Social-Emotional Milestones

Question 1

2 months x3

Answer 1

1. Begin to smile briefly at people
2. Can calm themselves
3. Try to look at parents

Question 2

4 months x3

Answer 2

1. Smile spontaneously at people
2. Likes to play with people
3. Copy facial expressions

Question 3

6 months x4

Answer 3

1. Know familiar faces - know if someone is a stranger
2. Likes to play with others, especially parents
3. Respond to other people’s emotions
4. Like to look at self in the mirror

Question 4

9 months x3

Answer 4

1. May be afraid of strangers
2. May be clingy of familiar adults
3. Have favourite toys

Question 5

1 year x8

Answer 5

1. Shy with strangers
2. Cry when parents leave
3. Have favourite things and people
4. Show some fear
5. Hand books to adults when they want a story
6. Repeated hand/leg actions to get attention
7. Put arm/leg out when dressing
8. Call and response games e.g. peeakboo

Question 6

18 months x8

Answer 6

1. Likes to hand things to others to play
2. Temper tantrums
3. May be afraid of strangers
4. Shows affection to familiar people
5. Simple pretend play
6. Cling to caregivers in new situations
7. Point to others when finding something interesting
8. Explore alone but with parents close by

Question 7

2 years x5

Answer 7

1. Copy others
2. Excited when with other children
3. Shows more independence
4. Shows defiant behaviour
5. Plays mainly beside other children but begins to include e.g. chase games

Question 8

3 years x8

Answer 8

1. Shows unprompted affection for friends
2. Takes turns in games
3. Shows concerns for a crying friend
4. Understands ‘mine, his, hers’
5. Wide range of emotions
6. Separates easily from parents
7. May be upset with major routine changes
8. Dresses and undresses themselves

Question 9

4 years x7

Answer 9

1. Enjoys doing new things
2. Plays mum and dad
3. More creative in make-believe play
4. Plays with other children rather than alone
5. Cooperate with other children
6. Often can tell what is real and pretend
7. Talk about what they like and interests

Question 10

5 years x8

Answer 10

1. Wants to please friends
2. Wants to be like friends
3. More likely to agree with rules
4. Likes to sing and dance
5. Aware of gender
6. Can tell what is real and pretend
7. Shows more independence
8. Sometimes demanding and cooperative