Typical Motor Skills

BY 3-4 MONTHS

  • Raises head slightly off floor when lying on stomach
  • Holds head briefly when supported
  • Can clear face by turning head to right or left when on belly
  • Briefly watches and follows objects with eyes
  • Holds head erect, bobbing when in supported sitting position
  • Follows moving person with eyes
  • Lifts head and chest when lying on belly
  • Lots of kicking and arm movements during play
  • Head control improving
  • Rolls from side to side
  • Begins to play with toes
  • Takes and maintains grasp of object held near hand
  • Begins to reach out for objects

BY 7 months

  • Sits with little help, slouching slightly, sits alone
  • Rolls from back to belly
  • Transfers objects from one hand to the other and from hand to mouth
  • Changes from sitting to lying and back with controlled movements
  • Plays with two objects at same time one in each hand

BY 12 months/1 year

  • Pulls self to stand-may step with support
  • Picks things up with one finger and thumb
  • Releases toys on request (Give it to me)
  • Crawls on all fours or belly crawls to get to where she wants to go
  • Cruises furniture or may walk behind walking toy

BY 24 months/2 years

  • Walk alone
  • Run with clumsy motions
  • Climbs up or down one step on feet(not crawling)
  • Makes mark on paper with crayons
  • Kicks large ball
  • Turns pages in a book (2 or 3 at a time)

BY 36 months/3 years

  • Walks up stairs
  • Walks down stairs two feet on each step
  • Stands briefly on one foot
  • Rides tricycle
  • Opens doors
  • Imitates simple lines and circles when drawing

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TYPICAL SOCIAL SKILLS, SELF HELP/ADAPTIVE SKILLS, SPEECH/LANGUAGE SKILLS & COGNITIVE SKILLS

By 3-4 months

  • Watches faces with interest and follows moving objects
  • Recognizes familiar people and objects: smiles at the sound of your voice
  • Begins to develop a social smile
  • Turns head toward sounds
  • Cries to show pain, fear, or discomfort
  • Loves to be touched and held
  • Places hands near bottle or breast
  • Enjoys playing

By 7 months

  • Responds to other peoples emotions
  • Enjoys face to face play: can partially find hidden objects
  • Explores with hands and mouth: struggles for out of reach objects
  • Responds to own name
  • Uses voice to express joy and displeasure: babbles chains of sounds
  • Uses voice to gain attention
  • Holding own bottle
  • Picking up & eating small bits of cereal that easily melt

BY 12 months/1 year

  • Enjoys imitating people: tries to imitate sounds
  • Enjoys simple social games like “gonna get you”
  • Explores objects, finds hidden objects
  • Responds to “no;” uses simple gestures, such as pointing to an object
  • Babbles with changes in tone: may use single words (dada, mama, uh-oh)
  • Turns to a person speaking when his name is called
  • Begins looking at picture books and select pictures
  • Uses words with m, n, p, b, t, d, k, g, h,& w

BY 24 months/2 years

  • Imitates behaviors of others; is excited about company of other children
  • Understands several words
  • Points to named pictures and objects
  • Recognizes names of familiar persons and objects
  • Follows simple 1 step directions
  • Combines two words to communicate with others; “more cookie”
  • Much repetition of adult‘s speech
  • Uses a spoon and or fork
  • Imitates housework
  • Turns pages in book jabbering as if reading

BY 36 months/3 years

  • Expresses affection openly and has a wide range of emotions
  • Makes mechanical toys work
  • Plays make believe
  • Sorts objects by shape or color
  • Follows 2 and 3 step commands
  • Uses pronouns (I, you, me) and some plurals cats, dogs
  • Recognizes familiar pictures knows if it is upside down
  • Feeds self
  • Verbalizes toileting needs

Information provided by First Signs Inc.  2001-2005

Available for download here.

RED FLAGS THAT INDICATE A CHILD

SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY A CLINICAL TEAM

TO RULE OUT AUTISM

1 CHILD IN EVERY 91

is diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum

  • NO big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
  • NO back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter
  • NO babbling by 12 months
  • NO back and forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months
  • NO attempts to communicate his/her wants and needs
  • NO two word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months
  • ANY loss of speech or babbling or social skills AT ANY AGE

Information provided by First Signs Inc.  2001-2005