By 3 months of age does your child:

Motor Skills

lift head when held at your shoulder lift head and chest when lying on his stomach turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach follow a moving object or person with his eyes often hold hands open or loosely fisted grasp rattle when given to her wiggle and kick with arms and legs

Sensory and Thinking Skills

turn head toward bright colors and lights turn toward the sound of a human voice recognize bottle or breast respond to your shaking a rattle or bell

Language and Social Skills

make cooing, gurgling sounds smile when smiled at communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression) usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held anticipate being lifted react to "peek-a-boo" games

By 6 months of age does your child:

hold head steady when sitting with your help reach for and grasp objects play with his toes help hold the bottle during feeding explore by mouthing and banging objects move toys from one hand to another shake a rattle pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands sit with only a little support sit in a high chair roll over

bounce when held in a standing position

Sensory and Thinking Skills

open his mouth for the spoon imitate familiar actions you perform

Language and Social Skills

babble, making almost sing-song sounds know familiar faces laugh and squeal with delight scream if annoyed smile at herself in a mirror

By 12 months of age does your child:

drink from a cup with help feed herself finger food like raisins or bread crumbs grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger use his first finger to poke or point put small blocks in and take them out of a container knock two blocks together sit well without support crawl on hands and knees pull himself to stand or take steps holding onto furniture stand alone momentarily walk with one hand held cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm

Sensory and Thinking Skills

copy sounds and actions you make respond to music with body motion try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy) look for an object she watched fall out of sight (such as a spoon that falls under the table)

Language and Social Skills

babble, but it sometimes "sounds like" talking say his first word recognize family members' names try to "talk" with you respond to another's distress by showing distress or crying show affection to familiar adults show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent show apprehension about strangers raise her arms when she wants to be picked up understand simple commands

By 18 months of age does your child:

like to pull, push, and dump things pull off hat, socks, and mittens turn pages in a book stack 2 blocks carry a stuffed animal or doll scribble with crayons walk without help run stiffly, with eyes on the ground

Sensory and Thinking Skills

identify an object in a picture book laugh at silly actions (as in wearing a bowl as a hat) look for objects that are out of sight put a round lid on a round pot follow simple 1-step directions solve problems by trial and error

Language and Social Skills

say 8-10 words you can understand look at a person who is talking to him ask specifically for her mother or father use "hi," "bye," and "please," with reminders protest when frustrated ask for something by pointing or by using one word direct another's attention to an object or action become anxious when separated from parent(s) seek attention d

bring toys to share with parentact out a familiar activity in play (as in pretending to take a bath) play alone on the floor with toys compete with other children for toys recognize herself in the mirror or in pictures seem selfish at times

By 2 years of age does your child:

drink from a straw feed himself with a spoon help in washing hands put arms in sleeves with helpbuild a tower of 3-4 blocks toss or roll a large ball open cabinets, drawers, boxes operate a mechanical toy bend over to pick up a toy and not fall walk up steps with help take steps backward

Sensory and Thinking Skills

like to take things apart explore surroundings point to 5-6 parts of a doll when asked

Language and Social Skills

have a vocabulary of several hundred words use 2-3 word sentences say names of toys ask for information about an object (asks, "Shoe?" while pointing to shoe box) hum or try to sing listen to short rhymes like to imitate parents sometimes get angry and have temper tantrums act shy around strangers comfort a distressed friend or parent take turns in play with other children treat a doll or stuffed animal as though it were alive apply pretend action to others (as in pretending to feed a doll)

show awareness of parental approval or disapproval for her actions refer to self by name and use "me" and "mine" verbalize his desires and feelings ("I want cookie") laugh at silly labeling of objects and events (as in calling a nose an ear) enjoy looking at one book over and over point to eyes, ears, or nose when you ask

By 3 years
Social and Emotional

Copies adults and friends Shows affection for friends without prompting Takes turns in games Shows concern for crying friend Understands the idea of mine and his or hers Shows a wide range of emotions Separates easily from mom and dad May get upset with major changes in routine Dresses and undresses self

Language/Communication

Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps Can name most familiar things Understands words like in, on, and under Says first name, age, and sex Names a friend Says words like I, me, we, and you and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats) Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces Understands what two means Copies a circle with pencil or crayon

Turns book pages one at a time Builds towers of more than 6 blocks Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Movement/Physical Development

Climbs well Runs easily Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike) Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step

By 4 years
Social and Emotional

Enjoys doing new things Plays Mom and Dad Is more and more creative with make-believe play Would rather play with other children than by himself Cooperates with other children Often cant tell whats real and whats make-believe Talks about what she likes and what she is interested in

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 stories Can say first and last name

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Names some colors and some numbers Understands the idea of counting Starts to understand time Remembers parts of a story Understands the idea of same and different Draws a person with 2 to 4 body parts Uses scissors Starts to copy some capital letters Names four colors Plays board or card games Tells you what he thinks is going to happen next in a book

Movement/Physical Development

Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds Catches a bounced ball most of the time Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food

By 5 years
Social and Emotional

Wants to please friends Wants to be like friends More likely to agree with rules Likes to sing, dance, and act Shows concern and sympathy for others Is aware of gender Can tell whats real and whats make-believe Shows more independence (for example, may visit a next-door neighbor by himself [adult supervision is still needed]) Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very cooperative

Language/Communication

Speaks very clearly Tells a simple story using full sentences Uses future tense; for example, Grandma will be here.

Says name and address

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Counts 10 or more things Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts Can print some letters or numbers Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes Knows about things used every day, like money and food

Movement/Physical Development

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer Hops; may be able to skip Can do a somersault Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife Can use the toilet on her own Swings and climbs