• Maintains eye contact during feeding 
• Lifts head to 45 degrees to turn head side-to-side when on belly 
• Arms & legs are bent most of the time when placed on back or belly
• Maintains head turned to the side most of the time
• Coordinated sucking, swallowing, and breathing simultaneously 
• Keeps hands closed most of the time 
• Performs tummy time through chest-to-chest contact with parent in upright position 

• Smiles and follows familiar faces and toys with eyes 
• Attends to a toy or face while maintaining head at midline 
• Explores body by touching hands to body, hands to hands, and hands to mouth 
• Kicks with alternating pattern when on back 
• Touches feet together when lying on back to prepare feet for standing 
• Props self on forearms and lifts head to 45-90 degrees without head bobbing when on belly
• Requires full support to trunk in sitting, but can maintain head upright 
• Keeps hands open most of the time 
• Makes different sounds for different needs or emotions 
• Turns head toward a voice 

• Reaches hands to knees when on back 
• Rolls from belly to each side 
• Moves eyes without moving head to track objects 
• Props self on forearms and lifts head to 90 degrees for extended periods 
• Reaches upward to play with dangling toys when lying on back 

• Pushes up onto hands with elbows straight when on belly 
• Reaches for toys when propped on forearms when on belly 
• Reaches hands to feet and brings feet to mouth 
• Rolls from back to each side 
• Sits on floor, propping self on hands
• Rolls belly to back accidentally 
• Performs pull to sit without head lag 
• Takes full weight in standing but requires support 

• Rolls back to belly in each direction 
• Sits on floor with hands free to play or reach for toys in front of body 
• Stands independently briefly at support surface when placed
• Begins shaking a small toy or rattle 
• Begins holding a small toy in each hand at the same time 

• Prefers to be on belly 
• Begins to crawl on belly 
• Assumes hands and knees position and can rock back and forth 
• Transitions in and out of sitting, belly, and hands and knees positions

• Catches self with arms when losed balance in sitting 
• Crawls on hands and knees as primary means of mobility 
• Pulls to stand at support surface by bringing one knee up and and using arms 
• Stands independently at furniture 
• Walks alongside furniture 
• Understands “no” and “hot” 

• Crawls up stairs 
• Climbs frequently on furniture, stairs, and people 
• Walks with both hands held 
• Begins clapping hands together 
• Develops fine motor control due to good trunk control in sitting 
• Waves in response to “bye-bye” 
• Responds to a request to “come here” 

• Moves into sitting position from belly or back 
• Lowers self from standing to retreive toys 
• Transports toys around the room when crawling 
• Reaches across midline in sitting 
• Begins to self-feed small pieces of food using thumb and index finger 
• Says “mama” and “dada” 
• Plays peek-a-boo 

• Walks with one hand held 
• Releases grasp from support surface in standing 
• Attempts to take steps away from support surface 
• Begins to put objects into containers and remove them 
• Assists with dressing arms and legs 
• Removes both socks 
• Opens a board book 

• Rises to stand without using arms 
• Begins walking independently 
• Identifies two body parts on self 
• Uses 2-3 words other than “mama” and “dada”
• Uses each hand for separate roles to complete a task, such as using one hand to hold a jar while the other hand unscrews the lid 
• Uses squatting position for play 
• Chooses favorite things and people 

• Likes to hand things to others as play
• Shows affection to familiar people
• Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
• May cling to caregivers in new situations
• Says several single words
• Says and shakes head “no”
• Points to show someone what he/she wants
• Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon
• Points to one body part
• Scribbles on his/her own
• Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit down”
• May walk up steps and run
• Pulls toys while walking
• Can help undress himself/herself
• Drinks from a cup

FINE MOTOR SKILLS 

• Can place 2-3 shapes into a puzzle 
• Can place 4 rings on a post (such as a ring stacker)
• Turns pages of a book one at a time 
• Builds a tower of 6 blocks 
• Imitates a vertical and circular stroke 
• Pinches small food/toy items using pad of finger and index finger and thumb (finger and thumb forming a circle while pinching) 
• Can unscrew a jar/lid 
• Holds a crayon using thumb and all fingers with thumb turned down towards paper 
• Cuts snips in paper using dull scissors 
• Uses a fork 

SELF-HELP SKILLS 

• Puts on simple clothing items such as hats, t-shirts, or pants with an elastic waist
• Spoon feeds withotu excessive spilling 
• Drinks from open mouth cup with little spillage 
• Feeds self with utensils 
• Undresses self with help on buttons 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

