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As children grow, they reach developmental milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, move and socialize with others.
Skills such as:
- Taking a first step.
- Smiling for the first time.
- Waving “bye-bye.”
Of course, there are more milestones than just those three. Be sure to get familiar with all of them — listed below.
Important Milestones at 3 Years
- Shows affection for friends without prompting
- Takes turns in games
- Separates easily from mom and dad
- May get upset with major changes in routine
- Dresses and undresses self
- Understands words like "in," "on," and "under"
- Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
- Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
- Walks up and downstairs, one foot at a time
Important Milestones at 4 Years
- Plays "Mom" and "Dad"
- Would rather play with other children than by him/herself
- Cooperates with other children
- Sings a song or says a poem from memory such as the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or the "Wheels on the Bus"
- Names some colors and some numbers
- Uses scissors
- Starts to copy some capital letters
- Hops and stands on one foot for up to 2 seconds
- Catches a ball most of the time
Important Milestones at 5 Years
- Wants to please friends
- Likes to sing, dance, and act
- Shows concern and sympathy for others
- Speaks clearly
- Says name and address
- Counts 10 or more things
- Can print some numbers and letters
- Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
- Hops: may be able to skip
- Swings and climbs
- Can use the toilet on his/her own
Every child is different
Keep in mind, children develop and grow at their own pace, so it can be difficult to tell exactly when a child will learn a given skill. Meeting with your pediatrician will help to keep your child’s development on track, too.
Early Intervention is key
It’s OK to raise concerns about a child’s physical or mental development. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability or needs additional support, click on the “Get Connected” page to find out what you can do.
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