DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

Age
Newborn

Gross Motor

Flexor tone
predominates
(physiologic
flexion)
In prone, turns
head to side
Automatic
reflex walking
Rounded spine
when held
sitting

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

Attempts to lift
head in midline
Fencers
posture
Astasia
Abasia
Rolling supine
to side-lying
nonsegmentally
Beginning
midline head
control
Head midline,
Head held
when pulled to
sit
In prone lifts
head at 90

Fine Motor
Adaptive
Hands fisted
Grasp reflex
Statedependent
ability to fix and
follow bright
object

Personal/Social

Habituation
and some
control of
state

Speech and
Language
Cry
State
dependent
quieting and
head turning
to rattle or
voice

Cognitive

Sensorimoto
r 0-24 Mos
Reflex
stage

Emotional

Source

Basic trust vs
basic
mistrust.
( first year)
Normal
symbiotic
phase does
not
differentiate
between self
and mother

Molnar

Tecklin

Hand grasp
reflex (birth to
4/5 mos)
Visual regard
(birth to 2 mos)

Tecklin

Swipes with
whole hand (2-3
mos)

Tecklin

Visually
directed
reaching (3-5
mos)
Midline clasping
of hands (3-5
mos)
Hands mostly
open
Midline hand
play
Crude palmar
grasp

Tecklin

Recognizes
bottle

Turns of
voice and
bell
consistently
Laughs,
squeals,

Circular
reaction, the
interesting
result of an
action
motivates

Lap baby,
developing a
sense of basic
trust

Molnar

5 months

and lifts chest

slightly
Turns to supine

POE, head to
90 degrees,
chin tuck
Hands to
midline
Unilateral
reaching
prone-onelbows
Prone-onextended-arms
Pivot prone
posture
Beginning
intra-axial
rotation
Rolling prone
to supine,
segmentally
Head lifting in
supine
Supine, hands
to knees and
feet
Supine, hands
to feet
Supine, feet to
mouth
Propped sitting

Responsive
vocalization
Blows
bubbles,
raspberries

its repetition

Reaches out to
grasp object (45 mos)

Tecklin

Plays with feet;

bangs objects
together
Crude palming,
ulnar fingers
predominating
(5-7 mos)

Tecklin

Supine
bridging

6 months

7 months

Rolling supine
to prone,
segmentally
Ring sitting,
unsupported
with full trunk
extension and
high guard
Transferring
objects hand to
hand
Maintains
sitting, may
lean on arms
Rolls to prone
Bears all
weight,

Transfers object
from one hand
to the other

Intermediate
grasp
Transfers cube
from hand to
hand
Bangs objects

Began to
differentiate
between
mother and
self, i.e.,
beginning of
separation
individuation

Molnar

Tecklin

Differentiate
s between
familiar
person and
stranger
Holds bottle

Uses single
words and
doubleconsonantvowel
combination

Has a sense of
belonging to a
central
person.

Molnar

8 months

10
months

bounces when
held erect
Cervical
lordosis

Independent
sitting with
secondary
curves
Beginning
quadruped
Beginning pullto-standing
Creeps on all
fours
Pivots in sitting
Stands
momentarily
Cruises
Slight bow leg
Increased
lumbar
lordosis, acute
lumbosacral
angulation

Plantigrade
posture
Plantigrade
creeping
Pulls to
standing and
lowers self

Looks for
dropped
object
Talks to
mirror image

Lateral scissors
grasp (8-9 mos)

Pincer grasp,
mature thumb
to index bangs
2 cubes
Bangs two
cubes held in
hands

Tecklin

Plays peeka-boo
Finger feeds
Chews with
rotary
movement

Pincer grasp,
forefinger and
thumb in
opposition (1011 mos)
Forefinger
dominance:
poking and
prodding with
index finger
(10-11 mos)

Shouts for
attention
Imitates
speech
sounds
Waves
byebye
Uses
mama and
dada with
meaning,
Inhibits
behavior to
no

Can retrieve
an object
hidden from
view

Practicing
phase of
separationindividualizati
on
Practices
initiating
separations

