Note: Every child develops at their own pace. These milestones are general guidelines. If you have concerns about your child's development, consult with a healthcare provider or early childhood specialist.
Understanding Developmental Milestones
Developmental milestones are behaviors or physical skills seen in infants and children as they grow and develop. Rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking are all considered milestones. These milestones are different for each age range and develop in a sequential fashion. For instance, most children learn to crawl before they walk, and learn to use simple words before complex sentences.
This infographic provides a general overview of typical milestones for children aged 3-7, covering physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development. Remember that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. The age ranges are approximations, and many children may reach these milestones earlier or later.
Ages 3-4
Physical Development:
- Climbs well, runs easily, pedals a tricycle
- Walks up and down stairs, alternating feet
- Builds towers of blocks, strings large beads
- Holds crayon with fingers instead of fist (tripod grip developing)
- Can use scissors with supervision
Cognitive Development:
- Engages in make-believe play
- Understands concept of "same" and "different"
- Can sort objects by shape and color
- Completes simple puzzles (3-4 pieces)
- Follows 2-3 step instructions
- Recognizes and identifies common objects and pictures
Social-Emotional Development:
- Takes turns in games (with assistance)
- Expresses affection openly to familiar people
- Shows concern for crying friend
- Understands concept of "mine" and "his/hers"
- May have specific fears (dark, monsters)
- Separates easily from parents for short periods
Language Development:
- Speaks in sentences of 3-5 words
- People outside family usually understand child's speech
- Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they) and plurals
- Asks many questions, especially "why?"
- Tells simple stories, recalls parts of a story
- Names familiar objects, animals, and family members
Ages 4-5
Physical Development:
- Stands on one foot for up to 10 seconds
- Hops and stands on one foot up to 5 seconds
- Uses fork and spoon independently
- Can use toilet independently
- Swings and climbs confidently
- Cuts on line with scissors
- Copies simple shapes and some letters
Cognitive Development:
- Correctly names some colors
- Understands concept of counting and may know a few numbers
- Begins to understand time concepts (morning, afternoon, tomorrow)
- Recalls parts of a story
- Understands concept of same/different
- Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
- Can count 5-10 objects
Social-Emotional Development:
- Enjoys playing with other children
- Takes turns and shares (with occasional reminders)
- Is more independent and may be eager to please friends
- Shows increasing ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality
- Often cannot distinguish between truth and make-believe
- Expresses wide range of emotions
- Likes to help with household tasks
Language Development:
- Uses sentences of 5-6 words
- Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand
- Tells longer stories
- Uses future tense
- Says name and address
- Uses descriptive language (adjectives)
- Sings simple songs from memory
Ages 5-6
Physical Development:
- Runs, jumps, and climbs with good coordination
- Ties shoelaces (with practice)
- Cuts out simple shapes
- Copies letters and numbers well
- Uses dominant hand consistently
- Catches and throws ball successfully
- Rides a bicycle (possibly with training wheels)
Cognitive Development:
- Counts 10 or more objects accurately
- Knows basic colors and shapes
- Begins to understand basic concepts of time
- Recognizes many letters and may read simple words
- Sorts objects by size, shape, and color
- Understands concept of opposites (big/little, heavy/light)
- Follows 3-step instructions
- Shows interest in reading and writing
Social-Emotional Development:
- Wants to please friends and be like them
- More likely to agree to rules
- Shows more independence from parents
- Becomes aware of gender differences
- Able to distinguish fantasy from reality more consistently
- Sometimes demanding, sometimes cooperative
- Expresses feelings and shows concern for others
Language Development:
- Speaks using complex sentences
- Uses all parts of speech correctly most of the time
- Tells detailed stories that stay on topic
- Communicates easily with adults and other children
- Understands concepts of "same" and "different"
- Identifies most letters and letter sounds
- May begin to read simple words
Ages 6-7
Physical Development:
- Moves with strong coordination and balance
- Has established hand dominance
- Can draw detailed pictures
- Forms letters and numbers with good control
- Rides bicycle without training wheels
- Throws and catches ball with accuracy
- Can use tools and crafting materials with precision
Cognitive Development:
- Counts to 100 and begins basic addition and subtraction
- Reads simple books independently
- Understands concept of time (days, weeks, months)
- Follows complex multi-step instructions
- Shows curiosity about how things work
- Problem-solves with increasing skill
- Understands cause and effect relationships
Social-Emotional Development:
- Forms more complex friendships
- Shows increased independence but still needs security
- Begins to understand rules and fair play
- Compares self to others
- Can describe feelings in self and others
- Develops stronger sense of right and wrong
- Seeks approval from adults and peers
Language Development:
- Speaks fluently with proper grammar and sentence structure
- Uses language for various purposes (persuading, explaining, storytelling)
- Reads and understands simple books
- Writes simple sentences and short stories
- Follows and contributes to conversations
- Asks thoughtful questions
- Understands concepts of past, present, and future tense
Supporting Your Child's Development
- Read together daily: Reading supports language development and builds literacy skills.
- Encourage play: Play is how children learn and practice new skills.
- Provide opportunities for physical activity: Regular physical activity helps develop gross motor skills.
- Offer arts and crafts: Drawing, coloring, and crafting help develop fine motor skills.
- Ask open-ended questions: "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why do you think that happened?"
- Be patient: Children develop at different rates. Celebrate progress rather than comparing to others.
- Provide structure and routine: Predictability helps children feel secure and understand expectations.
When to Seek Help
While development varies from child to child, some signs might indicate the need for additional support. Consider consulting with a healthcare provider if your child:
- Shows significant delays in reaching multiple milestones
- Loses skills they once had
- Has difficulty with social interactions or eye contact
- Has extremely limited interests or repetitive behaviors
- Shows extreme difficulty with changes in routine
- Has persistent difficulty understanding or being understood
Early intervention can make a significant difference when developmental concerns are identified early.