MILESTONE QUIZ

Milestone Quiz

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development.
Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age.

What age range is your child?

0 – 3 Months

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Begin to smile at peopleCan briefly calm themselves (may bring hands to mouth and suck on hand)Tries to look at parentNone

Language/Communication

Coos, makes gurgling soundsTurns head towards soundsNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Pays attention to facesBegins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distanceBegins to act bored (cries/fussy) if activity doesn't changeNone

Movement/Physical Development

Can hold head up and begins to push when lying on tummyMakes smoother movements with arms and legsNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Doesn't respond to loud soundsDoesn't watch things as they moveDoesn't smile at peopleDoesn't bring hands to mouthCan't hold head up when pushing up when on tummyNone

4 – 5 Months

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Smiles spontaneously, especially towards peopleLikes to play with people and might cry when playing stopsCopies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowningNone

Language/Communication

Begins to babbleBabbles with expression and copies sounds they hearCries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tiredNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Lets you know if they are happy or sadResponds to affectionReaches for toy with one handUses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for itFollows moving things with eyes from side to sideWatches faces closelyRecognizes familiar people and things at a distanceNone

Movement/Physical Development

Holds head steady, unsupportedPushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surfaceMay be able to roll over from tummy to backCan hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toysBrings hands to mouthWhen laying on stomach, pushes up to elbowsNone

What are some things that your child cannot do?

Doesn't Watch Things as they moveDoesn't smile at peopleCan't hold head steadyDoesn't coo or make soundsDoesn't bring things to mouthDoesn't push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surfaceHas trouble moving one or both eyes in all directionsNone

6 – 8 Months

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a strangerLikes to play with others, especially parentsResponds to other people's emotions and often seems happyLikes to look at self in a mirrorNone

Language/Communication

Responds to sounds by making soundsStrings vowels together when babbling (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”)Responds to own nameMakes sounds to show joy and displeasureBegins to say consonant sounds (jabbering with “m,” “b”)None

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Looks around at things nearbyBrings things to mouthShows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reachBegins to pass things from one hand to the otherNone

Movement/Physical Development

Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)Begins to sit without supportWhen standing, supports weight on legs and might bounceRocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backwards before moving forwardsNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Doesn't try to get things that are in reachShows no affection for caregiversDoesn't respond to sounds around themHas difficulty getting things to mouthDoesn't make vowel sounds (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”)Doesn't roll over in either directionDoesn't laugh or make squealing soundsSeems very stiff, with tight musclesSeems very floppy, like a rag dollNone

9 – 11 Months

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Language/Communication

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Looks around at things nearbyBrings things to mouthShows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reachBegins to pass things from one hand to the otherNone

Movement/Physical Development

What are some things your child cannot do?

1 Year Old

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Is shy or nervous with strangersCries with mom or dad leavesHas favorite things and peopleShows fear in some situationsHands you a book when they want to hear a storyRepeats sounds or actions to get attentionPuts out arm or leg to help with dressingPlays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”None

Language/Communication

Responds to simple spoken gesturesUses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”Tries to say words you sayNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwingFinds hidden things easilyLooks at the right picture or thing when it's namedCopies gesturesStarts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hairBangs two things togetherPuts things on a container, takes things out of a containerLets things go without helpPokes with index (pointer) fingerFollows simple directions like “pick up the toy”None

Movement/Physical Development

Gets to a sitting position without helpPulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”)May take a few steps without holding onMay stand aloneNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Doesn't crawlCan't stand when supportedDoesn't search for things that they sees you hideDoesn't say single words like “mama” or “dada”Doesn't learn gestures like waving or shaking headDoesn't point to thingsLoses skills once hadNone

1.5 Years Old

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Likes to hand things to others as playMay have temper tantrumsMay be afraid of strangersShows affection to familiar peoplePlays simple pretend, such as feeding a dollMay cling to caregivers in new situationsPoints to show others something interestingExplores alone but with parents close byNone

Language/Communication

Says several single wordsSays and shakes head "no"Points to show someone what they wantNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoonPoints to get attention of othersShows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feedPoints to one body partScribbles on their ownCan follow 1-step verbal command without any gestures; for example, sits when you say "sit down"None

Movement/Physical Development

Walks aloneMay walk up steps and runPulls toys while walkingCan help undress themselvesDrinks from a cupEats from a spoonNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Doesn't point to show things to othersCan't walkDoesn't know what familiar things are forDoesn't copy othersDoesn't gain new wordsDoesn't have at least 6 wordsDoesn't notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returnsLoses skills they once hadNone

2 Years Old

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Copies others, especially adults and older childrenGets excited with playing with other childrenShows more and more independenceShows defiant behavior (doing what they have been told not to do)Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase gameNone