Molnar

Tecklin

11
months
12
months

Pulls to
standing
through halfkneeling
Walking
independently

14
months

Walks alone,
arms in high
guard or
mudguard.
Wide base,
excessive knee
and hip flexion
Foot contact
on entire sole
Slight valgus of
knees and feet
Pelvic tilt and
rotation

Holding crayon
Beginning to
release
Uses graded
pressure; varies
pressure
depending in
object; uses
finger tip with
thumb
opposition in
fine pincer
grasp
Turns pages of
book
Piles two cubes
Scribbles
spontaneously
Hold crayon full
length in palm
Casts objects

Tecklin

Uses spoon
with
overpronatio
n and
spilling.
Removes
garments

Uses single
words
Understand
simple
commands

Egocentric
symbolic
play (e.g.,
pretends to
drink from
cup)

Differentiate
s available
behavior
patterns for
new words
i.e., pulls
rug on
which is a
toy.

Tecklin

Rapprocheme
nt phase of
separationindividuation ;
ambivalent
behavior to
mother
Stage of
autonomy vs.
shame and
doubt ( 1-3
y/o)
Issue of
holding on
and letting go.
Pleasure in
controlling
muscles and
sphincters

Molnar

15
months

Creeps up
stairs*

Precision grasp
with fine
pincer and
controlled
release
Scribbles on
paper
Builds tower of
2 cubes

17
months

18
months

Tecklin

Speaks 4-6
words
(Nelson)

Arms at low
guard
Mature
supporting
base and heel
strike
Seats self in
chair
Walks
backward

Walks up stairs
with help or
handrail
Walks
backward
Attempts to
kick ball
Hurls ball 3
feet
Fast walk

Emerging hand
dominance
Crude release
Hold crayon but
end in palm
Dumps raisin
from bottle
spontaneously

Holds paper
with other hand
when scribbling
Puts object in
the container
and dumps
contents
Builds tower of
three cubes

Imitates
housework
Carries,
hugs doll
Drinks from
cup neatly

Points to
named body
part
Identifies
one picture
Says no to
jargons.

Speaks 1015 words

Uses stick
to reach
toy
Pretend
play with
doll
(Nelson)
Capable of
insight, i.e.,
solving a
problem by
mental
combination
s, not
physical
groping.

Tecklin

Molnar

Tecklin

Turns pages of
book, perhaps
two or three at
a time

Begins running
Walks up and
down stairs
alone
Jumps on both
feet in place

Stands on low
balance beam
Jumps from
bottom step
Kicks ball (2-3
yrs)
Throws ball (23 yrs)
True run with
nonsupport
phase (2-3 yrs)
Runs well
Pedals tricycle
Broad jumps
Walks up stairs
alternating feet

Hand
dominance is
usual
Builds eight
cube tower
Aligns cubes
horizontally
Imitates vertical
line
Places pencil
shaft between
thumb and
fingers
Draws with arm
and wrist
action.

Imitates three
cube bridge
Copies circle
Uses overhand
throw with
anteroposterior
arm and trunk
motion
Catches with

21
months

2 years

3 years

Tecklin

Pulls on
garment
Uses spoon
well
Opens door
turning knob
Feeds doll
with bottle
or spoon
Toilet
training
usually
begun

Most
children
toilet trained
day and
night
Pours from
pitcher
Unbuttons
washes and

Two word
phrases are
common
Uses verbs
Refers to self
by name
Uses me,
mine
Follows
simple
directions

Three word
sentences
are usual
Uses future
tense asks
what, who,
where,
Follows
prepositional

Molnar

Preoperation
al period
( 2-7 years)
Able to
evoke an
object or
event not
present
Object
permanence
established
Comprehen
ds symbols

Preoperation
al period
continues.
Child is
capable of
deferred
imitation
symbolic
play

Tecklin

Stage of
initiatives vs.
guilt. ( 3-5
years )
Deals with
issue of
genital
sexuality.

Molnar

extended arms
hugging against
body.

