What are developmental milestones?

Developmental milestones are specific skills and behaviors most children reach by a particular age. Milestones track growth in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development and are organized into three areas:

• Physical milestones: Gross motor skills (like walking or jumping) and fine motor skills (like picking up objects with fingers).

• Speech and language milestones: Understanding and using verbal and nonverbal language.

• Social and emotional milestones: Interacting with others, managing emotions, and building relationships.

4-year-old development milestones

Physical milestones

• Balance on one foot

• Alternating feet when climbing stairs

• Climbing

• Swinging on a swing

• Hop on one foot

• Catch balls

• Use a zipper

• Pedals a tricycle

Cognitive milestones

• Count to 10

• Knows colors

• Understand the concept of time

• Obey rules

Social-emotional milestones

• Pretend play

• Comforts others

• Cooperates and plays with others

• Understands sharing and taking turns

Fine motor milestones

• Copy geometric shapes

• Draws people with three body parts

• Writes capital letters

• Dress without assistance

• Wipe after the bathroom

• Use utensils at meals

• Use scissors

Language milestones

• Remembers parts of a story

• Use four-word sentences

• Tell stories

• Sing songs

• Ask questions

4-year-old: How parents can help

• Read every day to improve vocabulary

• Practice counting

• Play outside

• Provide opportunities for pretend play

• Can share stories about preschool

• Ask your child questions about their day and preschool

• Set up play dates or social outings with other kids

5-year-old development milestones

Physical milestones

• Somersault

• Skip

• Balance on one foot

• Hop on one foot

Cognitive milestones

• Count to 10 or more

• Recognize most letters of the alphabet

• Understand the days of the week

• Engage in complex imaginative play

• Solve simple problems

Social-emotional milestones

• Takes turns when playing with others

• Follows rules

• Can complete simple chores

• Testing boundaries

Fine motor milestones

• Can write name

• Write uppercase and lowercase letters

• Draw a person with 6 body parts

• Use scissors

• Write some numbers

Language milestones

• Recall stories or events

• Can converse in an ongoing conversation

• Understand the concept of time

• Follow multi-step directions

5-year-old: How parents can help

• Read every day to improve their vocabulary

• Practice counting

• Play outside

• Provide opportunities for pretend play

• Ask to share stories about kindergarten and their day

• Set up play dates or social outings with other kids

Developmental progress

Every child is different and develops at their own pace. While developmental milestones provide general benchmarks, it's normal for children to reach them at different times. Some children excel in one area and take their time in others. Factors like temperament, family environment, and biology influence developmental progress. Instead of comparing your child to other children, focus on their patterns of progress.

When to consult your pediatrician

Contact your local or Summer Health pediatrician if your child:

• Misses multiple developmental milestones

• Shows a noticeable regression in skills (like losing language or motor abilities)

• Seems significantly delayed in areas such as speech, social interaction, or physical mobility

• Shows problems with hearing, vision, or overall health that could impact development

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If indicated, your pediatrician will refer your child to a developmental specialist for evaluation and support.