Chart — Pediatrics
Developmental Milestones Chart
A comprehensive side-by-side comparison of physical, cognitive, and social milestones by age group — from infant through adolescent — with Erikson and Piaget frameworks for NCLEX and clinical practice.
Educational use only. Milestones represent averages across healthy children. Use validated screening tools (e.g., ASQ-3, M-CHAT-R/F) for formal developmental screening. This chart is for nursing education and NCLEX preparation. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
Infant (Birth – 12 Months)
| Age | Physical | Cognitive / Language | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 mo | Lifts head; tracks to midline; grasp reflex | Cooing; alerts to voice/sound | Social smile at 6–8 weeks |
| 4 mo | Holds head steady; reaches; rolls front-to-back | Babbles; laughs; tracks 180° | Enjoys people; spontaneous smile |
| 6 mo | Sits with support; transfers hand-to-hand | Consonant babble (“ba,” “ma”); responds to name | Stranger anxiety begins |
| 9 mo | Sits independently; crawls; pincer grasp | "Mama/dada" non-specifically; object permanence | Separation anxiety peaks; waves; peek-a-boo |
| 12 mo | Pulls to stand; cruises; may walk; pincer refined | 1–2 meaningful words; follows simple commands | Drinks from cup; shows/offers objects |
Toddler (1–3 Years)
| Age | Physical | Cognitive / Language | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mo | Walks independently; stacks 2 blocks | 4–6 words; points to body parts | Parallel play; tantrums begin |
| 18 mo | Runs stiffly; stacks 3–4 blocks; feeds self | 10–20 words; 2-step commands | Imitates household tasks; ritualistic behavior |
| 2 yr | Runs; kicks ball; jumps with both feet | 50+ words; 2-word phrases; names body parts | Parallel play; "No!" negativism; toilet training |
| 3 yr | Alternates feet on stairs; rides tricycle | 900+ words; 3-word sentences; names colors | Toilet trained; associative play; dresses with help |
Preschool (3–5 Years)
| Age | Physical | Cognitive / Language | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 yr | Hops on one foot; draws person (3 parts); cuts with scissors | Tells stories; counts to 10; asks "why?" | Cooperative play; takes turns; imaginative play |
| 5 yr | Balance on one foot 10 sec; draws person (6 parts); prints letters | Knows address; counts 10+ objects; reads simple words | School-ready; friend-focused; complex rule-following |
Preschoolers fear bodily mutilation — reassure body integrity during procedures.
School-Age (6–12 Years)
| Domain | Physical | Cognitive / Language | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–12 yr | Slow steady growth; fine motor refined; sports participation; primary teeth replaced | Concrete operations; logical/cause-effect; reads and writes fluently; expanding vocabulary | Peer groups dominant; competitive; follows rules; values fairness and cooperation |
Adolescent (12–18 Years)
| Domain | Physical | Cognitive / Language | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–18 yr | Puberty; growth spurt; secondary sex characteristics; peak bone mass | Formal operations; abstract/hypothetical thinking; future planning; adult-level reasoning | Identity formation; peer group dominance; privacy needs; risk-taking behaviors |
Developmental Red Flags
- No social smile by 3 months
- No babbling by 12 months; no single words by 16 months; no 2-word phrases by 24 months
- No walking by 18 months
- Loss of previously acquired skills at ANY age — always requires urgent evaluation
- No imitative play by 12 months; no pretend play by 24 months
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with CDC Developmental Milestones / AAP. It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →