Milestones

Getting to know your child’s milestones is as simple as playing with your child.

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “hi” are called developmental milestones. As children grow, they reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move. While all children grow and change at their own rate, experts on child development target a window of time when a child may reach each milestone.

To review milestones below, click on the age you want to learn more about.

12 Months

Communication	Can play a nursery game without parent showing how, such as “Peek-a-boo” Says 3 words (a “word” is a sound baby uses consistently to mean something) Points to something to let you know they want it
Gross Motor	Lowers self with control while holding onto furniture Walks beside furniture while holding on with one hand Takes several steps while you hold hands
Fine Motor	Throws small ball forward Helps turn the pages of a book after you lift a page to grasp
Problem Solving	Finds a toy under a blanket after watching you hide it Puts a toy or two in a container
Personal Social	Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing Throws a ball to you for you to return it to them Plays with a stuffed animal by hugging it Shy or nervous with strangers
Talk to Doctor If	Doesn’t crawl Doesn’t point to things Doesn’t say single words, i.e. mama or dada Loses skills once able to do Doesn’t learn gestures such as waving or shaking head

Learn more with a Developmental Screening

To get a more in-depth picture of how your child is developing, we invite you to take a free developmental screening.

Start Screening

Making Meaning from a Screening

After you complete the screening, you may have questions. One in six children have developmental concerns that would benefit from follow up. Research has shown that the sooner the developmental services are started, the better the outcome. There are many services that can support a child’s development, including speech therapy, physical therapy, and developmentally appropriate social activities.

Talking with their health care provider about your concerns can help you determine the best next steps. Your child’s daycare or preschool can also be a partner in supporting your child’s development.

At any time in the process, Help Me Grow is here to walk you through the screening results and to answer your questions.

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