Eww... Gross Motor
These Motor Skills are Fine
Pretty Soon I Won't Shut Up
Social Butterfly
Ring the Alarms!
100

At this age, a child should be able to sit without support, bear weight on legs when held standing, and begin to creep or crawl.

What is 9 months? (Pearl: sitting without support may occur earlier, around 6-7 months. Failure to sit by age 9 warrants an evaluation)

100

I am 9 months old, so naturally, I use this skill to pick up my cheerios (so fancy!)

What is a pincer grasp? (Pearl: Raking grasp occurs by 7 months)

100

Because I am 4-years old, I like to tell stories. Strangers can understand this percentage of what I say

What is 100%? (Pearl: 2-year olds are 50% intelligible to strangers, 3-year olds are 75% intelligible to strangers)

100

This is the first true social milestone, emerging at 6-8 weeks, and is the earliest sign that a child can perceive and respond to human facial expressions (and it’s adorable!)

What is a social smile? (Pearl: absence of a social smile by 2-3 months is a concern for potential visual impairment, social-communication disorder, or severe developmental delay)

100

This is an absolute language red flag: a child who had been previously saying words or babbling, and then stops.

What is developmental regression?  

200

Walking well independently should be achieved by this age.

What is 15 months? (Pearl: walking with one hand held or independent steps is expected at 12 months. Running follows at ~18 months)

200

I am 18 months old, so I can build a tower with this many blocks (future architect over here!)

What is four? (Pearl: 15 month olds can stack 2-3 blocks, 24 month olds can stack 6 blocks)

200

I can say mama, dada, and 2 or more additional words.

What is a 15-month-old? (Pearl: the absence of speech by 15 months warrants a speech/language evaluation/audiology referral)

200

This social milestone, characterized by wariness or distress when approached by unfamiliar people, occurs at this age.

What is stranger anxiety, and 6-9 months? (Pearl: separation anxiety occurs slightly later, 9-18 months)

200

Absent speech by age 2, in addition to hand-flapping behaviors and tip-toe walking should prompt an evaluation for this condition.

What is autism spectrum disorder?

300

At this age, I can ride a tricycle.

What is 3 years? (Pearl: balance on one foot for 1-2 seconds also emerges at 3 years. Skipping follows by age 5)

300

Finally! I can feed myself with a spoon at this age.

What is an 18-month-old? (Pearl: fork use emerges by age 2-3)

300

A toddler who speaks in 2-word phrases such as "more milk" or "daddy go" is meeting the language milestones for this age.

What is 24 months? (Pearl: single words by age one, 2-word phrases by age two, 3-word sentences by age three, 4+ word sentences by age four)

300

At 9 months of age, a child should demonstrate this social-cognitive milestone: searching for a toy that has been hidden under a blanket while the child watches

What is object permanence?  

300

A four-year-old who cannot hop on one foot, has persistent toe-walking, and has larger than normal appearing calves should prompt an evaluation for this condition.

What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)? (Pearl: additional features include: markedly elevated CK, Gowers sign, X-linked recessive, often presents between ages 3-5)

400

I can jump over an obstacle and hop on one foot.

What is a 4 year old? (Pearl: by age 5, children should skip alternating feet and balance for 6-8 seconds)

400

These are the three drawings a child can copy at each of ages 2, 3, and 4 -years old.

What are a straight line, a circle, and a cross (Pearl: By 5, they can draw a triangle)

400

At 18 months, a child should follow one-step commands without gestures (“Go get your shoes”). By 30 months, they follow two-step commands (“Go get your shoes and close the door”). This progression tests this language domain.

What is receptive language (language comprehension)?  (Pearl: At 15 months, they can follow one-step commands with gestures- e.g. pointing to the shoes)

400

This type of "play" with peers emerges around age 4-5.

What is cooperative (or imaginative) play? (Pearl: The progression of play types: solitary play (0-2 years) -> parallel play  (2-3 years) -> cooperative play (4-5))

400

This is the treatment for developmental delays (not meeting developmental milestones).

What is early childhood intervention therapies (Speech, physical &/or occupational therapy)?

500

A 5-month-old in the prone position should demonstrate this postural milestone.

What is propping on hands with chest raised/push-up position (Pearl: A 2-month-old lifts head and chest; a 4-month old bears on elbows, a 6 month old has full arm extension)

500

By 5 years of age, I can draw this number of distinct body parts (next up, the Sistine Chapel!)

What is six? (Pearl: a 3-year-old draws 1-2 parts, a 4-year old draws 3-4 parts)

500

At this age, I will start using other gestures besides waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss, or nodding “yes”.  

What is 24 months? (Pearl: Waving emerges by 12 months and pointing by 18 months)

500

By 36 months, a child should know these two things about themselves (besides name). By age 4, they should name this many colors.

What is age and gender, and 4 colors? (Pearl: By age 5, they should be able to write their name)

500

A 6 month old who was born at 28 weeks gestation should be meeting these motor development milestones (name 3).

What is holding head steady, pushing onto elbows in prone position, briefly opening hands (Milestones of a 3-4 month old, corrected gestational age)? (Pearl: infants born premature are at very high risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. Age correction should generally continue until 2-3 years of age)