The following list of skills is categorized by age ranges. The list of skills is by no means comprehensive but simply highlights some of the major milestones that can be used to determine if development is proceeding adequately.
Healthy Milestones: 0-6 months
Social Skills Looks at a face of caregiver Shows anticipation of being picked up by caregiver Shows affection towards familiar people Plays with toy or object, alone or with others Plays very simple interaction games with others Responds playfully or smiles at mirror image
Communication Skills Cries when hungry and for attention Makes pleasure sounds, coos Turns head, searches for speaker Startles and looks in response to loud noises Turns toward speaker or ringing bell Smiles in response to presence of caregiver
Cognitive Skills Inspects own hands Plays with rattles Uses hands and mouth for sensory exploration Turns head to sound Eyes follow ball rolling across table Approaches mirror image
Motor Skills Begins to manipulate a rattle Extends arms and legs Attempts to roll on stomach Props self on elbows with head Reaches for and grasps toys Brings hands together Carries toy to mouth
Healthy Milestones: 6-12 months
Social Skills Reaches for and holds a toy Plays "peek-a-boo" or waves bye-bye after seeing caregiver do those actions Pats toy in imitation Engages in simple games with others (rolling ball)
Communication Skills Says “mama” or “dada” meaningfully Imitates non-speech sounds (cough, sneeze, etc) Looks at objects and pictures when named Understands and responds to name Raises arms when caregiver says “come here” or “up” Imitates sounds of adults immediately after hearing them Demonstrates understanding of the meaning of at least 10 words
Cognitive Skills Plays with things by banging them together Imitates familiar actions (peek-a-boo) Plays with a single toy for at least 2 minutes Searches for missing objects Reacts to “no” Looks at pictures in book
Adaptive Skills Opens mouth when food is presented Removes food from spoon with mouth Sucks or chews on crackers Eats solid foods
Motor Skills Rolls from back to stomach and stomach to back Sits with some support; trunk and head upright and aligned Crawls Transfers objects from one hand to another Stands Stirs with a spoon Picks up small object with thumb and fingers Opens doors that require only pushing or pulling Lifts cup by handle
Healthy Milestones: 12-18 months
Social Skills Engages in simple games with others (rolling ball) Likes to look at books with caregiver Starts to exhibit a temper when angry Laughs at funny things
Communication Skills Can follow one step commands Saying a few words spontaneously Asks to have needs met Labels familiar objects Follows instructions requiring an action and an object Names at least 20 familiar objects without being asked Indicates preference when offered a choice
Cognitive Skills Stacks rings Pulls strings to get toys Turns pages in a book Identifies at least one body part Pushes toy car
Adaptive Skills Drinks from cup independently using both hands Uses spoon to scoop food
Motor Skills Walks without assistance Climbs stairs Rolls a ball, flings a ball Opens a box/container Kicks a ball Imitates scribbles Scribbles spontaneously
Healthy Milestones: 18-24 months
Social Skills Imitates actions of another child Smiles or laughs appropriately in response to a positive statement Shows desire to please caregiver Participates in at least one game or activity with others. Imitates a relatively complex task several hours after it was performed by another Engages in elaborate make-believe play (e.g., take dog for walk)
Communication Skills Recognizes clothing and objects Uses 1 word utterances frequently Follows 2 step commands Combines word and gestures Says 8 different words Uses pronoun(s)
Cognitive Skills Attempts and succeeds to use simple toys Explores cabinets and drawers Imitates actions of adults Begins to place large puzzle pieces in slots Places approximately 4 pieces in puzzle Identifies objects in a book or photograph
Adaptive Skills Drink from cup independently with one hand Removes socks and shoes Feeds self with spoon Demonstrates understanding that hot things are dangerous Indicates wet or soiled pants or diaper by pointing, vocalizing, or pulling at diaper Willingly allows caregiver to wipe nose
Motor Skills Throws a ball Runs Builds a tower with small cubes/blocks Turns pages of a book one at a time Rolls ball while sitting Climbs both in and out of bed or steady adult chair Climbs on low play equipment
Healthy Milestones: 2-3 years
Social Skills Watches other children play and attempts to join briefly Plays simple group game (e.g., Ring around the Rosie) Use toys to act out a scene Seems to understand another’s perspective Shows a preference for some friends over others Says “please” when asking for something Identifies people by characteristics other than name when asked Begins to take turns with prompting
Communication Skills Recognizes names of friends and family members Expresses needs verbally Uses 3 word phrases Uses simple sentences Spontaneously relates experiences in simple terms Asks questions beginning with “what”, “where”, “who”, “why”, and “when” Answers yes/no questions States full name Relates experiences verbally Uses pronouns (I, me, you, and mine) Possessive s, is and regular past tense are used Comprehends 3 prepositions (in, on, under)
