Milestones for Growing & Learning
Strong & Healthy Bodies
Watching children grow is one of the many joys of life. As they grow, your children will experience physical, cognitive, and social-emotional milestones, which will help you recognize the different stages they have reached or passed. You’ll be surprised at how much they learn and change in such a short time!
Development Milestones
Strong & Healthy Bodies
Remember – kids develop at their own unique pace, so use these milestones as general guidelines.
Milestones to Look for:
Birth to 3 months
Grips your finger or a toy placed in his or her hands.
Recognizes faces, touch, voices, and smell.
Turns head toward nipple or caregiver’s face while being held.
3 to 6 months
Sits with help and holds head steady.
Pushes up to see people and things around him or her.
Drools; may start teething.
Settles into a more regular sleeping and eating schedule.
Plays with fingers and toes.
Reaches for, grasps, and explores objects with fingers, hands, and mouth.
6 to 9 months
Rolls over from back to front.
Uses thumb and fingers to pick up objects.
Holds his or her own bottle.
Sits independently.
May crawl, scoot, or pull up on furniture to stand.
9 to 12 months
May begin to walk.
Drinks from a cup with help.
Tries to build a tower with two blocks.
12 to 15 months
Walks independently—or by holding a hand.
Crawls up stairs (but can’t come down yet).
Throws a ball.
Turns pages in a book.
15 to 18 months
Finger-feeds self, starts using a spoon, and drinks from a cup without help.
Walks, runs and climbs, scribbles with a crayon, and builds a tower with blocks.
Assists with dressing, undressing, and diapering.
18 to 24 months
Squats to pick up a toy and stands again.
Pushes large objects such as boxes, chairs, wagons, strollers.
Pounds object with intention—like hammering a peg.
Enjoys climbing, swinging, sliding, and walking up inclines.
24 to 30 months
Walks up stairs one foot at a time, walks backward, balances on one foot.
Can jump up and down in place.
Throws ball using whole body. Catches a ball by trapping it with arms and hands.
Continues to progress with self-feeding and uses a spoon or fork more independently.
30 to 36 months
Links words together.
Speaks clearly enough to be understood half the time.
Walks up and down stairs using alternating feet.
Participates in sleeping routines—like getting a book, arranging pillows or comfort items.
3 to 4 years
Builds a tower of six blocks.
Manipulates small objects.
Turns pages one at a time.
4 to 5 years
Uses scissors.
Stands on one foot for at least five seconds.
Dresses and undresses independently.
Throws a ball overhand, kicks a ball, and catches a bounced ball most of the time.
5 to 6 years
Copies a square, triangle, and other geometric shapes.
Stands on one foot for at least 10 seconds.
Hops, swings, and somersaults.
Starts to skip, swim, and ride a bike.
Brushes teeth and cares for other personal needs.
Explore milestones for each
Domain of Development
