Developmental Milestones: 12 Months to 5 Years

This document outlines key developmental milestones across various domains for children from 12 months to 5 years of age. It serves as a general guide, and it's important to remember that individual development can vary. If you have concerns about a child's development, consult with a pediatrician or developmental specialist.

Early Childhood (12 Months - 5 Years)

12-18 Months

Cognitive

• Understands and responds to simple requests (e.g., "Give me the ball")
• Points to show others something interesting
• Finds hidden objects easily
• Begins to imitate common actions (e.g., sweeping, talking on phone)

Language

• Says several single words
• Shakes head "no"
• Points to body parts when asked
• Waves "bye-bye"

Motor

• Walks independently
• Can drink from a cup
• Can stack two blocks
• Crawls up stairs

Social/Emotional

• Shows affection to familiar people
• Plays simple pretend games (e.g., feeding a doll)
• May have temper tantrums
• Clings to familiar adults in new situations

18-24 Months

Cognitive

• Follows two-step commands (e.g., "Pick up the toy and put it in the box")
• Begins to sort by shape and color
• Completes simple puzzles
• Engages in more complex pretend play

Language

• Uses 2-4 word sentences
• Says names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
• Follows simple instructions
• Asks "what's that?"

Motor

• Runs well
• Kicks a ball
• Climbs on furniture
• Walks up and down stairs holding on

Social/Emotional

• Copies others, especially adults and older children
• Gets excited when with other children
• Shows more and more independence
• Begins to show defiant behavior

2-3 Years

Cognitive

• Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
• Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
• Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
• Understands the concept of "two"

Language

• Speaks in sentences of 3 or more words
• Can say some plurals (e.g., "dogs")
• Understands most of what is said to them
• Asks "who," "what," "where," "why" questions

Motor

• Climbs well
• Runs easily
• Pedals a tricycle
• Walks up and down stairs without support

Social/Emotional

• Copies adults and friends
• Shows affection for friends without prompting
• Takes turns in games
• Separates easily from parents

3-4 Years

Cognitive

• Knows some basic rules of grammar
• Identifies some colors and numbers
• Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
• Understands the concept of counting

Language

• Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand most of the time
• Uses sentences of four or more words
• Tells stories
• Recalls parts of a story

Motor

• Hops and stands on one foot for up to 2 seconds
• Catches a bounced ball most of the time
• Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food
• Goes to the bathroom alone

Social/Emotional

• Enjoys doing new things
• Is more creative in make-believe play
• Often cannot tell what's real and what's make-believe
• Plays "mom" or "dad"

4-5 Years

Cognitive

• Counts 10 or more objects
• Draws a person with at least 6 body parts
• Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes
• Knows about things used every day, like money and food

Language

• Says first and last name
• Speaks in sentences of 5 or more words
• Can use future tense
• Can explain what they are doing

Motor

• Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
• Swings and climbs
• Hops
• Can use scissors

Social/Emotional

• Wants to please friends
• Wants to be like friends
• More likely to follow rules
• Likes to sing, dance, and act

When Early Intervention Matters

The early childhood years are critical for development. If you notice your child is significantly behind in several areas or has concerns in social communication and interaction, early evaluation can make a tremendous difference.

At Amazing Kids, we specialize in early autism evaluations for children as young as 12 months. Our virtual assessments use age-appropriate, gold-standard tools to help families understand their child's unique developmental profile and access support as early as possible.

If you have concerns about your toddler or preschooler's development or are looking for an autism evaluation near me, our experienced providers are here to help.

👉 Schedule your child's evaluation today to ensure your child gets the support they need during these crucial developmental years.