This checklist is a brief guide to the development of children from birth through three years. It will assists providers and parents as they try to determine if a child is functioning at the appropriate developmental level. It should only be used with other sources of child development information and never to diagnose a child's problems or developmental delays.

1-2 Months

Cognitive
- pays attention to someone's face in the direct line of vision

Social Emotional
- smiles and coos with throaty sounds such as "gu"
- likes to be held and rocked
- quiets when held or picked up
- cries to get attention

Motor
- head bobs without support
- able to raise head from surface when lying on tummy
- takes hand to mouth
- eyes follow moving objects or person
- moves mouth to source of stimulation (nipple/breast)
- takes some weight on legs when held standing
- holds hands in a tight fist
- startle reflex when feels falling or during sleep
- grasp reflex strong
- rolls part way to side when lying on back
- turns head side to side
- hips bent with bottom in the air when on tummy (fetal position)

Oral Motor
- sucks well
- makes sucking sounds
- tongue moves up and down, in and out

Language
- grunts and sighs
- repeats a syllable while crying
- responds differently to adult voices

Self-help
- wiggles and squirms to assist gas release

3-5 Months

Cognitive
- has learned behavior can cause others to act in predictable way (if smiles, get kissed)
- eyes locate source of sound
- has different cries for pain, hunger, or anger
- knows strangers from family
- seeks out objects (looks for bottle)
- recognizes bottle or nipple
- hands open in anticipation of contact
- shows different responses to different family members
- searches for speaker
- cries at angry tone of voice

Social-Emotional
- laughs aloud when stimulated
- plays with own body
- likes peek-a-boo
- smiles when playing alone
- enjoys lively play
- smiles at self in mirror
- expresses emotions through vocalizations

Motor
- takes toy to mouth
- swipes at toy
- when held, sits with stable back and head
- grasps objects when placed in hand
- holds rattle for extended periods of time
- sits supported for short periods of time
- reaches for and holds objects
- stands firmly when held
- rotates head freely
- able to bear weight on forearms
- tucks chin to gaze at floor
- rolls from tummy to back, to side, by accident
- inspects own hands
- hands clasped together often
- hands partly open

Oral Motor
- mouth opens for food
- tongue thrust when the spoon is withdrawn, food is spit out
- begins eating cereals, fruits, and juices

Language
- responds differently to vacuum cleaner, phone, doorbell, or barking dog; may cry or whimper, look toward sound, or increase body tension
- uses different voice patterns
- babbles
- recognizes own name
- vocalizes in response to singing
- takes turn vocalizing
- vocalizes to express displeasure

Self-Help
- stretches out arms to be picked up

6-9 Months

Cognitive
- searches for objects
- imitates actions
- finds object after watching it disappear
- anticipates movement of objects in space (knows ball will go across room when thrown)
- will repeat an action to get some consequences (will hide over and over to get you to say "peek-a-boo")
- laughs at physical games
- recognizes names of familiar objects
- stops activity when name is called
- participates in games with adult
- interacts with objects without mouthing or banging
- looks at pictures

Social-Emotional
- knows parents from other adults, shows special dependence on them, wants food, attention, stimulation, and approval from them even when others are available
- is content as long as sees parent; if parent leaves room, cries and tries to follow
- shows mild to severe separation anxiety
- infant-to-infant interactions
- lifts arms when asked if wants up

Motor
- wide range of abilities; pulls, turns, pokes
- takes feet to mouth
- takes hands to feet
- able to reach for toy with one or both hands
- supports self in sitting (props with arm)
- increased extension in back
- sits by propping forward on arms
- protective response when falling forward (arms out to stop fall)
- able to rotate upper body independently of lower body
- pulls string to get toy
- increased ability to bear weight on legs
- legs spread apart, turned outward when standing
- gets to sitting from lying down
- starts climbing
- may pull to stand at furniture
- pulls to stand by kneeling, then lifts one leg at a time
- walks sideways while holding on
- rotates trunk over lower body
- trunk leans when reaching
- picks up small objects with several fingers and thumb
- object held in palm by fingers and thumb
- transfers object from hand to hand
- drops one toy when given another

Oral Motor
- can drink slowly with cup but cannot control flow with tongue (chokes)
- jaws move up and down
- true suck (stable jaw)
- upper lip comes down well on spoon
- tongue holds food on biting surface (gums)

Language
- responds to own name
- recognizes the words "mama", "dada", and "bye-bye"
- recognizes family members' names
- appears to listen to conversations of others
- responds to request "come here"
- uses vocalizations and gestures to protest
- shouts to gain attention
- attends to music and singing
- maintains attention to speaker
- waves bye-bye
- has complex babbling of many sounds strung together
- vocalizes two syllable combinations, like "ma-ma"