Cognitive Skills Uses objects/toys in symbolic play (e.g. picks up a shoe and pretends it is a phone) Begins sorting objects by characteristics Recognizes self in photos Builds tower of 6 blocks Listens to simple stories Knows primary body parts Understands “big/little” Understands concept of one Compares sizes of two objects
Adaptive Skills Feeds self with fork Removes shirt and pants Unfasten front buttons Washes and dries hands with assistance Attempt to brush teeth with assistance Puts on shoes Dry hands independently Urinates in toilet or potty chair Bathes self with assistance Puts on “pull-up” garments with elastic waistbands Puts possessions away when asked
Motor Skills Stands on one foot with assistance Walks backwards Snips with scissors Removes caps from bottles Stands on one foot without assistance Cuts paper Walks upstairs, putting both feet on each step Opens doors by turning and pulling doorknobs Jumps over small objects Screws and unscrews lid of jar Imitates vertical and horizontal strokes
Healthy Milestones: 3-4 years
Social Skills Take turns without prompting Forms temporary attachment to one playmate Plays cooperatively with prompting Shares toys or possessions without being asked Names one or more favorite television programs when asked, and tells on what days and channels the programs are shown Follows rules in simple games without being reminded Has a preferred friend
Communication Skills Talks about immediate experiences Speech is readily understood when topic is unknown Is able to describe familiar procedures Articulates clearly, without sound substitutions Tells popular story, fairy tale, lengthy joke, or television show plot Uses descriptive vocabulary (shapes, sizes, colors, texture, spatial relationships) Gives dialogue to puppets/dolls Uses “can”, “might”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could” Uses conjunctions (and, but, if, so, because) Uses 4-7 word sentences Uses “if/then” and “because” Follows commands involving 3 actions
Cognitive Skills Sings part and phrases of familiar songs Identifies gender Names 4 colors Understands concept of more Counts (Cardinally) Works in a small group for 5-10 minutes Sorts according to shape, size and length Matches objects by appearance and function Arranges pictures in correct sequence Says a word that associates with another word
Adaptive Skills Use side of fork for cutting soft food Dresses with little assistance Attempts to lace shoes Wash hands independently Turn faucet on/off Brush teeth with minimal assistance Is toilet trained during the night Gets drink of water from tap unassisted Brushes teeth without assistance Demonstrates understanding of the function of a clock Helps with extra chores when asked Answers the telephone appropriately
Motor Skills Rolls forward with assistance Jumps sideways with hand held Begins to fasten buttons with assistance Begins to trace a line with hand over hand assistance Bounces ball with good control Traces a line Copies a cross Copies a square Laces shoes
Healthy Milestones: 4-5 years
Communication Skills Understands time, quantity, and spatial concepts Articulates approximately 80% of words correctly Is able to tell a story about himself/herself Uses adjectives to describe people or objects
Cognitive Skills Colors within the lines of a circle Locates which of 5 items doesn’t belong Attends to task without supervision for 10 minutes Repeats words that rhyme Identifies items based on appearance and function Tells appropriate ending to a simple story Names category of sorted objects Works in a small group for 10-25 minutes Draws recognizable face with eyes, nose, mouth Names an item that would help solve a problem
Adaptive Skills Wash face independently Wash body in bath with assistance Dry body after bath independently Brush teeth independently Brush hair with assistance Sets table with assistance Cares for all toileting needs, without being reminded and without assistance Puts clean clothes away without assistance when asked Cares for nose without assistance Dries self with towel without assistance
Motor Skills Cuts a square shape Walks downstairs with alternating feet, without assistance Climbs on high play equipment Uses eraser without tearing paper Hops forward on one foot with ease Catches small ball thrown from a distance of 10 feet Jumps sideways Skips with increased speed and control Independently rolls forward Performs push-ups
Healthy Milestones: 5+ years
Social Skills Responds verbally and positively to good fortune of others Apologizes for unintentional mistakes Has a group of friends Engages in cooperative play in large groups Plays more than one board or card game requiring skill and decision Has a best friend of the same sex
Communication Skills Uses irregular plurals Uses relational terms (then, when, first, next, last, while, before, after) Asks word meanings Tells stories
Cognitive Skills Recites all letters of the alphabet from memory States month and day of birthday when asked Prints or writes own first and last name States telephone number when asked Reads at least 10 words silently or aloud Prints or writes at least 10 words from memory
Adaptive Skills Use knife for spreading Brush hair independently Ties shoelaces into a bow without assistance Looks both ways and crosses the street or road alone Covers mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing Wash body in bath independently Dresses self completely, including tying shoelaces and fastening all fasteners States current day of the week when asked Fastens seatbelt in automobile when asked Uses spoon, fork, and knife competently
