Attention parents of
children with down
syndrome or
oral-motor/feeding
delays: Our
therapists have
extensive
experience in
treating oral motor
and feeding
deficits!
children with down
syndrome or
oral-motor/feeding
delays: Our
therapists have
extensive
experience in
treating oral motor
and feeding
deficits!
*Below is a list of developmental milestones. Each child develops
differently. These are approximate ages by which the skills may be
acquired. This list is not meant to diagnose a delay. If you suspect a
delay in your child, please discuss this with your pediatrician or
contact us at wordplaykids@yahoo.com.
Speech & Language Development
6-11 Months:
Understands “no-no”.
Babbles (says “ba-ba-ba” or “ma-ma-ma”).
Tries to communicate by actions or gestures.
Tries to repeat your sounds.
12-17 Months:
Attends to a book or toy for about two minutes.
Follows simple directions accompanied by gestures.
Answers simple questions nonverbally.
Points to objects, pictures, and family members
Says two to three words to label a person or object (pronunciation may not be clear).
Tries to imitate simple words.
18-23 Months:
Enjoys being read to.
Follows simple commands without gestures.
Points to simple body parts such as “nose”.
Makes animal sounds such as “moo”.
Begins to use pronouns such as “mine”.
Starting to combine words such as “more milk”.
Understands simple verbs such as “eat”, “sleep”.
Correctly pronounces most vowels and n, m, p, h, especially in the beginning of
syllables and short words.
Says 8 to 10 words (pronunciation may still be unclear).
2-3 Years:
Knows about 50 words at 24 months.
Knows some spatial concepts such as “in”, “on”.
Knows pronouns such as “you”, “me”.
Knows descriptive words such as “big”, “happy”.
Says around 40 words at 24 months.
Speech is more accurate but may still leave off ending sounds. Strangers may only
understand about 50% of what is said.
Answers simple questions.
Speaks in two to three word phrases.
Begins to use more pronouns such as “you”, “I”.
Uses inflection to ask for something (e.g. “My ball?”)
Begins to use plurals such as “shoes”.
3-4 Years:
Group objects such as foods, clothes, etc.
Identifies colors.
Strangers should understand 75% of what is said.
Able to describe the use of objects such as “fork”, “car”, etc.
Uses most speech sounds but may distort some of the more difficult sounds such as
l, r, s, sh, ch, y, v, z, th. These sounds may not be fully mastered until age 7 or 8.
Enjoys poems and recognizes language absurdities such as “Is that an elephant on
your head?”
Answers simple questions such as “What do you do when you are hungry?”
4-5 Years:
Understands spatial concepts such as “behind”, “next to”.
Speech is understandable but makes mistakes pronouncing difficult words such as
“hippopotamus”.
Says about 200-300 words.
Uses some irregular past tense verbs such as “ran”, “fell”.
Describes how to do things such as painting a picture.
Answers “why” questions.
5 Years:
Understands more than 2,000 words.
Stranger should understand 100% of what is said.
Understands rhyming.
Sentences are 8+ words in length.
Describes objects.
Uses imagination to create stories.
Motor Development:
(Gross motor development deals with large muscle groups such as in walking;
Fine motor movements incorporate the small muscles such as in writing.);
0-3 Months:
Gross Motor:
Moves arms symmetrically.
Moves arms and legs to show interest.
Lifts head while on stomach.
Extends both legs.
Fine Motor:
Can bring hands to midline while on her back.
Grasps toy actively.
Coordinates sucking, swallowing, breathing.
3-6 Months:
Gross Motor:
Holds up her head.
Can push up and look around when on her belly.
Rolls over from her back to her side.
Enjoys sitting up with support.
Fine Motor:
Follows a moving object with eyes while in supported sitting position.
Clasps hands.
Drops object.
Keeps hands open most of the time.
Uses her tongue to move food in her mouth.
Mouths and munches solid foods.
6-9 Months:
Gross Motor:
Sits without hand support for 10 minutes.
Rolls from her stomach to back and back to stomach.
May scoot on her belly.
May push off the floor so that she rocks back and forth on her hands and knees.
Able to stand with support.
Fine Motor:
Bangs objects on table.
Manipulates toy actively with wrist movements.
Releases object voluntarily.
Feeds self cracker.
Drinks from cup held for her.
9-12 Months:
Gross Motor:
Crawling forward and backwards.
Pulls self up to stand.
Walks holding on to furniture.
May walk with assistance.
Fine Motor:
Bangs two cubes held in hands.
Puts objects in and takes objects out of container.
Finger feeds self.
Holds spoon.
Cooperates with dressing by extending arm or leg.