Self-Help
- lifts cup with handle
- eats dry cereal, meats, vegetables, fruit with fingers
- holds, bites, chews food

10-12 Months

Cognitive
- laughs aloud in play
- responds to name with a head turn, eyes, and smiles
- responds to verbal requests
- begins to understand the meaning of "no"
- begins to see relationships between complex actions and consequences (opening doors, putting lids on)
- functional use of toys (throws ball, pushes car)
- learns to do something after you show how (rock doll, bat balloon)
- performs an action to produce a result
- combines related objects (puts furniture in doll house, plays with animals together)
- finds hidden toys
- can begin putting pegs in holes
- enjoys cause-and-effect toys (jack-in-the-box, busy box, talking toys)
- plays catch
- looks at objects parents are looking at
- puts objects in containers and takes them out
- examines objects held in hand
- plays interactive games (peek-a-boo)
- gives toys to others
- can find an object that is places under another object
- covers and uncovers face during peek-a-boo
- identifies two body parts on self

Social-Emotional
- vocalizes, smiles, reaches for familiar person
- resists removal of toys
- fear of strangers usually ends by age 1
- increased dependence on parents
- resistance to bedtime
- shy period passes by age 1
- responds differently to adults and children
- likes an audience
- shows sensitivity to others' moods

Motor
- crawls well
- pulls to stand at furniture
- sits well without support
- has wide variety of sitting positions
- stands holding on
- stands alone momentarily
- able to move in and out of sitting position into other positions
- cruises around furniture, turning slightly in intended direction
- walks with one hand held
- can feel when off-balance and adjust while standing
- points with index finger
- can hold small object between thumb and index finger (fine pincer grasp)

Oral Motor
- drinks well from a cup
- enjoys some solid food
- feeds self finger foods

Language
- gives toy to adult upon request
- appears to understand simple requests like "Give me the. . ."
- imitates definite speech sounds such as tongue clicking, lip smacking, coughing
- has two words that are specific for parents such as "mama" "dada"
- says "hi" and "bye-bye" with wave
- says one or two words spontaneously

Self-Help
- takes off shoes and socks
- cooperates in dressing
- stops drooling

13-18 Months

Cognitive
- imitates other children
- starts turn-taking games
- feeds others
- plays fetching games
- shakes head "no"
- shows shoes and clothing during play
- plays the right way with toys
- shows use of object (brushes with comb, sweeps with broom)
- explores toys
- follows one-step requests
- maintains attention to pictures
- enjoys rhymes and fingerplays
- identifies three animal sounds
- sings independently
- identifies objects by category
- has favorite toy
- turns pages of book
- links plans in simple combinations (puts person in car and pushes car)
- can focus pretend play with toys or people
- imitates new movements
- uses adult to achieve goal
- attempts to start simple machines
- rotates and examines all three dimensions of an object
- can try new ways to solve a problem
- matches object parts with others (round lid on teapot)
- discriminates circle and square in a puzzle
- imitates grown-up reading, sweeping, talking on the phone

Social-Emotional
- hugs toys and people
- plays away from familiar people
- stranger anxiety may return briefly
- asks for help
- laughs at events that are different from normal
- shows anger or frustration

Motor
- imitates scribble
- builds two to five block tower
- squeezes toys
- enjoys walking activities, pulling toys, throws and picks up objects
- by 13 months, walks a few steps without support
- by 18 months, walks with no support
- by 18 months, balanced somewhat when walking
- likes to climb
- likes to take things apart
- seats self in small chair
- by 15 months, able to stop and start walking
- by 17 months, jumps down from step
- by 18 months, seldom falls; runs stiffly, eyes on ground
- creeps up stairs on hands and knees
- holds crayon in fist, thumb up
- precise controlled release

Oral Motor
- full precise use of cup, no chokes, few drips
- begins independent use of spoon
- chews most foods well

Language
- vocalizes more when playing
- responds to request to say words
- responds to "give me"
- understands "in" and "out"
- says 10-15 words spontaneously
- names one object frequently
- varies pitch when vocalizing
- uses three words with babble
- asks to have needs met
- uses consonants such as t,d,n, and h
- by 18 months, talks more than gestures
- imitates words overheard in conversations
- asks "What's that?"
- asks for more
- names five or seven objects on request

Self-Help
- brushes teeth with assistance
- combs or brushes hair
- cooperates more when dressing
- puts socks on
- shows wet or soiled pants
- moves about house without adults
- hands empty dish when finished eating
- unzips zipper
- gets into adult chair unaided

