Birth to 12 months

• Watches faces intently
• Recognizes familiar objects and faces
• Turns head toward direction of sound
• Begins to babble and coo
• Begins to develop social smile
• Displays different moods and emotions
• Enjoys playing with other people
• Explores with hands and mouth
• Makes constant sounds
• Actively responds to play
• Cries less
• Shows interest in new things
• Holds out arms to be picked up
• Imitates simple actions
• Begins to use objects correctly (combing hair, drinking from a cup, dialing a telephone)
• Shows increased fear of strangers
• Cries when parents leave
• Laughs more frequently
• Repeats gestures or sounds for attention

• Climbs onto and off of furniture unassisted
• Walks up and down stairs holding onto support
• Understands more than 200 words
• Says 30 to 50 words
• Repeats words overheard in conversations
• Follows simple instructions
• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects and body parts
• Begins pretend play
• Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
• Demonstrates increasing independence; says 'no'
• Shows more signs of separation anxiety that gradually fades
• May become attached to a toy or blanket to self-soothe during separations
• Reacts to anger and affection among other family members

• Can turn knobs, open cabinets and drawers
• Uses four- or five-word sentences
• Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures
• Names some body parts
• Follows 2- or 3-part command
• Shows affection for family and familiar playmates
• Objects to major changes in routine
• Plays make-believe
• Expresses a wide range of emotions
• Imitates adults and playmates
• Improved hand/finger control
• Can dress and undress self
• Speaks clearly enough that strangers can understand
• Speaks in 3- to 5-word sentences
• Listens to and recalls parts of a story
• Becomes more independent
• Uses words to express emotions
• Cooperates with other children

• Draws a person with some body parts
• Usually toilet trained completely
• Says name and address
• Understands the meanings of words
• Asks questions
• Follows simple rules
• Learns to express sympathy
• Shares with others
• Aware of sexuality
• Knows full name and age
• Has a basic sense of right and wrong
• Protects younger siblings
• Can be bossy
• Understands when they are being praised or disciplined

• Needs a routine
• Dawdles, moves slow when doing things
• Notices physiological differences in boys and girls
• Attention span is still short
• Very curious, asks "why?"
• Begins to understand birth and death
• Begins to develop ideas of good and bad
• Wants to be grown up, but may act like a baby at times
• Plays better with 1 or 2 friends rather than a group
• Has a sense of humor, likes jokes and riddles
• Competitive with games and adult attention.