• Understands simple questions and commands 
• Identifies body parts 
• Refers to self by name 
• Asks for drink, toilet, food 
• Uses 2-3 word sentences 

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS 

• Walks backward 10 steps
• Walks on all types of surfaces 
• Tiptoes 
• Runs 5-10 steps without falling 
• Walks up and down staits holding one rail 

FINE MOTOR SKILLS 

• Can stack at least 10 blocks 
• Can cut across a piece of paper using scissors
• Copies age appropriate shapes such as circles & squares
• Holds pencil with fingertips 
• Can string 4 large beads 
• Can draw intersecting lines (+)
• Laces 3 holes in a lacing card following directions 

SELF-HELP SKILLS

• Uses feeding utensils well 
• Can cut across a piece of paper using scissors
• Opens doors 
• Pours well from a pitcher 
• Dresses and undresses self but may been help with buttons or zippers 
• Can use potty chair or toilet 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

• Can match primary colors, names on color 
• Whispers and sings 
• Understands “yesterday”, “summer”, “lunchtime”, “little/big”
• Frequently practices by talking to him/herself 
• Begins to obey prepositional phrases like “put the block under the chair”
• Can tell a story or relay an idea to someone 
• Knows last name, sex, name of home street, nursery rhymes
• Uses 3-4 word sentences 
• May repeat sounds, words, and phrases
• Expresses fatigue verbally 

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS 

• Walks 5 steps on tiptoes with hands on hips or carrying an object with both hands 
• Walks up and down stairs wihtout holding handrail 
• Jumps off floor with both feet 

By 3.5 YEARS 

• Runs with some periods of flight (both feet off the ground) 
• Hops once in place on one foot 
• Walks up 10 steps, right, left, right, left, without holding rail 
• Jumps over an 8″ hurdle 

FINE MOTOR SKILLS 

• Can use scissors to cut on a line 
• Can hold paper with one hands while writing with the opposite hand 
• Can copy age appropriate shapes of + and triangle 
• Can identify common objects by touch only 
• Can fold a sheet of paper 

SELF-HELP SKILLS 

• Can unbutton clothing without any assistance 
• Can button 1 or 2 buttons 
• Performs toileting needs independently 
• Washes and dries hands independently 
• Serves self food without assistance 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

• Points to colors red, blue, yellow, and freen 
• Can speak of imaginary conditions such as “what if…”
• Uses 4-8 word sentences 
• Uses past tense correctly 
• Stays with one activity for more than 10 minutes 

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS 

• Skips 5 steps 
• Hops up to 3 times on preferred foot
• Jumps rope for 2 cycles 
• Jumps over several 8″ obstacles in succession 
• Jumps from 24″-30″ height with feet together on take-off and landing 
• Stands on either leg for 6 seconds 
• Kicks a ball 12′-15′ 
• Throws 3″ ball to an adult, overhand 
• Catches 3″ ball with elbows bent 

BY 4.5 YEARS 

• Skips 5-10 steps, with coordinated step-hop 
• Runs fast 
• Hops 5 times on preferred foot
• Walks down stairs, right, left, right, left holding rail 
• Does 1 somersault 
• Walks full length of balance beam/curb 
• Pumps swing independently 

FINE MOTOR SKILLS 

• Can touch finder to thumb within 8 seconds following demonstration, starting with index finger to thumb 
• Connects 2 dots with a straight line 
• Draws a 6 part person 
• Cuts and pastes shapes such as circle, square, and triangle 
• Can build a 6 cube pyramid with example in front of him/her 
• Can fold paper into equal halves 
• Colors between two vertical lines 
• Writes name with no model 
• Can copy age approproate shapes of diagnonal line, X, and diamond 
• Completes ABC puzzle 
• Displays hand dominance 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

• Has correct articulation of speech sounds 
• Uses past tense and future tense appropriately 
• Understands the meanings of most sentences 
• Follows 3-part commands (“pick up your shoes, put them in your room, and come sit down”)
• Knows the meaning of “today”, “yesterday”, and “tomorrow”
• Asks “What?”, “Why?”, and “How?”
• Names days of the week in order and can count to 30 
• Tells month and day of birthday, name and address, left and right 

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS

• Skips 10 or more steps 
• Stands on one leg for 10 seconds each 
• Walks full length of balance beam while carrying something in both hands or with hands on hips 
• Does 2 somersaults on a row 
• Rides bicycle with training wheels