MILESTONES

Toddler Time Social Development

 Enjoys singing and trying to copy fingerplays with others.
 Greets familiar people.
 Engages in simple games in small groups.
 Helps with clean-up activities when prompted.
 Takes turns when prompted.
 Gives attention to stories for 5 minutes or more.
 Copies adults and peers.
 Understands "mine", "his", "hers" and "yours".

Cognitive Development
 Attempts to draw faces.
 Understands what "one" and "two" means.
 Can name familiar objects.
 Counts to three by rote.
 Classifies objects by general categories.
 Counts up to 3 objects.
 Beginning to identify colors.
 Knows own gender.

Emotional Development
 Able to recover quickly after transitions or changes in routines.
 Separates from parent easily.
 Sows wide range of emotions.
 Can dress and undress self.
 Shows affection for family and friends without prompting.
 Shows concern for a friend who is crying.
 Physical Development:  
Large/Gross Motor Skills
 Runs easily.
 Pedals a tricycle.
 Balances on one foot for 2-3 seconds.
 Can hop on one foot at least one time.
 Walks up and down stairs alternating feet.

Physical Development:  Small/Fine Motor Skills

 Beginning to draw vertical and horizontal lines.
 Beginning to draw circles.
 Builds with blocks and other building toys using at least 6 blocks or toys.
 Can work toys that have buttons, moving parts and levers.
 Draws or copies two lines that cross.
 Puts together 4 piece (or larger) puzzles.

Communication and Language Development

 Gives own first name and age.
 Follows 2 step directions without distraction.
 Beginning to understand "in", "on", "under".
 Can name familiar objects.
 Has conversations consisting of 2-3 sentences.
 Can name friends and family members.
 Uses pronouns in conversations (I, me, we, you) and some plurals (dogs, cats,
etc.)
 Can be understood 75% of the time by strangers.

Creativity Development
  Beginning to take on characteristics and actions of role play.
 Can pretend with imaginary objects.
 Uses language for creating and sustaining plots during play.
For 3-4 Year Olds
As we discussed on the developmental milestones main page, children develop in
specific ways but at their own pace. Some of your young preschoolers may still be
developing their older toddler skills or already be developing their PreK skills!

The list below, although not exhaustive, shows the key abilities and processes that
can be reasonably expect from a 3-4 year old in seven developmental areas.

Social Development

 Enjoys singing and doing fingerplays with others.

 Greets familiar people.
 Engages in simple group games.
 Helps with clean-up activities.
 Takes turns.
 Gives attention to stories for 10 minutes.
 Plays interactive games.
 Plays with peers with minimal conflict.
 Interacts with peers in socially appropriate manner most of the time.
 Interacts with adults in a cooperative, socially approprite manner most of the
time.
 Asks permission to use items belonging to others with minimal reminders.
Cognitive Development

 Draws faces.
 Makes random marks on paper.
 Makes controlled scribbles on paper.
 Makes basic shapes.
 Combines circles and/or squares with crossed lines.
 Makes suns, animals, trees, flowers.
 Can sort by two different colors.
 Understands three prepositions (from, about, with, etc.)
 Recalls familiar objects.
  Counts to five by rote.
 Classifies objects by categories.
 Can match identical pictures.
 Can select the different object from combination of 2 alike and 1 different.
 Counts 3 objects.
 Can match 2 colors.
 Knows own gender.
Emotional Development

 Able to recover from anger or temper tantrum and be cooperative.

 Separates from parent without reluctance.
 Verbalizes emotions he or she is feeling.
 Expresses displeasure with words rather than physical aggression.
 Maintains an appropriate, stable temperament most of the time.
 Beginning to differentiate between fact and fantasy.
 Recognizes emotions in others.
Physical Development: Large/Gross Motor Skills

 Jumps over obstacles when running.

 Jumps down from object 6" to 8" off the ground.
 Catches a 6 to 8 inch ball using arms.
 Balances on one foot for 4-5 seconds.
 Hops on one foot at least 2 times.
 Walks up and down stairs unassisted, alternating feet.
 Throws a ball over-handed and under-handed.
Physical Development: Small/Fine Motor Skills

 Draws or copies vertical and horizontal lines.

 Draw or copies a complete circle.
 Builds with blocks and other building toys.
 Strings 1" beads.
 Cuts paper into two pieces with scissors.
 Draws or copies two lines that cross.
 Puts together 9-piece (or larger) puzzles.
Communication and Language Development

 Gives own firs and last name and age.

 When given a choice, names preferred object or activity.
 Begins asking purposeful questions.
 Uses complete sentences consistently.
 Tells of a simple experience.
 Sings a simple song.
 Asks a variety of questions using "who", "what", "where", etc.
 Tells a story using pictures.
Creativity Development

 Assigns roles or takes assigned roles in pretend play.

 Takes on characteristics and actions of role play.
 Uses particular props during pretend play.
 Can pretend using imaginary objects.
 Uses language for creating and sustaining plots.
 Uses elaborate themes, ideas, details.
4 5 ANI

pmental milestones main page, children develop in specific ways but at their own
pace. Some of your young preschoolers may still be developing their younger
preschool or already be developing their Kindergarten skills!

The list below, although not exhaustive, shows the key abilities and processes that
can be reasonably expect from a 4-5 year old in seven developmental areas.

