Age Gross Motor
6 wks Pulled to sit: Head lag and rounded
back.
Ventral suspension: Head held up
momentarily in same plane as body.
Prone: Pelvis high but knees no longer
under abdomen.
Chin rose intermittently off couch. Head
turned to one side.
3 Pulled to sit: Only slight head lag. Head
mths occasionally bobs forward.
Ventral suspension: Head held up above
plane of body.
Prone: Pelvis flat. Lifts head up 45°-90°,
weight supported on forearms.
6 Pulled to sit: Lifts head off couch.
mths Sits with support.
Bears full weight on legs.
Prone: Supports weight on hands with
chest and upper part of abdomen off
couch.
Roll over from prone to supine at 5-6
mths, supine to prone at 6-7 mths.
9 Sits steadily.
mths Leans forward to pick toy without losing
balance.
Pulls self to stand.
Stands holding on to furniture.
Progresses on the floor by rolling,
wriggling on abdomen or crawling.
12 Gets from lying to sitting to crawling to
mths standing.
Walks on hands and feet like a bear.
Walks with one hand held.
Stands alone.
May walk alone.
15 Creeps up stairs.
mths Walks alone with broad based gait.
18 Walks well, runs rather stiffly though
mths seldom falls.
Carry large doll or teddy while walking.
Walks up and downstairs with help.
Squats to pick up toy.
Fine motor Speech/Language Self-care, Social Behaviour & Play
Fixates on objects. Quietens to sound at 4 weeks. Social smile.
In supine, follows object from side to midline (90°). Vocalises when talked to at 8 weeks.
Defensive blink by 6-8 weeks.
Hand regard. Squeals of pleasure. Sustained social contact.
Follows dangling toy from side to side (180°). Says ‘aah’ or ‘naah’ when spoken to. Responds with pleasure to friendly
Hands loosely open. Turns head to sound at the same level. handling.
Holds rattle placed in hand momentarily.
Palmar grasp of cube. Smiles and vocalises at mirror image. Mouthing.
Drops one cube when another is given at 6 mths, Monosyllabic babble. Place hand on bottle and pats it.
retains one cube at hand when another is offered at Polysyllabic sounds formed – ba, da, ka at 7 Grasps feet.
7 mths. mths. Stretches arms out to be carried.
Transfers object from one hand to another at 7 Turns head towards a sound above the level Shows delighted response to rough
mths. (7-9 mths). and tumble play.
Eyes move together (any squint is abnormal). Still friendly with strangers, becomes
Follows activities across room with alertness. more reserved after 7 mths.
Pokes at small object & begins to point at distant Babbles loudly in long repetitive syllables. Mouthing.
object with index finger. Responds to name. Understands ‘No’ and Holds and bites small piece of food.
Inferior pincer grasp. ‘Bye-bye’. Stranger anxiety.
Release toy by dropping or pressing against firm Imitates playful sounds – e.g. cough ‘brr’ Plays Peek-a-boo, imitates hand
surface. Localises sound above and below the ear level. clapping.
Looks in correct direction for fallen toys. Waves bye-bye.
Grasp string to pull toy (casual understanding). Understands ‘object permanence’
Neat pincer grasp. Knows and responds to name. Drinks from cup with assistance, helps
Bangs 2 cubes. Babbles in conversational cadences. with dressing.
Points with index finger at object of interest. Understands simple instructions. Gives toys on request.
1-3 words with meaning. Finds toys hidden from view.
Locates sounds in all directions. Demonstrates affection to family.
Enjoys joint interactive play with
adults.
Plays ”Pat-a-Cake”.
Tower of 2 cubes. Jargon. Holds and drinks from cup, attempts
Hold 2 cubes in one hand. 2-6 intelligible words. to hold spoon.
To and fro scribble with palmar grasp. Obeys simple commands. Functional play – e.g. pushing toy car.
Points to familiar persons, toys when Repeated casting.
requested.
Tower of 3 cubes. Jargon. Imitates housework.
Enjoys putting small objects in and out of 6-20 intelligible words. Uses spoon well.
containers. Points to 2-3 body parts. Assists with dressing.
Scribbles spontaneously. Mouthing stops.
Enjoys picture books, turns few pages at a time. Casting less often.
 Hand preference. Plays contently alone but likes to be
near familiar adult.
2 yrs Runs safely, avoiding obstacles. Tower of 6-7 cubes. Uses 50 or more words. Puts on shoes, socks, pants.
Goes up and downstairs alone, 2 feet Imitates train of cubes, without adding chimney. Uses 2-3 word phrases. Dry by day.
per step. Circular scribbles. Points to 6 body parts. Parallel play.
Able to walk backward pulling toy Imitates vertical line. Names familiar objects and pictures. Watches others play and plays near
handle. Enjoy picture books and turn pages singly. Follows a series of 2 simple but related them, but not with them.
Walks into large ball while trying to kick commands. Pretend play.
it. Joins in nursery rhymes and sings. Tantrums when frustrated but
attention is usually easily distracted.
2.5 Jumps with 2 feet together from a low Tower of 7-8 cubes. Speaks in phrases. May be dry by night, variable.
yrs step. Imitates train, adding chimney. Frequently asks questions (What, Who). Eats skilfully.
Stand on tiptoe if shown. Recognizes minute details in picture books. Uses pronouns (I, me, you) correctly. More sustained role play – e.g. putting
Kicks large ball gently. Knows full name. dolls to bed, feeding them.
Imitates and Can select pictures of action – e.g. which one is Tantrums when thwarted and is less
eating. distracted.
3 yrs Goes upstairs one foot per step and Tower of 9-10 cubes. Gives full name, gender, sometimes age. Eats independently, washes hands.
downstairs 2 feet per step. Imitates bridges with 3 cubes. Uses personal pronouns and most prepositions May be dry at night.
Walk on tiptoe. Copies correctly. Joins in active make believe paly with
Stands on 1 foot momentarily. Ask many questions (What, where, who) other children.
Rides tricycle. Imitates Identify objects by function – e.g. which one Understands sharing toys.
Kicks ball forcibly, throw a ball we drink from.
overhand. Draw a man on request (3-10yrs). Counts by rote up to 10 or more but does not
Cuts with scissors. appreciate quantity beyond 2 or 3.
Names 2 colours.
4 yrs Walks or runs up and down stairs one Builds 3 steps with 6 cubes after demonstration. Speech grammatically correct and completely Brushes teeth, dresses independently
foot per step. Holds pencil with good control. Copies cross. intelligible. except for laces, ties and back buttons.
Stand, walk and run on tiptoe. Draws a person with head, legs, and trunks. Names 4 colours. Imaginative dressing up and make
Stands on one foot for 3-5 seconds and Matches 4 primary colours. Gives full name, address, and age. believe play.
hops on one foot. Listens to and tells long stories. Understands need for turn taking in
Counts by rote up to 20 and begins to count play.
by word and touch up to 4 or 5. Appreciates past, present and future
time.
5 yrs Walks on narrow line. Copies (5yrs) Names birthday and home address. Dresses and undresses alone.
Skips on alternate feet. Defines nouns by use. Engages in elaborate make believe
Balance on one foot for 8-10 seconds. Copies (5
1
yrs) Uses “first, then last” (time and sequence group play.
2
Dances to music. concepts). Chooses own friends.
Colours neatly, staying within outlines. Enjoy jokes and riddles. Cooperative with companions and
Draws a man with head, trunk, legs, arms and Tells time. understands need for rules and fair
features. play.
Can cut a strip of paper neatly.