Walks straight
line
Hops 3 times
Catches ball
using body and
hands

dries hands
and face.
Parallel play
Can take
turns
Can be
reasoned
with

4 years

Walks down
stairs
alternating
feet.
Hops on one
foot
Plantar arches
developing
Sits up form
supine position
without
rotating

Walks circular
line
Gallops

Handles a
pencil by finger
and wrist
action, like
adults
Copies a cross
Draws a froglike
person with
head and
extremities.
Throws
underhand
Cuts with
scissors

Cooperative
play
sharing and
interacting
Imaginative
make
believe play.
Dresses and
undresses
with
supervision
distinguishin
g front and
back of
clothing and
buttoning
Does simple
errands
outside
home

commands.
i.e., put it
under
Gives full
name
May stutter
in
eagerness.
Identifies
self as boy
or girl.
Recognizes
three colors
Gives
connected
account of
recent
experiences.
Questions
why, when,
how,
Uses past
tense,
adjectives,
adverbs,
Knows
opposite
analogies,
Repeats four
digits.

drawing of
graphic
images
verbal
evocation of
events

Tecklin

Molnar

Tecklin

5 years

Skips; tiptoes.
Balances 10
seconds on
each foot.

6 years

Balances on
one foot for 3
5 sec
Hops 810
times on same
foot
Hops distance
of 50 feet
Catches ball
using hands
only
Rides bicycle.
Roller skates

Skips

Hand
dominance
expected.
Draws man with
head, body, and
extremities.
Throws with
diagonal arm
and body
rotation.
Catches with
hands.

Continuing
refinement of
skills

Prints alphabet;
letter reversal
is still
acceptable.
Mature catch
and throw of
ball,

7 years

Creative
play
Competitive
team play
Uses fork for
stabbing
food,
Brushes
teeth,
Is self
sufficient in
toileting.
Dresses
without
supervision
expect tying
shoelaces.

Teacher is an
important
authority to
child
Uses form
appropriatel
y
Uses knife
for
spreading
Plays table
games
Eats with
fork and
knife.
Combs hair
Is
responsible
for grooming

Fluent
speech.
Misartiulatio
ns of some
sounds may
persist.
Gives name,
address,
age.
Defines
concrete
nouns by
composition,
classification
, or use.
Follows three
part
commands.
Has number
concepts to
10.
Shows
mastery of
grammar
Uses proper
articulation

Stage of
industry vs.
inferiority. ( 5
years
adolescence)
Adjusts
himself to the
inorganic laws
of the tool
world.

Molnar

Stage of
industry vs.
inferiority
continues.

Molnar

Tecklin

Tecklin

Period of
concrete
operational
thought ( 7
years adolescence
)

Molnar

Child is
capable of
logical
thinking

Levitt:
Prone development
Postural
stability of the
head

Postural
stability of the
trunk

Postural
stability of the
shoulder girdle

Postural
stability of
the pelvis

Counterpoising
of the head

Counterpoisin
g the arm
movements

Counterpoisin
g leg
movements

when lying
prone (03
months)
on forearms
(35
months)
on hands
(46
months)
on hands
and knees

flexion with
hips off the
surface and
then tips
over into
side lying
with weight
bearing
continuing
forward on
cheek or

When taking
weight on
forearms (35
months)
on hands with
elbows semiflexed (46
months)
elbows
straight (67
months)

on knees
with hips
at right
angles (4
months)
on elbows
and knees
(46
months)
on hands
and knees

head partial
raise and turn
(03 months)
head
movements
whilst holding
the head up
against
gravity (35
months)
Free head

creeping
actions (35
months)
when
weight
bearing on
one forearm
whilst
reaching
with the
other (57

Prone lying
during
creeping
actions (3
5 months)
leg
movement
on knees
with upper
trunk and
arms being

Tilt
reactions
in prone

lies at
about
6
month
s
hands
and
knees
at
about
912

Saving
from
falling
reactions

in the
arms
at 57
months
downw
ardandforwar
d
parach

(69
months)
in halfkneeling
hand
support (9
11 months)
on hands
and feet (12
months)
Head held in
alignment
with spine
(4 months)
with chin
well in (56
months)

side of face
and
shoulders
(03 months)

Weight then
shifts
towards the
legs. As
head,
shoulder and
trunk
stability
develops the
child can
control side
lying and
symmetrical
prone lying
(69 months)

The back
becomes
straight and
then slightly
extended on
forearms (3
5 months)
becoming
fully
extended on
hands (67
months)

