Chambliss Center for Children — Developmental Milestone Pathway

Chambliss Center for Children — Developmental Milestones Pathway

Open any age to see milestones, then use the CDC links for full checklists and the Milestone Tracker app.

2 months — Infant
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Smiles at people
  • Looks at your face
  • Calms with a soothing voice or touch

💬 Language/Communication

  • Coos or makes gurgling sounds
  • Turns head toward sounds
  • Watches people as they talk

🧠 Cognitive

  • Pays attention to faces
  • Follows a moving object with eyes
  • Gets fussy if activity does not change

🚶 Physical

  • Holds head up briefly during tummy time
  • Moves arms and legs more smoothly
  • Brings hands to mouth
CDC 2-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
4 months — Infant
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Smiles easily and laughs
  • Enjoys play and may cry when it stops
  • Copies some facial expressions

💬 Language/Communication

  • Babbles with expression
  • Copies sounds
  • Different cries for needs

🧠 Cognitive

  • Responds to affection
  • Reaches for a toy with one hand
  • Uses hands and eyes together

🚶 Physical

  • Holds head steady
  • Pushes up to elbows on tummy
  • May roll from tummy to back
CDC 4-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
6 months — Infant
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Knows familiar people
  • Enjoys looking in a mirror
  • Likes to play with others

💬 Language/Communication

  • Responds to sounds by making sounds
  • Strings vowels when babbling
  • Responds to name

🧠 Cognitive

  • Brings things to mouth
  • Shows curiosity about things out of reach
  • Passes objects from one hand to the other

🚶 Physical

  • Rolls from tummy to back
  • Sits with support or briefly without
  • Pushes up with straight arms on tummy
CDC 6-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
9 months — Infant
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • May be shy around strangers
  • Has favorite toys
  • Shows several facial expressions

💬 Language/Communication

  • Understands “no”
  • Makes many different sounds
  • Points at things

🧠 Cognitive

  • Looks for a hidden object
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Transfers objects smoothly between hands

🚶 Physical

  • Sits without support
  • Stands holding on
  • Crawls or scoots
CDC 9-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
12 months — Infant
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Plays simple games like pat-a-cake
  • Is shy or nervous with strangers
  • Cries when parent leaves

💬 Language/Communication

  • Waves “bye-bye”
  • Says “mama,” “dada,” or another special name
  • Understands “no”

🧠 Cognitive

  • Looks for things you hide
  • Puts objects into a container
  • Uses objects correctly, like a cup

🚶 Physical

  • Pulls to stand and cruises
  • Takes steps with help or alone
  • Drinks from a cup with help
CDC 12-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
15 months — Toddler
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Shows affection to familiar people
  • Hands items to others as “play”
  • May have tantrums

💬 Language/Communication

  • Tries to say one or two words besides “mama/dada”
  • Looks at a familiar object when you name it
  • Points to ask for something or get help

🧠 Cognitive

  • Uses things the right way, like a cup or book
  • Stacks at least two small objects
  • Explores independently with caregiver nearby

🚶 Physical

  • Takes a few steps independently
  • Uses fingers to feed self
  • Helps undress self
CDC 15-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
18 months — Toddler
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Shows affection
  • Simple pretend play
  • Clings to caregivers in new situations

💬 Language/Communication

  • Says several single words
  • Points to show what is wanted
  • Says or shakes head “no”

🧠 Cognitive

  • Knows what ordinary things are for
  • Points to get attention
  • Enjoys a doll or stuffed animal

🚶 Physical

  • Walks without holding on
  • Climbs onto and off furniture
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid (may spill)
CDC 18-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
2 years — Toddler
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Copies others and plays beside children
  • Shows more independence
  • Gets excited with other children

💬 Language/Communication

  • Uses two-word phrases
  • Follows simple two-step directions
  • Points to things in a book

🧠 Cognitive

  • Sorts shapes or colors
  • Completes phrases in familiar books
  • Simple make-believe play

🚶 Physical

  • Kicks a ball and begins to run
  • Stands on tiptoe
  • Walks up and down stairs holding on
CDC 2-Year Milestones Milestone Tracker App
30 months — Toddler
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Plays next to and sometimes with other children
  • Shows simple problem-solving with help
  • Follows simple routines

💬 Language/Communication

  • Uses short phrases
  • Understands simple questions
  • Names familiar objects

🧠 Cognitive

  • Completes simple puzzles
  • Begins to match shapes and pictures
  • Pretend play becomes more complex

🚶 Physical

  • Jumps with both feet
  • Walks up stairs holding railing
  • Uses a fork and spoon with some spilling
CDC 30-Month Milestones Milestone Tracker App
3 years — Preschool
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Shows concern for crying friends
  • Takes turns in games
  • Calms down within a reasonable time

💬 Language/Communication

  • Follows two- or three-step directions
  • Understands most simple prepositions
  • Names most familiar things

🧠 Cognitive

  • Works toys with buttons or levers
  • Pretend play is common
  • Turns book pages one at a time

🚶 Physical

  • Climbs well
  • Runs easily and pedals a tricycle
  • Walks stairs with alternating feet
CDC 3-Year Milestones Milestone Tracker App
4 years — Preschool
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Enjoys doing new things
  • Plays “pretend” roles
  • Cooperates with other children

💬 Language/Communication

  • Tells stories
  • Understands some basic grammar rules
  • Knows many simple songs or rhymes

🧠 Cognitive

  • Names colors and some numbers
  • Understands counting
  • Remembers parts of a story

🚶 Physical

  • Catches a large ball most of the time
  • Unbuttons some buttons
  • Holds pencil between fingers and thumb
CDC 4-Year Milestones Milestone Tracker App
5 years — Pre-K
Milestones — click to expand
❤️💬🧠🚶

❤️ Social/Emotional

  • Follows rules or takes turns in games
  • Sings, dances, or acts for you
  • Helps with simple chores

💬 Language/Communication

  • Speaks clearly in full sentences
  • Tells a simple story
  • Uses future tense

🧠 Cognitive

  • Counts 10 or more items
  • Draws a person with several parts
  • Knows about common items like money and food

🚶 Physical

  • Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
  • Hops and may skip
  • Uses a fork and spoon, sometimes a table knife
CDC 5-Year Milestones Milestone Tracker App
❤️ Social/Emotional 💬 Language/Communication 🧠 Cognitive 🚶 Physical
© Chambliss Center for Children — Training Resource
 

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