Social Development

 Asks for help when needed.

 Engages in cooperative play with small groups of children frequently.
 Gives attention to stories for 10-15 minutes.
 Says "please" and "thank you" without reminders.
 Joins in mealtime conversations.
 Initiates friendships with peers.
 Plays interactive games.
 Plays with peers with minimal conflict.
  Interacts with adults in a cooperative, socially appropriate manner.
 Asks permission to use items belonging to others.
Cognitive Development

 Makes suns, animals, trees, flowers, etc.

 Counts to 10 by rote.
 Names picture that has been hidden.
 Comprehends concept of opposites.
 Works a 12-piece (or larger) puzzle.
 Draws a two-part (or 3-part) person.
 Counts four or more objects.
 Identifies four colors when named.
 Identifies shapes.
 Extends sentences logically.
Emotional Development

 Developing sense of humor.

 Shows increasing levels of positive interactions and friendliness in small-group
settings.
 Responds to a specific need/disire when expressed by another child.
 Verbalizes and is comfortable expressing a wider variety of emotions.
 Openly and warmly expresses affection to other children.
 Comforts other children.
 Is able to return to equilibrium after experiencing stress.
 Exhibits concern for fairness in what happens to others by sharing and/or
taking turns.
Physical Development: Large/Gross Motor Skills

 Balances on one foot for 5-10 seconds.

 Jumps over a stationary rope held 6" above the ground.
 Pedals a tricycle around obstacles and sharp corners.
 Catches a ball in hands, arms flexed.
 Hops around on one foot without support.
 Walks backward.
 Throws a ball with accuracy.
Physical Development: Small/Fine Motor Skills

 Holds paper in place with one hand while writing with the other.
 Cuts with scissors along a thick, straight line.
 Draws recognizable pictures.
 Draws or copies shapes.
 Laces shoes or lacing board.
 Cuts with scissors following a simple outline.
Communication and Language Development

 Follows 3-step directions without distraction.

 Demonstrates understanding of difference between "is" and "is not" by
pointing to objects.
 Uses possessive forms of nouns.
 Uses a series of conjunctions.
 Averages at least five-word sentences in conversations.
 Describes items and/or objects in books.
 Speech is clear and can be understood by others.
Creativity Development

 Assigns roles or takes assigned roles during play.

 Takes on characteristics and actions during role play.
 Uses language to create and sustain plots during play.
 Uses elaborate themes, ideas, details during play.
Developmental Milestones Prek To Kindergarten (5-6 year olds)

As we discussed on the developmental milestones main page, children develop in

specific ways but at their own pace. Some of your young preschoolers may still be
developing their older toddler skills or already be developing their PreK skills!

The list below, although not exhaustive, shows the key abilities and processes that
can be reasonably expect from a 5-6 year old in seven developmental areas. Due to
different deadline dates for entering Kindergarten, you may have some 5 year-olds in
your preschool classroom.

Social Development

 Asks for help when needed.

  Engages in cooperative play with groups of children.
 Gives attention to stories for 15 minutes.
 Says "please" and "thank you" without reminders.
 Joins in mealtime conversations.
 Initiates friendships with peers.
 Plays interactive games.
 Plays with peers with minimal conflict.
 Showing more independence.
 Wants to please peers and adults.
 Interacts with adults in a cooperative, socially appropriate manner.
 Asks permission to use items belonging to others.
Cognitive Development

 Makes suns, animals, trees, flowers, etc.

 Draws recognizable people.
 Counts to 20 by rote.
 Names picture that has been hidden.
 Comprehends concept of opposites.
 Works a 12-piece (or larger) puzzle.
 Counts ten or more objects.
 Identifies colors and shapes.
 Understands concept of time.
Emotional Development

 Developing sense of humor.

 Displays positive interactions and friendliness in small and large group
settings.
 Responds to a specific need/disire when expressed by another child.
 Expresses a variety of emotions.
 Openly and warmly expresses affection to other children most of the time.
Physical Development: Large/Gross Motor Skills

 Balances on one foot for at least 10 seconds.

 Jumps over a stationary rope held 6" above the ground.
  Pedals a tricycle around obstacles and sharp corners.
 Catches a ball in hands, arms flexed.
 Hops around on one foot without support.
 Walks backward with ease.
 Throws a ball with accuracy.
 Can somersault, swing and climb.
 Beginning to learn to skip.
Physical Development: Small/Fine Motor Skills

 Holds paper in place with one hand while writing with the other.
 Uses pincer grasp when holding writing instrument.
 Cuts with scissors.
 Uses a fork, spoon and knife correctly
 Prints own first name.
 Prints other letters.
 Draws or copies shapes.
 Dresses and undresses self.
 Cares for own toileting needs.
 Laces shoes or lacing board.
Communication and Language Development

 Follows 3-step directions without distraction.

 Recalls parts or all of a story.
 Uses future tense when speaking.
 Tells longer stories.
 Uses possessive forms of nouns.
 Uses a series of conjunctions.
 Uses sentences with more than five words consistently.
Creativity Development

 Assigns roles or takes assigned roles during play.

 Takes on characteristics and actions during role play.
 Uses language to create and sustain plots during play.
 Uses elaborate themes, ideas, details during play.
 Helps plan and agrees to rules during play