Age |
Developmental Milestones |
Possible implications if
milestones not achieved
|
0-6 months |
- Establishes eye contact for a few seconds
- Responds with a smile when socially approached
- Recognises parent visually
- Discriminates strangers
- Laughs in response to play
- Distinguishes between friendly and angry voices
- Manipulates and explores objects
- Manipulates a rattle
- Imaginative play actions are absent or random
|
- May lead to poor muscle development
- May lead to a delayed ability to play independently
- May lead to delayed sensory development due to delayed interaction with toys and other sensory
objects
- May lead to poor emotional development (e.g. may cry easily)
|
6-12 months |
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Participates in clapping when prompted
- Lifts arms to parent
- Responds to facial expressions
- Extends toys to others
- Manipulates and explores objects
- Imitates an adult's actions
- Places doll with head upright and vertical to the ground
- Imaginative play actions are absent or random
|
- May lead to delayed sensory development due to lack of sensory play experiences
- May lead to delayed fine motor skills due to lack of practice manipulating toys and objects
- May have difficulties socialising with parents and joint attention
- May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention
|
1-2 years |
- Has toy preferences
- Identifies self in mirror
- Imitates adult behaviour
- Likes repetitive actions such as putting objects in and out of boxes and scribbling on many
pages
- Imitates a pretend play action (e.g. giving a drink)
- Demonstrates play related to their body (e.g. sleeping, eating)
- Spontaneously performs one action with a doll (e.g. hugs doll)
- Uses a similar looking object for the needed object (e.g. uses paper as a blanket)
- Is unable to share and competes with other children for toys
- Looks for hidden objects
- Begins to play next to other children
- Observes other children playing around them but will not play with them
- Engages in imaginative play
- Says “hi”, “bye” and “please” without prompting
|
- May lead to delayed fine motor skills due to lack of practice manipulating toys and objects
- May have difficulties socialising with parents and joint attention
- May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention
|
2-3 years |
- Has a strong sense of ownership
- May begin cooperative play
- Treats doll or teddy as if it is alive
- Plays alongside others but will not play together with them
- Begins to use symbols in their play such as a stick becoming a sword
- Play themes reflect less frequently experienced life events (e.g. visiting the doctor)
- Play actions are detailed and logical with “No”
- Uses or plans story-line
- Has an awareness of a parent's approval or disapproval of their actions
- Will express emotions
- Will verbalise their desires/feelings (e.g. “I want a drink”)
- Begins to obey and respect simple rules
|
- May have difficulties socialising with peers and joint attention
- May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention
- May lead to delayed fine motor skills due to lack of practice manipulating toys and objects
- May lead to delayed manipulation of small objects such as toys, pencils and scissors
- May result in frustration when manipulating small toys and objects
|
3-4 years |
- Plays with mechanical toys
- Takes turns with other children
- Plays with 2 or 3 children in a group
- Play themes expand beyond personal experience (e.g. fireman rescuing people)
- Talks about their feelings
- Feels shame when caught doing the wrong thing
|
- May have difficulties socialising with peers
- May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention
- May have difficulties expressing wants, needs, thoughts and ideas
- May display frustration when manipulating small toys and objects
|
4-5 years |
- Begins taking turns and negotiating
- Plays together with shared aims of play with others
- Usually prefers playing with other children than playing by themselves
- Plays imaginatively (e.g. playing in the home-corner, dressing up, cooking)
- Enjoys playing games with simple rules (e.g. hide and seek)
- May change the rules of a game as the activity progresses
|
- May have difficulties socialising
- May struggle to copy and learn from others due to poor understanding and attention
- May have difficulties expressing wants, needs, thoughts and ideas
- May lead to poor self-esteem due to difficulties interacting with other children
|
5-6 years |
- Play themes include themes never personally experienced (e.g. going to space)
- Plays and negotiates with others during play
- Play is well organised
|
- May have difficulties socialising
- May have difficulties retelling events
- May have difficulties following routines
- May have difficulties expressing thoughts and ideas verbally and in written form
- May lead to poor self-esteem due to difficulties interacting with other children
|
6-7 years |
- Enjoys playing in small groups and making up their own games with rules
- Enjoys playing co-operative games but has difficulties coping with losing
- Likes to play with other children of their own gender
- Enjoys using and understanding rules in play
|
- May have difficulties socialising
- May have difficulties following instructions at home and at school
- May have difficulties retelling events
- May have difficulties expressing thoughts and ideas verbally and in written form
- May lead to poor self-esteem due to difficulties interacting with other children
|