Language/Communication

Points to things or pictures when they are namedKnows names of familiar people and body partsSays sentences with 2 to 4 wordsFollows simple instructionsRepeats words overheard in conversationsPoints to things in a bookNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Find things even when hidden under two or three coversBegins to sort shapes and colorsCompletes sentences and rhymes in familiar booksPlays simple make-believe gamesBuilds towers of 4 or more blocksMight use one hand more than the otherFollows two-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet.”Names items in a pictures such as a cat, bird, or dogNone

Movement/Physical Development

Stands on tiptoesKicks a ballBegins to runClimbs onto and down from furniture without helpWalks up and down stairs holding onThrows ball overhandMakes or copies straight lines and circlesNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Doesn't use 2-word phrases (for example, “drink milk”)Doesn't know what to do with common things, like a brush, phone, fork, spoonDoesn't copy actions and wordsDoesn't follow simple instructionsDoesn't walk steadilyLoses skills they once hadNone

3 Years Old

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Copies adults and friendsShows affection for friends without promptingTakes turns in gamesShows concern for a crying friendUnderstands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”Shows a wide range of emotionsSeparates easily from mom and dadMay get upset with major changes in routineDresses and undresses selfNone

Language/Communication

Follows instructions with 2 or 3 stepsCan name most familiar thingsUnderstands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”Says first name, age, and sexNames a friendSays words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the timeCarries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences.None

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Can work toy buttons, levers, and moving partsPlays make-believe with dolls, animals, and peopleDoes puzzles with 3 to 4 piecesUnderstands what “two” meansCopies a circle with a pencil or crayonTurns book pages one at a timeBuilds towers of more than 6 blocksScrews and unscrews jar lids or turns door handlesNone

Movement/Physical Development

Climbs wellRuns easilyPedals a tricycle (3 wheel bike)Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each stepNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairsDrools or has unclear speechCan't work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles, turning handles)Doesn't speak in sentencesDoesn't understand simple instructionsDoesn't play pretend or make-believeDoesn't want to play with other children or with toysDoesn't make eye-contactLoses skills they once hadNone

4 Years Old

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Enjoys doing new thingsPlays “Mom” and “Dad”Is more and more creative with make-believe playWould rather play with others than by themselvesCooperates with other childrenOften can't tell what's real and what's make-believeTalks about what they like and what their interests areNone

Language/Communication

Knows some basic rules of grammar, such as correctly using “he” and “she”Sings a song or says a poem from memory such as the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or the “Wheels on the Bus”Tells storiesCan say first and last nameNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Name some colors and some numbersUnderstands the idea of countingStarts to understand timeRemembers parts of a storyUnderstands the idea of “same” and “different”Draws a person with 2 to 4 body partUses scissorsStarts to copy some capital lettersPlays board or card gamesTells you what he things is going to happen next in a bookNone

Movement/Physical Development

Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 secondsCatches a bounced ball most of the timePours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own foodNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Can't jump in placeHas trouble scribblingShows no interest in interactive games or make-believeIgnores other children or doesn't respond to people outside the familyResists dressing, sleeping, and using the toiletCan't retell a favorite storyDoesn't follow 3-part commandsDoesn't understand “same” and “different”Doesn't use “me” and “you” correctlySpeaks unclearlyLoses skills they once hadNone

5 Years Old

Please Check all that Apply:

Social/Emotional

Wants to please friendsWants to be like friendsMore likely to agree with rulesLikes to sing, dance, and actIs aware of genderCan tell what's real and what's make-believeShows more independence; for example, may visit a next-door neighbor by themselves (with adult supervision)Is something demanding and sometimes very cooperativeNone

Language/Communication

Speaks very clearlyTells a simple story using full sentencesUses future tense; for example, “Grandma will be here.”Says name and addressNone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Counts 10 or more thingsCan draw a person with at least 6 body partsCan print some letters or numbersCopies a triangle and other geometric shapesKnows about things used every day, like money and foodNone

Movement/Physical Development

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longerHops; may be able to skipCan do a somersaultUses a fork and a spoon and sometimes a table knifeCan use the toilet on their ownSwings and climbsNone

What are some things your child cannot do?

Doesn't show a wide range of emotionsShows extreme behavior (unusually fearful, aggressive, shy, or sad)Unusually withdrawn and not activeIs easily distracted, has trouble focusing on one activity for more than 5 minutesDoesn't respond to people, or responds only superficiallyCan't tell what's real and what's make-believeDoesn’t play a variety of games and activitiesCan’t give first and last nameDoesn't use plurals or past tense properlyDoesn't talk about daily activities or experiencesDoesn't draw picturesCan't brush teeth, wash and dry hands, or get undressed without helpLoses skills they once hadNone