RxPG - Developmental Milestones

This exhaustive list of developmental milestones is prepared by one of the volunteer team members at rxpg. We hope this will be useful to you all in your PG and PLAB preparations. If you like it then please leave a comment to encourage the person who did the mammoth task of compiling such exhaustive info in such a small list.

0 - 4 wks

• looks at face of caregiver
• small, throaty noises
• responds to sounds
• asymmetrical posture
• quiets when picked up

4 - 8 wks

• social smile
• babbles spontaneously
• facial response to sound
• head sometimes held erect
• reacts to feeding positions

8 - 12 wks

• recognizes mother visually
• single vowels
• glances at rattle in hand
• rolls partway to side
• anticipates lifting

12 - 16 wks

• smiles at mirror image
• coos / chuckles
• anticipatory excitement
• actively holds rattle
• regards own hand

16 - 20 wks

• aware of novel situations
• laughs, vocalizes excitement
• takes rattle to mouth
• hands engage in midline
• anticipates feeding on sight

20 - 24 wks

• shows displeasure over loss of toy
• spontaneous social vocalization
• visual pursuit of dropped object
• holds head erect and steady
• pats or fingers bottle or breast

24 - 28 wks

• plays simple interaction games
• attends to music or singing
• bangs objects on tabletops
• rolls to prone
• drinks from cup with assistance

28 - 32 wks

• shows anxiety to strangers
• polysyllabic vowel sounds
• shakes rattle
• transfers objects between hands
• holds objects voluntarily

32 - 36 wks

• imitates simple adult sounds
• single syllables (da, ba, ka)
• plays with two toys at same time
• pivots while in prone position
• feeds self cracker or cookie

36 - 40 wks

• waves bye-bye
• says "dada" or "mama" (nonspecific)
• uncovers toy hidden by cloth
• sits alone with no support
• responds to "pick up" gesture

40 - 44 wks

• inhibits activity on command
• says "dada" or "mama" (specific)
• combines toys in play
• uses index finger to secure object
• cooperates in social games

44 - 48 wks

• "gives" toy to mirror image
• one word besides "mama" and "dada"
• preference for certain toys over others
• rolls ball while sitting
• gives toy to others without release

48 - 52 wks

• initiates games with adult
• two words besides "mama" and "dada"
• uses crayon to "dot" imitatively
• takes two steps independently
• releases toy to others

1.25 yrs

• shows desire to please parents
• combines words and gestures
• builds tower of two blocks
• runs well, little falling
• points to one body part

1.5 yrs

• hugs or feeds doll
• speaks in sentences
• draws imitative stroke
• turns knob
• understands meaning of "hot"

1.75 yrs

• shares toys or possessions
• says 50 or more words
• uses tool to attain object out of reach
• kicks ball
• uses spoon well

2 yrs

• simple make-believe play
• jargon discarded, speech mostly intelligible
• makes simple generalizations
• turns pages of book, walks up and down stairs
• pulls on simple clothing

2.5 yrs

• identifies own mirror image
• states first and last names
• matches simple shapes
• holds crayon with fingers
• toilet trained during the day

3 yrs

• labels affects in self
• uses past tense, knows some songs or nursery rhymes
• designates action in picture, copies circle
• rides tricycle
• helps put away things

3.5 yrs

• cooperative play, games with rules
• uses adjectives and adverbs
• copies square, compares sizes
• complex block constructions
• does simple chores

4 yrs

• assumes specific role in play
• participates in conversations
• draws person with two parts, counts three objects
• hops
• apologizes for unintentional mistakes

4.5 yrs

• elaborate, dramatic play
• uses compound sentences
• names missing parts, counts four objects
• bounces ball
• orders food in restaurant

5 yrs

• understands rules in games
• defines words, names coins
• knows days of week, counts 10 objects
• throws ball, skips well
• dresses and undresses mostly independently

6 yrs

• has "best friend"
• prints words from memory, reads simple stories
• draws person with head, neck, hands
• rides bicycle
• chooses activities independently

Source and reference is from Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 7th edition published by Williams & wilkins, 1994. Table 33.2-1 and 33.2-2.

Compiled. abbreviated and formatted at RxPG