones for an 18 month old
- Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
- Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for an 18 month old
- Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
- Scribbles
- Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
- Feeds herself with her fingers
- Tries to use a spoon
- Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 24 month old
- Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
- Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 24 month old
- Points to things in a book when you ask,like “where is the bear?”
- Says at least two words together like “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
Cognivitve Milestones for a 24 month old
- Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a contianer and taking the lid off
- 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
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 24 month old
- Kicks a ball
- Runs
- Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- Eats with a spoon
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 30 month old
- 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 Milestones for a 30 month old
- Says about 50 words
- Says two or more words together, with one action word like “doggie run”
- Names things in a book when you point and ask “what is this?”
- Says words like “I” “me” or “we”
Cognitive Milestones for a 30 month old
- 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?”
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 30 month old
- Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
- Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
- Jumps off the ground with both feet
- Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 3 year old
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
- Notices other children and joins them to play
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 3 year old
- Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Asks “who” “what” “where” or “why” questions, like “where is mommy/daddy?”
- Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked like “running” “eating” or “playing”
- Says first name when asked
Cognitive Milestones for a 3 year old
- Draws a circle, when you show him how
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 3 year old
- 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 Milestones for a 4 year old
- Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
- Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “can I play with alex?”
- Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
- Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playgorund
- Likes to be a “helper”
- Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)
Language/ Communication Milestones for a 4 year old
- Says sentences with four or more words
- Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
- Talks about at least one thing that happened during his day like “I played soccer”
- Answers simple questions like “what is a coat for?” or “what is a crayon for?”
Cognitive Milestones for a 4 year old
- Names a few colors of items
- Tells what comes next in a well- known story
- Draws a person with three or more body parts
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 4 year old
- Catches a large ball most of the time
- Serves himself food or pours water, with adult supervision
- Unbuttons some buttons
- Holds a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
Social/ Emotional Milestones for a 5 year old
- 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 Milestones for a 5 year old
- Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
- Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
- Keeps a conversation going with more than 3 back and forth exchanges
- Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Cognitive Milestones for a 5 year old
- Counts to 10
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- Uses words about time like “yesterday” “tomorrow” “morning” or “night”
- Pays attention for 5-10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
- Writes some letters in her name
- Names some letters when you point to them
Movement/ Physical Development Milestones for a 5 year old
- Buttons some buttons
- Hops on one foot
