Age & Milestones/Suggestions & Tips

2 Months Milestones: 

• Watches you as you move
• Looks at a toy for several seconds

2 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Place a baby-safe mirror near your baby so they can look at themselves.
• Look at pictures with bright colors or faces with your baby and talk about them.

4 Months Milestones: 

• Opens mouth to show they are hungry when a bottle or breast is present
• Looks at their hands with interest

4 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Give safe toys for holding and placing in the mouth.
• Play Peek-a-Boo.
• Offer multiple toys to your child at once for them to play with.

6 Months Milestones: 

• Explores items by putting them in their mouth
• Reaches to grab a toy
• Closes lips to show they are done eating

6 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Offer safe toy options for exploring.
• Place toys just out of reach and encourage them to reach.
• Talk to your baby about the foods they eat.

9 Months Milestones: 

• Looks for dropped objects
• Bangs things together

9 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Take turns dropping toys and picking them up.
• Play drums with your baby with pots and pans.

1 Year Milestones: 

• Puts objects in containers
• Looks for hidden toys

1 year Suggestions & Tips:

• Dump toys out on the floor and pick them up together.
• Let your child see you hide toys and then find them.

15 Months Milestones: 

• Uses objects for intended purpose
• Stacks at least 2 objects

15 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Pretend to call on play phones.
• Build structures with blocks together and encourage them to stack.

18 Months Milestones: 

• Copies you doing chores
• Plays with toys in a simple way

18 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Encourage pretend play with brooms & play pans etc.
• Play cars with your child.

2 Years Milestones: 

• Uses one hand while holding something in the other
• Uses switches, knobs, buttons
• Plays with more than one toy at a time

2 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Model using multiple objects at the same time.
• Give toys with buttons or parts.
• Encourage your child to help you with chores.

30 Months Milestones: 

• Uses objects to pretend
• Shows problem-solving skills
• Follows 2 step directions
• Knows at least 1 color

30 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Give your child a large box and cut holes in it for pretend play.
• Point out the colors of common household or natural objects.
• Play with puzzles and give hints for turning pieces or placement.

3 Years Milestones: 

• Draws a circle when modeled
• With a warning, avoids hot surfaces

3 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Take turns drawing circles in shaving cream on a table.
• Discuss hot items and how they can burn, and praise your child for following safety rules.

4 Years Milestones: 

• Names a few colors of items
• Can tell what comes next in a well known story
• Draws a person with at least 3 body parts

4 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Paint with your child and discuss the colors being used.
• Retell stories using the words first, next, and last.
• Look in the mirror at your legs, arms, head, feet, and hands with your child.

5 Years Milestones: 

• Counts to 10 and names some #’s 1-5 when pointed to
• Uses words referring to time
• Pays attention for at least 5-10 min.
• Writes some letters in name
• Names some pointed out letters

5 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Play board games with numbers
• Sing the days of the week.
• Allow your child to wait for their turn.
• Practice name writing in the sand.
• Play “I Spy” with the alphabet.