MCLIC - McLean County Local Interagency Council

This chart will guide you through the growth and development of a typical child during the critical ages from birth to three years. The milestones listed below are typical for young children. Please remember that every child is unique; children grow and develop at different rates. Most of the time differences between children of the same age are nothing to worry about. But for one child in ten, the difference can be related to a developmental delay.

If you have questions or concerns about a child's growth and development, call Early Intervention at 1-800-323-4769 (voice/TTY).

At age one month, most children can...

Raise their heads slightly when lying on their stomachs
Briefly watch objects
Make "noise in throat" sounds
Pull away from a cloth or blanket on their faces

At age three months, most children can...

Lift their heads and chests when lying on their stomachs
Show vigorous body movement
Follow a moving person with their eyes
Recognize a bottle or breast
Smile when someone speaks to them

At age six months, most children can...

Sit with minimal support
Roll from their backs to their stomachs
Turn to locate and identify sounds
Transfer objects from hand to hand and from hand to mouth
Respond to friendly speech with a smile or coo

At age 12 months, most children can...

Pull themselves up to stand and may step with support
Pick things up with a thumb and one finger
Nod their heads to signal "yes"
Give affection
Say two or three words

At age 2, most children can...

Hand over toys upon request
Kick a large ball
Turn pages in a book (two or three at a time)
Ask for items by name
Recognize a familiar picture and know if it is upside down
Use two or three words together, such as "more juice"

At age 3, most children can...

Walk up stairs while holding the railing
Stand momentarily on one foot
Open doors
Unbutton large buttons
Verbalize toilet needs
Stack objects of different sizes

At age 4, most children can . . .

Hop in place
Throw balls from above their heads
Tell that they are a boy or girl
Say their last name and age
Point to six basic colors when asked
Ride a tricycle
Wash their hands by themselves
Copy a circle
Begin to play with other children
Respond verbally to "Hi" and "How are you?"

At age 5, most children can . . .

Run on their tiptoes
Recognize their names in print
Play cooperatively with others
Put their shoes on the correct feet
Understand "yesterday" and "tomorrow"
Use sentence with correct grammar, such as "May I go to the store?" or "I want a big cookie."

This information was taken from the Department of Human Service Early Intervention.