In pivot
prone (510
months) the
trunk
stabilizes
well in
extension

When a child
is on
forearms, he
shifts his
weight
backwards and

weight bear on
hands and
knees (69
months)
prone lying
with arms held
stretched
forward along
the ground to
hold a toy (56
months)
when holding
an object in
the air (67
months) pivot
prone (begins
56 months
and
established 8
10 months)
with weight on
abdomen and
pelvis with
extended
trunk and legs
in the air as
well as with
arms held
abductedextended in
the air to
stabilize
shoulder girdle
(high guard
position)
In other
positions,
stability
develops
further during
half-kneeling
or in upright
kneeling,
leaning on

(69
months)
Stability of
pelvis and
hips on the
surface (6
9 months)
enables on
hands with
straight
elbows,
stabilises
in halfkneeling
and
upright
kneeling
with
support (9
12 months)
and
without
support
(1218
months)

movements
are
counterpoise
d in pronekneeling
postures (6
12 months)

months)
leaning on a
hand
reaching
with the
other (7
months)
Arms are
counterpois
ed in
crawling (9
11 months)
and on
hands and
feet (12
months)

supported
(56
months)

leg lift
when on
hands and
knees (68
months)

counterpois
ing of arms
in crawling
(911
months)
and in bearwalk (12
months)

Stand lean
on hands
on low
table
(modified
bear-walk
position),
weight shift
laterally
develops to
allow
counterpois
ing of leg
lifting and
also
prepares
for cruising
at low
furniture.

This
overlaps
into the
developme
nt of
cruising in
standing at
normally
912 months

month
s
in
uprigh
t
kneeli
ng
around
1518
month
s

ute,
followe
d by
arm
proppi
ng

forwards and to
each side (35
months) and
similarly when
on hands (67
months)

When a child
is on
forearms, he
shifts his
weight
backwards
and forwards
and to each
side (35
months) and
similarly
when on
hands (67
months)

Supine development:
Postural
stabilization of the
head
The normal
neonates head is
in midline with
physiological
flexion but on the
side by 1 month,
The body is tipped
to the same side
as the face, as
there is no
postural control
yet and neckrighting response
is active
Head stabilisation
in midline is (45
months normally)
on a surface and

hands (912
months) and
during
grasping a
support, within
all prone
developmental
stages,
especially
around 912
months

Postural stability
of the shoulder
girdle
holds the arm up
to face in midline
or when hands
are held in
midline (4
months) for hand
to mouth and for
hand regard,
which overcomes
the shoulder
retraction of 3
months
reach, reach and
grasp, and hand
eye coordination
(46 months)
including visually
directed reach to

levels

Postural stability
of the pelvis

Counterpoising the
limbs in the air

Rising reactions
and actions

Tilt reactions and

saving reactions

posterior tilt in
being pulled to sit
(46 months)
child holds legs in
the air with feet
touching in
dorsiflexion
supination (5
months)
one leg up in the
air (46 months)
in order to grasp
a knee and then a
foot and foot to
mouth
There is then
anterior pelvic tilt
and stability (57

There is activation
of limb muscles
together with
neck flexors,
pectorals,
serratus anterior
and abdominals
(57 months)
Pivoting on the
back using weight
shift to each side
counterpoises
lateral arm and
leg movements so
that a child can
move in circles
(910 months)

Supine, head
rising (righting)
and the
overcoming of
head lag (46
months) prepares
rising out of
supine
Normal
asymmetries in
supine lying are
from 0 to 4
months,
becoming
symmetrical in 4
5 months

less important in
supine than in
sitting and
standing.
They may be used
only laterally for
trunk
strengthening
exercises and for
correcting a
postural scoliosis.
Saving and
posterior tilt
correct round
backs and
strengthen back
extensors

with head held off

the surface (56
months)
Head turn to look
keeping body
midline or with
pelvis to the
opposite side (46
months) (Head
raise (46
months) is part of
the rising
reactions)

raised foot for

touching and
mouthing
There is
anticipatory
mouth opening to
mouth at 5
months

months) when a
child bridges his
hips in extension
with feet on the
surface