12-15 Months:
Gross Motor:
Walks without support
Bends over and looks through legs.
Begins to climb stairs.
May try to "jump" without feet leaving the ground.
Fine Motor:
Marks paper with crayon.
Puts three or more objects into container.
Builds tower using two cubes.
Points with index finger.
Brings spoon to mouth--turns spoon over.
15-24 Months:
Gross Motor:
Stands on one foot with help.
Rolls and tries to kick ball.
Throws ball forward. Catches large ball.
Stands on tiptoes.
Fine Motor:
Builds tower using three cubes.
Places hat on head.
Strings three one-inch beads.
May have definite food preferences.
Turns small container upside down to obtain tiny object.
2 to 3 Years:
Gross Motor:
Runs without tripping often
Jumps on both feet; jumps backwards.
Climbs stairs independently.
Balances on one foot for a few seconds.
Fine Motor:
Folds paper in half. Helps with bathing self.
Builds tower using eight cubes. Dresses self with assistance.
Insists on doing things independently.
3-5 Years:
Gross Motor:
Catches and throw large ball.
Hopping, climbing, and skipping independently.
Runs on toes.
Pedals tricycle and progresses to bicycle with training wheels by 4 or 5.
Fine Motor:
Copies a circle. Snips on line using scissors.
Pours liquid from small container. Uses fork.
Uses napkin. Buttons large buttons.
Begins to write letters around 4.
Can write name and copy letters by 4 and a half.
Sensory Development:
Birth to 12 Months:
Likes to be held and molds her body to that of the adult holding her.
Is comfortable when being moved.
Explores toys by putting them in his mouth.
After six months, accepts solid and textured foods when introduced.
Has favorite sensory stimuli, such as certain music, finger games, flavors, etc.
12-18 Months:
Enjoys touching textures; plays with food, textured toys, sand, play-doh, etc.
Enjoys bath time and accepts touch from washcloth.
Plays in imaginative and unique ways.
Spends time exploring the various features of toys (the sights, sounds, texture, etc.)
Accepts various clothing textures.
Is not excessively frightened by loud or sudden noises.
18 Months to 3 Years:
Adjusts play to the situation, active play outdoor vs. structured, quiet play.
Explores new play equipment with good balance and body control.
Can remain focused on a task despite a moderate level of activity in the room.
Is able to participate in simple group activities.
Is able to tolerate moderately loud noises, and unusual environmental stimuli.
Accepts tooth brushing, bathing, and grooming, unless distracted by play.
differently. These are approximate ages by which the skills may be
acquired. This list is not meant to diagnose a delay. If you suspect a
delay in your child, please discuss this with your pediatrician or
contact us at wordplaykids@yahoo.com.
Speech & Language Development
6-11 Months:
Understands “no-no”.
Babbles (says “ba-ba-ba” or “ma-ma-ma”).
Tries to communicate by actions or gestures.
Tries to repeat your sounds.
12-17 Months:
Attends to a book or toy for about two minutes.
Follows simple directions accompanied by gestures.
Answers simple questions nonverbally.
Points to objects, pictures, and family members
Says two to three words to label a person or object (pronunciation may not be clear).
Tries to imitate simple words.
18-23 Months:
Enjoys being read to.
Follows simple commands without gestures.
Points to simple body parts such as “nose”.
Makes animal sounds such as “moo”.
Begins to use pronouns such as “mine”.
Starting to combine words such as “more milk”.
Understands simple verbs such as “eat”, “sleep”.
Correctly pronounces most vowels and n, m, p, h, especially in the beginning of
syllables and short words.
Says 8 to 10 words (pronunciation may still be unclear).
2-3 Years:
Knows about 50 words at 24 months.
Knows some spatial concepts such as “in”, “on”.
Knows pronouns such as “you”, “me”.
Knows descriptive words such as “big”, “happy”.
Says around 40 words at 24 months.
Speech is more accurate but may still leave off ending sounds. Strangers may only
understand about 50% of what is said.
Answers simple questions.
Speaks in two to three word phrases.
Begins to use more pronouns such as “you”, “I”.
Uses inflection to ask for something (e.g. “My ball?”)
Begins to use plurals such as “shoes”.
3-4 Years:
Group objects such as foods, clothes, etc.
Identifies colors.
Strangers should understand 75% of what is said.
Able to describe the use of objects such as “fork”, “car”, etc.
Uses most speech sounds but may distort some of the more difficult sounds such as
l, r, s, sh, ch, y, v, z, th. These sounds may not be fully mastered until age 7 or 8.
Enjoys poems and recognizes language absurdities such as “Is that an elephant on
your head?”
