t

Child's Mastered Skills (most kids Emerging Skills (half of kids Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Age can do) can do)
1 month Lifts head when lying on Follows objects briefly with Smiles, laughs
tummy eyes Holds head at 45-degree angle
Responds to sound Vocalizes: oohs and aahs
Stares at faces Can see black-and-white
patterns
2 months Vocalizes: gurgles and coos Smiles, laughs Holds head steady
Follows objects across field Holds head at 45-degree angle Can bear weight on legs
of vision Makes smoother movements Lifts head and shoulders when lying on
Notices his hands tummy (mini-pushup)
Holds head up for short
periods
3 months Recognizes your face and Squeals, gurgles, coos Rolls over, from tummy to back
scent Blows bubbles Turns toward loud sounds
Holds head steady Recognizes your voice Can bring hands together, bats at toys
Visually tracks moving Does mini-pushup
objects
4 months Smiles, laughs Can grasp a toy Imitates sounds: "baba," "dada"
Can bear weight on legs Rolls over, from tummy to Cuts first tooth
Coos when you talk to him back May be ready for solid foods
5 months Distinguishes between bold Recognizes own name Sits momentarily without support
colors Turns toward new sounds Mouths objects
Plays with his hands and feet Rolls over in both directions Separation anxiety may begin
6 months Turns toward sounds and Is ready for solid foods Lunges forward or starts crawling
voices Sits without support Jabbers or combines syllables
Imitates sounds Mouths objects Drags objects toward himself
Rolls over in both directions Passes objects from hand to
hand

Child's Mastered Skills (most kids can do) Emerging Skills (half of kids Advanced Skills (a few kids
Age can do) can do)
7 months Sits without support Lunges forward or starts crawling Waves goodbye
Drags objects toward herself Jabbers or combines syllables Stands while holding onto
Starts to experience stranger something
anxiety Bangs objects together
Begins to understand object
permanence
8 months Says "mama" and "dada" to both Stands while holding onto Pulls self to standing, cruises
parents (isn't specific) something Picks things up with thumb-finger
Passes objects from hand to hand Crawls pincer grasp
Points at objects Indicates wants with gestures
Searches for hidden objects
9 months Stands while holding onto something Cruises while holding onto Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo
Jabbers or combines syllables furniture Says "mama" and "dada" to the
Understands object permanence Drinks from a sippy cup correct parent
Eats with fingers
Bangs objects together
10 months Waves goodbye Says "mama" and "dada" to the Stands alone for a couple of
Picks things up with pincer grasp correct parent seconds
Crawls well, with belly off the ground Indicates wants with gestures Puts objects into a container
11 months Says "mama" and "dada" to the Understands "no" and simple Says one word besides "mama"
 correct parent instructions and "dada"
Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo Puts objects into a container Stoops from standing position
Stands alone for a couple of seconds
Cruises
12 months Imitates others' activities Takes a few steps Walks alone
Indicates wants with gestures Says one word besides "mama" Scribbles with a crayon
and "dada" Says two words besides "mama"
and "dada"

p
rint

Child's Age Mastered Skills (most kids can Emerging Skills (half of kids Advanced Skills (a few kids
do) can do) can do)
13 months Uses two words skillfully (e.g., "hi"
Enjoys gazing at his reflection Combines words and gestures to
and "bye") Holds out arm or leg to help you make needs known
Bends over and picks up an object dress him Rolls a ball back and forth
14 months Eats with fingers Toddles well Uses a spoon or fork
Empties containers of contents Initiates games Matches lids with appropriate
Imitates others Points to one body part when containers
asked Pushes and pulls toys while
Responds to instructions (e.g., walking
"give me a kiss")
15 months Plays with ball Scribbles with a crayon "Helps" around the house
Uses three words regularly Runs Puts his fingers to his mouth and
Walks backward Adopts "no" as his favorite word says "shhh"
16 months Turns the pages of a book Discovers the joy of climbing Takes off one piece of clothing
Has temper tantrums when Stacks three blocks by himself
frustrated Uses spoon or fork Gets finicky about food
Becomes attached to a soft toy or Learns the correct way to use Switches from two naps to one
other object common objects (e.g., the
telephone)
17 months Uses six words regularly Feeds doll Dances to music
 Enjoys pretend games Speaks more clearly Sorts toys by color, shape, or
Likes riding toys Throws a ball underhand size
Kicks ball forward
18 months Will "read" board books on his own Strings two words together in Throws a ball overhand
Scribbles well phrases Takes toys apart and puts them
Brushes teeth with help back together
Stacks four blocks Shows signs of toilet training
readiness

