Developmental Milestones.

 0-6  months

·         Establishes eye contact for a few seconds

·         Responds with a smile when socially approached

·         Recognizes parent visually

·         Discriminates strangers

·         Laughs in response to play

·         Distinguishes between friendly and angry voices

·         Manipulates and explores objects

·         Manipulates a rattle

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         Imaginative play actions are absent or random

·         May lead to poor muscle development

·         May lead to a delayed ability to play independently

·         May lead to delayed sensory development due to delayed interaction with toys and other sensory objects

·         May lead to poor emotional development (e.g. may cry easily)

 6-12 months

·         Plays peek-a-boo

·         Participates in clapping when prompted

·         Lifts arms to parent

·         Responds to facial expressions

·         Extends toys to others

·         Manipulates and explores objects

·         Imitates an adult’s actions

·         Places doll with head upright and vertical to the ground

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         Imaginative play actions are absent or random

·         May lead to delayed sensory development due to lack of sensory play experiences

·         May lead to delayed fine motor skills due to lack of practice manipulating toys and objects

·         May have difficulties socializing with parents and joint attention

·         May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention

 1-2 years

·         Has toy preferences

·         Identifies self in mirror

·         Imitates adult behavior

·         Likes repetitive actions such as putting objects in and out of boxes and scribbling on many pages

·         Imitates a pretend play action (e.g. giving a drink)

·         Demonstrates play related to their body (e.g. sleeping, eating)

·         Spontaneously performs one action with a doll (e.g. hugs doll)

·         Uses a similar looking object for the needed object (e.g. uses paper as a blanket)

·         Is unable to share and competes with other children for toys

·         Looks for hidden objects

·         Begins to play next to other children

·         Observes other children playing around them but will not play with them

·         Engages in imaginative play

·         Says “hi”, “bye” and “please” without prompting

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         May lead to delayed fine motor skills due to lack of practice manipulating toys and objects

·         May have difficulties socializing with parents and joint attention

·         May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention

 2-3 years

·         Has a strong sense of ownership

·         May begin cooperative play

·         Treats doll or teddy as if it is alive

·         Plays alongside others but will not play together with them

·         Begins to use symbols in their play such as a stick becoming a sword

·         Play themes reflect less frequently experienced life events (e.g. visiting the doctor)

·         Play actions are detailed and logical with “No”

·         Uses or plans story-line

·         Has an awareness of a parent’s approval or disapproval of their actions

·         Will express emotions

·         Will verbalize their desires/feelings (e.g. “I want a drink”)

·         Begins to obey and respect simple rules

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         May have difficulties socializing with peers and joint attention

·         May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention

·         May lead to delayed fine motor skills due to lack of practice manipulating toys and objects

·         May lead to delayed manipulation of small objects such as toys, pencils and scissors

·         May result in frustration when manipulating small toys and objects

 3-4 years

·         Plays with mechanical toys

·         Takes turns with other children

·         Plays with 2 or 3 children in a group

·         Play themes expand beyond personal experience (e.g. fireman rescuing people)

·         Talks about their feelings

·         Feels shame when caught doing the wrong thing

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         May have difficulties socializing with peers

·         May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention

·         May have difficulties expressing wants, needs, thoughts and ideas

·         May display frustration when manipulating small toys and objects

 4-5 years

·         Begins taking turns and negotiating

·         Plays together with shared aims of play with others

·         Usually prefers playing with other children than playing by themselves

·         Plays imaginatively (e.g. playing in the home-corner, dressing up, cooking)

·         Enjoys playing games with simple rules (e.g. hide and seek)

·         May change the rules of a game as the activity progresses

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         May have difficulties socializing

·         May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention

·         May have difficulties expressing wants, needs, thoughts and ideas

·         May lead to poor self-esteem due to difficulties interacting with other children

 5-6 years

·         Play themes include themes never personally experienced (e.g. going to space)

·         Plays and negotiates with others during play

·         Play is well organized

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         May have difficulties socializing

·         May have difficulties retelling events

·         May have difficulties following routines

·         May have difficulties expressing thoughts and ideas verbally and in written form

·         May lead to poor self-esteem due to difficulties interacting with other children

 6-7 years

·         Enjoys playing in small groups and making up their own games with rules

·         Enjoys playing co-operative games but has difficulties coping with losing

·         Likes to play with other children of their own gender

·         Enjoys using and understanding rules in play

Possible implications if milestones not achieved 

·         May have difficulty socializing

·         May have difficulty following instructions at home and at school

·         May have difficulty retelling events

·         May have difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas verbally and in written form

·         May lead to poor self-esteem due to difficulty interacting with other children