Developmental Milestones
0-3 Months
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Appears to recognize your voice and smiles or quiets
-
- Makes pleasure sounds (cooing)
-
- Smiles reflexively as newborn then develops social smile by 3 months
- Appears to recognize your voice and smiles or quiets
- Makes pleasure sounds (cooing)
- Smiles reflexively as newborn then develops social smile by 3 months
-
- Turns head to each side
-
- Rolls side to back
-
- Lift head 45 degrees
- Turns head to each side
- Rolls side to back
- Lift head 45 degrees
4-6 Months
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Moves eyes toward sound source
-
- Babbles using more consonant-like sounds sounds (p,b,m)
-
- Vocalizes excitement and displeasure
-
- Begins to play – “peek a boo” and other games
-
- Imitates some movements and sounds
- Moves eyes toward sound source
- Babbles using more consonant-like sounds sounds (p,b,m)
- Vocalizes excitement and displeasure
- Begins to play – “peek a boo” and other games
- Imitates some movements and sounds
-
- Holds self with forearms (Lifts chest from surface)
-
- Holds head steady in supported sitting
-
- Actively moves head in supported sitting
-
- Bears some weight on legs in supported standing
-
- Rolls prone to supine/supine to side
- Holds self with forearms (Lifts chest from surface)
- Holds head steady in supported sitting
- Actively moves head in supported sitting
- Bears some weight on legs in supported standing
- Rolls prone to supine/supine to side
7-9 Months
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Exhibits resistive behaviors
-
- Shouts for attention
-
- Imitates play
-
- Plays vocally
-
- Recognizes some words
-
- Uses social gestures
-
- Uses jargon
- Exhibits resistive behaviors
- Shouts for attention
- Imitates play
- Plays vocally
- Recognizes some words
- Uses social gestures
- Uses jargon
-
- Sits independently
-
- Belly crawls
-
- Bears almost all weight on legs
-
- Pulls to stand on furniture
-
- Rolls supine to prone
- Sits independently
- Belly crawls
- Bears almost all weight on legs
- Pulls to stand on furniture
- Rolls supine to prone
10-12 Months
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Shows moods
-
- Uses objects appropriately (ex., spoon to pick up food)
-
- Obeys simple commands and directions
-
- Speaks one or more words
-
- Recognizes own name
- Shows moods
- Uses objects appropriately (ex., spoon to pick up food)
- Obeys simple commands and directions
- Speaks one or more words
- Recognizes own name
-
- Walks, holding furniture
-
- Walks with two hands held
-
- Creeps on hands and knees
- Walks, holding furniture
- Walks with two hands held
- Creeps on hands and knees
12-18 Months
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Responds to simple requests (“get your toy”)
-
- Points to common objects
-
- Uses simple gestures (e.g. waving)
-
- Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh”
-
- Imitates non-speech sounds
-
- Says one or two words
-
- Vocalizes with intent
- Responds to simple requests (“get your toy”)
- Points to common objects
- Uses simple gestures (e.g. waving)
- Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh”
- Imitates non-speech sounds
- Says one or two words
- Vocalizes with intent
-
- Finds hidden things easily
-
- Explores things in different ways (e.g. shaking)
-
- Puts things in/out of a container
-
- Pokes with index finger
-
- Uses things correctly
-
- Walks with one hand held
- Finds hidden things easily
- Explores things in different ways (e.g. shaking)
- Puts things in/out of a container
- Pokes with index finger
- Uses things correctly
- Walks with one hand held
18-24 Months
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Demonstrates pretend play
-
- Follows simple directions without gestures
-
- Points to show others something interesting
-
- Uses several single words (e.g. no)
-
- Puts some two words together (“more cookie,” “no juice,” “mommy book”)
- Demonstrates pretend play
- Follows simple directions without gestures
- Points to show others something interesting
- Uses several single words (e.g. no)
- Puts some two words together (“more cookie,” “no juice,” “mommy book”)
-
- Points to body parts
-
- Scribbles on his own
-
- Walks alone
-
- May walk up steps and run
-
- Pulls toys while walking
-
- Can help undress herself
-
- Drinks from a cup
-
- Eats with a spoon
- Points to body parts
- Scribbles on his own
- Walks alone
- May walk up steps and run
- Pulls toys while walking
- Can help undress herself
- Drinks from a cup
- Eats with a spoon
2 Years
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Copies others
-
- Enjoys playing with other children
-
- Points to common objects/pictures
-