19- 24 Months

Cognitive
- leads parent to desired object
- puts away toys on request
- pretends to play musical instrument
- imitates housework activities
- groups objects in play
- uses two toys together in pretend play
- knows four body parts and clothing item on self
- chooses five familiar objects upon request
- names pictures when asked
- attempts to fix broken toys
- stacks and assembles toys and objects
- chooses one object from group of five upon request
- follows two-step directions
- uses both small and large toys
- plays for longer periods than before; interested in manipulative and constructive toys
- enjoys rhymes and singing
- will have inanimate objects perform actions (doll washes self)
- notices shapes of things
- thinks somewhat before acting
- uses a tool to obtain a desired object
- can foresee effects

Social-Emotional
- parallel play (not with other children, but along side)
- loves rough and tumble play
- demands nearness of adults
- alternates between clinging and resistance to parents
- conscious of own acts (acts whether parents approve or disapprove)
- spends most of group in solitary play, watching other children
- interacts by watching, taking turns, and playing roles

Motor
- pushes a stroller or cart
- flies a toy airplane
- runs
- walks up stairs, one at a time; not alternating feet
- squats to play
- jumps off floor with both feet
- snips paper with scissors
- strings two or three beads
- crawls backward down stairs

Oral Motor
- drinks from straw
- has lip control when cup is moved away from mouth
- does sequence of suck-swallow
- can drink 1 ounce from a cup without pausing
- can stop breathing while swallowing

Language
- uses adult-like dialogue
- uses words during pretend play
- uses words to interact with others
- takes turns talking in a conversation
- understands the meaning of action words
- uses single words often
- uses sentence-like intonation patterns
- imitates two-three word phrases
- uses 50 different words by 20 to 21 months
- uses new words, often relates personal experiences
- refers to self by name

Self-Help
- indicates pants are wet
- gestures to indicate toilet needs
- uses spoon to feed self without excessive spilling

2 - 3 Years

Cognitive
- pretends to write or type
- pretends to talk on telephone
- performs many related activities during the day
- points to four action words in pictures
- understands the concept of "one"
- understands size concepts
- identifies four objects and what they can do (broom sweeps, clock ticks)
- understands location phrases (on the table, under the chair)
- names one color
- uses one object to represent many objects (a stick can be a gun, shovel, truck)
- shows interest in how and why things work
- follows three-step unrelated request
- identifies parts of an object
- counts to three
- copies circle
- matches four objects to their picture
- has increased attention span
- can describe actions
- relates one experience to another, using logic and knowledge of previous experiences
- can plan actions in own mind without acting them out
- recognizes self in photo

Social-Emotional
- shares toys with other children
- responds to greetings
- takes turns when asked
- aggression increases
- plays well with two to three in a group
- begins to claim and defend ownership of objects (mine)
- inflexible and rigid
- has best friend
- recognizes adult standards and corrects self
- shy with adults, especially strangers; may hide behind parent
- makes constant demands for parent's attention
- clings tightly to parent in affection, fatigue, or fear
- begins to understand needs of others

Motor
- runs with whole foot contact, stops and starts
- jumps over objects
- throws ball while standing, without falling
- catches ball from straight arm position, trapping ball against chest
- pulls pants off and on
- rides tricycle
- walks up and down stairs with alternating feet
- hops on one foot
- swings and climbs
- balances on one foot for 10 seconds
- can build with blocks, vertically and horizontally

Language
- uses word phrases frequently
- uses action words
- talks more in play with other children
-responds to simple questions
- refers to self by pronoun consistently, (I, me, my)
- uses "no" words (no, not, can't)
- answers yes or no questions correctly
- can use plurals
- can use prepositions
- can state gender (boy or girl)
- responds to who, what, where, why, and when
- relates recent experiences
- uses verb forms
- converses in sentences by 33 to 36 months
- names what has drawn after scribbling
- can repeat simple rhymes or songs
- understands possessives such as mine, your, ours, his
- verbal scoulding replaces aggression

Self-Help
- wipes hands and face
- chooses toys selectively
- recognizes family members' names
- asks for help with personal needs
- acts out familiar routines
- pretends to perform parents' routines
- points to more difficult body parts (elbow, knee)
- holds crayon in fist, hand turned so crayon points downward
- unbottons large buttons
- can snip on line using scissors
- initiates own play activities; can entertain self
- enjoys role playing
- dries own hands
- pours well from half-full pitcher
- puts on shoes without tying
- undresses completely without help by 36 months
- unbuttons front buttons by 36 months

This checklist was compiled by the Infant-Parent Program, 1717 West 10th Street, Austin, Texas 78703 (512)472-3142, Texas Child Care/Summer 1993.

If you are concerned with the development of a child, please review our Special Needs website.

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