Child's Age Mastered Skills (most kids can do) Emerging Skills (half of kids can Advanced Skills (a few kids can
do) do)
19 months Uses a spoon and fork Understands as many as 200 Washes and dries own hands
Runs words with help
Throws a ball underhand Recognizes when something is Points to picture or object when
Enjoys helping around the house wrong (e.g., calling a dog a cat) you call it by name
May know when she needs to
pee
20 months Feeds doll Learns words at a rate of ten or May start exploring genitals
Takes off own clothes more a day Draws a straight line
Dumps an object in imitation, such Can walk up stairs (but probably Names several body parts
as throwing garbage away not down)
21 months Can walk up stairs Throws a ball overhand Names simple picture in a book
Able to set simple goals (e.g., Kicks ball forward Can walk down stairs
deciding to put a toy in a certain Stacks six blocks
place)
22 months Kicks ball forward Does simple puzzles Puts on loose-fitting clothes
Follows two-step requests (e.g., Draws a straight line Might be ready for a big bed
"Get your doll and bring it here") Names several body parts Understands opposites (e.g., tall
vs. short)
23 months Names simple picture in a book Opens doors Talks about self (likes, dislikes)
Uses 50 to 70 words Sings simple tunes Asks "why?"
Takes more of an interest in
playing with other kids
24 months Names at least six body parts Talks about self Begins to understand abstract
Half of speech is understandable Arranges things in categories concepts (e.g., sooner and later)
Makes two- to three-word Can walk down stairs Becomes attuned to gender
sentences differences
Learns to jump

Child's Age Mastered Skills (most kids can do) Emerging Skills (half of kids can Advanced Skills (a few kids can
do) do)
25 and 26 Stacks six blocks Uses pronouns (e.g., I, me, you) Speaks clearly most of the time
months Walks with smooth heel-to-toe Washes and dries own hands Draws a vertical line
motion
27 and 28 Jumps with both feet Understands descriptions (e.g., Starts to recognize ABCs
months Opens doors big, soft) Balances on one foot
Draws a vertical line
29 and 30 Brushes teeth with help Draws a circle Puts on a T-shirt
months Washes and dries own hands Balances on one foot Names one color
Draws a vertical line Names one friend

Child's Age Mastered Skills (most kids can do) Emerging Skills (half of kids can Advanced Skills (a few kids can
do) do)
31 and 32 Recites own name Puts on a T-shirt Uses two adjectives
months Draws a circle Balances on each foot for a Draws a cross
second Points to objects described by
Recognizes ABCs use
 Brushes teeth by herself
33 and 34 Names one color Alternates feet going up and down Is toilet trained during the day
months Names one friend stairs Wiggles thumb
Carries on a simple conversation Uses prepositions (e.g., on, in, Expresses a wide range of
over) emotions
Speaks clearly most of the time Draws a stick figure
(75 percent can be understood)
Stacks eight blocks
35 and 36 Describes how two objects are Hops and skips Balances on each foot for three
months used Follows a two- or three-part seconds
Uses three to four words in a command Gets dressed without help
sentence Separates fairly easily from
Names two actions (e.g., skipping, parents
jumping) Rides a tricycle