- Follows 2 step directions
-
- Knows the name of familiar people, common objects and body parts
-
- Puts 2-4 words together to form sentences
-
- Says things heard in conversation
- Copies others
- Enjoys playing with other children
- Points to common objects/pictures
- Follows 2 step directions
- Knows the name of familiar people, common objects and body parts
- Puts 2-4 words together to form sentences
- Says things heard in conversation
-
- Sorts shapes and colors
-
- Completes rhymes
-
- Builds towers by stacking blocks
-
- Stands on tiptoe
-
- Kicks a ball
-
- Begins to run
-
- Walks up and down stairs holding on
-
- Climbs onto and down from furniture without help
-
- Throws ball
-
- Makes straight lines and circles
- Sorts shapes and colors
- Completes rhymes
- Builds towers by stacking blocks
- Stands on tiptoe
- Kicks a ball
- Begins to run
- Walks up and down stairs holding on
- Climbs onto and down from furniture without help
- Throws ball
- Makes straight lines and circles
3 Years
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Takes turns in games
-
- Shows concern for others
-
- Understands possessives (e.g. mine, his/hers)
-
- Understands prepositions (e.g. in and on)
-
- Follows 2-3 step directions
-
- Can name most familiar things
-
- Uses pronouns (e.g. I, we) and plurals (e.g. cats)
-
- Can have a conversations using 2-3 sentences
- Takes turns in games
- Shows concern for others
- Understands possessives (e.g. mine, his/hers)
- Understands prepositions (e.g. in and on)
- Follows 2-3 step directions
- Can name most familiar things
- Uses pronouns (e.g. I, we) and plurals (e.g. cats)
- Can have a conversations using 2-3 sentences
-
- Dresses and undresses self
-
- Completes puzzles
-
- Copies a circle
-
- Turns pages one at a time
-
- Screws and unscrews jar lids
-
- Climbs well
-
- Runs easily
-
- Pedals a tricycle
-
- Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
- Dresses and undresses self
- Completes puzzles
- Copies a circle
- Turns pages one at a time
- Screws and unscrews jar lids
- Climbs well
- Runs easily
- Pedals a tricycle
- Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
4 Years
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Creative with make-believe play
-
- Recalls parts of a story
-
- Names colors and numbers
-
- Understands “same” and “different”
-
- Talks about what he likes
-
- Tells stories
-
- Sings songs
-
- Uses pronouns (e.g. I, we), possessives (e.g. his/hers) and plurals (e.g. cats)
- Creative with make-believe play
- Recalls parts of a story
- Names colors and numbers
- Understands “same” and “different”
- Talks about what he likes
- Tells stories
- Sings songs
- Uses pronouns (e.g. I, we), possessives (e.g. his/hers) and plurals (e.g. cats)
-
- Starts counting
-
- Understands time
-
- Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
-
- Uses scissors
-
- Starts to copy capital letters
-
- Plays board and card games
-
- Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
-
- Pours, cuts with supervision and mashes own food
-
- Catches a bounced ball most of the time
- Starts counting
- Understands time
- Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
- Uses scissors
- Starts to copy capital letters
- Plays board and card games
- Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
- Pours, cuts with supervision and mashes own food
- Catches a bounced ball most of the time
5 Years
Language/ Communication
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
-
- Likes to sing, dance and act
-
- Can tell what’s real and make-believe
-
- Shows more independence
-
- Speaks very clearly
-
- Tells stories using full sentences
-
- Uses future tense
-
- Says name and address
- Likes to sing, dance and act
- Can tell what’s real and make-believe
- Shows more independence
- Speaks very clearly
- Tells stories using full sentences
- Uses future tense
- Says name and address
-
- Counts 10 or more things
-
- Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
-
- Copies a triangle and other shapes
-
- Can print some letters or numbers
-
- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
-
- Hops
-
- Can do a somersault
-
- Can use toilet on his own
-
- Swings and climbs
- Counts 10 or more things
- Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
- Copies a triangle and other shapes
- Can print some letters or numbers
- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Hops
- Can do a somersault
- Can use toilet on his own
- Swings and climbs
****Note to parents: Developmental milestones can vary slightly depending on each individual child.
If you are concerned, speak to your pediatrician about a referral to receive a thorough occupational and/or speech therapy evaluation.
