Occupational And Physical Therapy Milestones

Milestone Age Ranges

Make sure to check out the free Milestone Tracker App as well to track your child’s Milestones. It’s completely FREE!

CDCs Milestone tracker app

By 2 to 3 Months Of Age

Gross / Fine Motor

  • Lifts head 45 degrees while in prone (lying on tummy)
  • Opens and closes hands
  • Follows a toy with eyes from side to side
  • Brings hands together toward middle of body
  • Attempts to reach for toy
  • Grasps a small toy placed in hand
  • Breastfeeds or drinks from a bottle without choking, coughing or gagging

By 4 to 6 Months

GROSS / FINE MOTOR

  • Rolls belly to back (both to right and left sides)
  • Hits at dangling toys with hands
  • Lifts head to 90 degrees while in prone (lying on tummy)
  • Raises entire chest when on stomach and bears weight on hands
  • Rolls back to belly (both to right and left sides)
    By 6 Months
  • Begins to sit using hands for support
  • Transfers toys from hand to hand
  • Reaches with increased control for a toy
  • Shakes and bangs toys
  • Eats small amounts of pureed baby food

By 7 to 12 Months

Gross / Fine Motor

  • Sustained sitting without using their arms for support
  • Crawls on hands and knees with stomach off the floor (9 months)
  • Feeds self finger foods (8 months+)
  • Moves into sitting position independently
  • Eats mashed table food
  • Sits well to play
  • Imitates simple play such as “peek a boo”
  • Pulls self up to stand using furniture

12 Months to 24 Months

Gross / Fine Motor

  • Pulls off socks and shoes
  • Cooperates with dressing (helps to pull off clothing; extends arms and legs to assist with dressing)
  • Scribbles on paper
  • Stands alone
  • Walking (1-2 steps alone)
  • Uses thumb and pointer finger to pick up small objects (15 Months)
  • Eats a variety of soft, chopped table food
  • Drinks from a sippy cup independently
  • Stacks 2 blocks
  • Walks well with infrequent falls
  • Squats to pick up an object and stands up again without falling
  • Throws/kicks balls
  • Eats a variety of solid foods

2yrs To 4yrs

GROSS / FINE MOTOR

  • Snips with scissors
  • Imitates horizontal, vertical lines and circular marks
  • Removes elastic waist pants
  • Builds at least a 6 block tower
  • Pushes, pulls or carries toys while walking (18 months)
  • Pedals a tricycle
  • Catches a large ball thrown gently from very close
  • Runs well without falling (2.5 years)
  • Drinks from an open cup

3yrs To 4yrs

Gross / Fine Motor

  • Static tripod grasp (held with thumb, index and middle fingers while hand moves as a unit)

4yrs To 5yrs

Gross / Fine Motor

  • Static tripod grasp (held with thumb, index and middle fingers while hand moves as a unit)
  • Prints name from memory
  • Colors within the lines
  • Draws a person with at least 6 or more different parts
  • Cuts out a square

5yrs to 6yrs

Gross / Fine Motor

  • Dynamic tripod grasp (held with thumb, index and middle fingers with ring and pinky curled into palm; movement of writing utensil comes from the fingertips)
  • Throws at a target 5 feet away and hits target fairly consistently
  • Copies letters and numbers
  • Skips independently
  • Rides a bicycle independently

References:
Beery, K.E. & Beery, N.A. (2010). The Beery-Buktenica developmental test of visual- motor integration(Beery VMI) with supplemental developmental tests of visual perception and motor coordination and stepping stones age norms from birth to age six: Administration , scoring, and teaching manual (6th ed.). Bloomington, MN: Pearson.
Case-Smith, J. (2005) Occupational therapy for children (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Inc.
Haley, S.M., Coster, W.J., Ludlow, L.H., Haltiwanger, J., & Andrellos, P. (1992). Pediatric evaluation of disability inventory (PEDI): Development, standardization and administration manual (Version 1.0). Boston, MA: PEDI Research Group.
Miller, L.J. (2006). Sensational kids: Hope and help for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD). New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Reebye, P. & Stalker, A. (2008). Understanding regulation disorders of sensory processing in children: Management strategies for parents and professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Williamson, G.G. & Anzalone, M.E. (2001). Sensory integration and self-regulation in infants and toddlers: Helping very young children interact with their environment. Washington, D.C.: Zero to Three.

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