Answers simple questions such as “What do you do when you are hungry?”
4-5 Years:
Understands spatial concepts such as “behind”, “next to”.
Speech is understandable but makes mistakes pronouncing difficult words such as
“hippopotamus”.
Says about 200-300 words.
Uses some irregular past tense verbs such as “ran”, “fell”.
Describes how to do things such as painting a picture.
Answers “why” questions.
5 Years:
Understands more than 2,000 words.
Stranger should understand 100% of what is said.
Understands rhyming.
Sentences are 8+ words in length.
Describes objects.
Uses imagination to create stories.
Motor Development:
(Gross motor development deals with large muscle groups such as in walking;
Fine motor movements incorporate the small muscles such as in writing.);
0-3 Months:
Gross Motor:
Moves arms symmetrically.
Moves arms and legs to show interest.
Lifts head while on stomach.
Extends both legs.
Fine Motor:
Can bring hands to midline while on her back.
Grasps toy actively.
Coordinates sucking, swallowing, breathing.
3-6 Months:
Gross Motor:
Holds up her head.
Can push up and look around when on her belly.
Rolls over from her back to her side.
Enjoys sitting up with support.
Fine Motor:
Follows a moving object with eyes while in supported sitting position.
Clasps hands.
Drops object.
Keeps hands open most of the time.
Uses her tongue to move food in her mouth.
Mouths and munches solid foods.
6-9 Months:
Gross Motor:
Sits without hand support for 10 minutes.
Rolls from her stomach to back and back to stomach.
May scoot on her belly.
May push off the floor so that she rocks back and forth on her hands and knees.
Able to stand with support.
Fine Motor:
Bangs objects on table.
Manipulates toy actively with wrist movements.
Releases object voluntarily.
Feeds self cracker.
Drinks from cup held for her.
9-12 Months:
Gross Motor:
Crawling forward and backwards.
Pulls self up to stand.
Walks holding on to furniture.
May walk with assistance.
Fine Motor:
Bangs two cubes held in hands.
Puts objects in and takes objects out of container.
Finger feeds self.
Holds spoon.
Cooperates with dressing by extending arm or leg.
12-15 Months:
Gross Motor:
Walks without support
Bends over and looks through legs.
Begins to climb stairs.
May try to "jump" without feet leaving the ground.
Fine Motor:
Marks paper with crayon.
Puts three or more objects into container.
Builds tower using two cubes.
Points with index finger.
Brings spoon to mouth--turns spoon over.
15-24 Months:
Gross Motor:
Stands on one foot with help.
Rolls and tries to kick ball.
Throws ball forward. Catches large ball.
Stands on tiptoes.
Fine Motor:
Builds tower using three cubes.
Places hat on head.
Strings three one-inch beads.
May have definite food preferences.
Turns small container upside down to obtain tiny object.
2 to 3 Years:
Gross Motor:
Runs without tripping often
Jumps on both feet; jumps backwards.
Climbs stairs independently.
Balances on one foot for a few seconds.
Fine Motor:
Folds paper in half. Helps with bathing self.
Builds tower using eight cubes. Dresses self with assistance.
Insists on doing things independently.
3-5 Years:
Gross Motor:
Catches and throw large ball.
Hopping, climbing, and skipping independently.
Runs on toes.
Pedals tricycle and progresses to bicycle with training wheels by 4 or 5.
Fine Motor:
Copies a circle. Snips on line using scissors.
Pours liquid from small container. Uses fork.
Uses napkin. Buttons large buttons.
Begins to write letters around 4.
Can write name and copy letters by 4 and a half.
Sensory Development:
Birth to 12 Months:
Likes to be held and molds her body to that of the adult holding her.
Is comfortable when being moved.
Explores toys by putting them in his mouth.
After six months, accepts solid and textured foods when introduced.
Has favorite sensory stimuli, such as certain music, finger games, flavors, etc.
12-18 Months:
Enjoys touching textures; plays with food, textured toys, sand, play-doh, etc.
Enjoys bath time and accepts touch from washcloth.
Plays in imaginative and unique ways.
Spends time exploring the various features of toys (the sights, sounds, texture, etc.)
Accepts various clothing textures.
Is not excessively frightened by loud or sudden noises.
18 Months to 3 Years:
Adjusts play to the situation, active play outdoor vs. structured, quiet play.
Explores new play equipment with good balance and body control.
Can remain focused on a task despite a moderate level of activity in the room.
Is able to participate in simple group activities.
Is able to tolerate moderately loud noises, and unusual environmental stimuli.
Accepts tooth brushing, bathing, and grooming, unless distracted by play.
Developmental Milestones
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