(Source: ASHA and NBCOT)
0-3 Months
Language/ Communication
- Appears to recognize your voice and smiles or quiets
- Makes pleasure sounds (cooing)
- Smiles reflexively as newborn then develops social smile by 3 months
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Turns head to each side
- Rolls side to back
- Lift head 45 degrees
4-6 Months
Language/ Communication
- Moves eyes toward sound source
- Babbles using more consonant-like sounds sounds (p,b,m)
- Vocalizes excitement and displeasure
- Begins to play – “peek a boo” and other games
- Imitates some movements and sounds
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Holds self with forearms (Lifts chest from surface)
- Holds head steady in supported sitting
- Actively moves head in supported sitting
- Bears some weight on legs in supported standing
- Rolls prone to supine/supine to side
7-9 Months
Language/ Communication
- Exhibits resistive behaviors
- Shouts for attention
- Imitates play
- Plays vocally
- Recognizes some words
- Uses social gestures
- Uses jargon
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Sits independently
- Belly crawls
- Bears almost all weight on legs
- Pulls to stand on furniture
- Rolls supine to prone
10-12 Months
Language/ Communication
- Shows moods
- Uses objects appropriately (ex., spoon to pick up food)
- Obeys simple commands and directions
- Speaks one or more words
- Recognizes own name
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Shows moods
- Uses objects appropriately (ex., spoon to pick up food)
- Obeys simple commands and directions
- Speaks one or more words
- Recognizes own name
12-18 Months
Language/ Communication
- Responds to simple requests (“get your toy”)
- Points to common objects
- Uses simple gestures (e.g. waving)
- Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh”
- Imitates non-speech sounds
- Says one or two words
- Vocalizes with intent
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Finds hidden things easily
- Explores things in different ways (e.g. shaking)
- Puts things in/out of a container
- Pokes with index finger
- Uses things correctly
- Walks with one hand held
18-24 Months
Language/ Communication
- Demonstrates pretend play
- Follows simple directions without gestures
- Points to show others something interesting
- Uses several single words (e.g. no)
- Puts some two words together (“more cookie,” “no juice,” “mommy book”)
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Points to body parts
- Scribbles on his own
- Walks alone
- May walk up steps and run
- Pulls toys while walking
- Can help undress herself
- Drinks from a cup
- Eats with a spoon
2 Years
Language/ Communication
- Copies others
- Enjoys playing with other children
- Points to common objects/pictures
- Follows 2 step directions
- Knows the name of familiar people, common objects and body parts
- Puts 2-4 words together to form sentences
- Says things heard in conversation
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Sorts shapes and colors
- Completes rhymes
- Builds towers by stacking blocks
- Stands on tiptoe
- Kicks a ball
- Begins to run
- Walks up and down stairs holding on
- Climbs onto and down from furniture without help
- Throws ball
- Makes straight lines and circles
3 Years
Language/ Communication
- Takes turns in games
- Shows concern for others
- Understands possessives (e.g. mine, his/hers)
- Understands prepositions (e.g. in and on)
- Follows 2-3 step directions
- Can name most familiar things
- Uses pronouns (e.g. I, we) and plurals (e.g. cats)
- Can have a conversations using 2-3 sentences
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Dresses and undresses self
- Completes puzzles
- Copies a circle
- Turns pages one at a time
- Screws and unscrews jar lids
- Climbs well
- Runs easily
- Pedals a tricycle
- Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
4 Years
Language/ Communication
- Creative with make-believe play
- Recalls parts of a story
- Names colors and numbers
- Understands “same” and “different”
- Talks about what he likes
- Tells stories
- Sings songs
- Uses pronouns (e.g. I, we), possessives (e.g. his/hers) and plurals (e.g. cats)
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Starts counting
- Understands time
- Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
- Uses scissors
- Starts to copy capital letters
- Plays board and card games
- Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
- Pours, cuts with supervision and mashes own food
- Catches a bounced ball most of the time
5 Years
Language/ Communication
- Likes to sing, dance and act
- Can tell what’s real and make-believe
- Shows more independence
- Speaks very clearly
- Tells stories using full sentences
- Uses future tense
- Says name and address
Cognitive/ Motor Skills
- Counts 10 or more things
- Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
- Copies a triangle and other shapes
- Can print some letters or numbers
- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Hops
- Can do a somersault
- Can use toilet on his own
- Swings and climbs
****Note to parents: Developmental milestones can vary slightly depending on each individual child.
If you are concerned, speak to your pediatrician about a referral to receive a thorough occupational and/or speech therapy evaluation.
(Source: ASHA and NBCOT)
Contact Us
If you have any questions about speech therapy in Miami or Doral, Florida or would like to book an appointment for speech therapy, please call Exceptional Speech Therapy at 786.717.5649 or fill out the form below.
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