A child is typically able to do the following:

By age one

• Recognizes name
• Says 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada"
• Imitates familiar words
• Understands simple instructions
• Recognizes words as symbols for objects: Car - points to garage, cat - meows
• Smiles spontaneously
• Responds differently to strangers than to familiar people
• Pays attention to own name
• Responds to "no"
• Copies simple actions of others

Between one and two

• Understands "no"
• Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
• Combines two words such as "daddy bye-bye"
• Waves good-bye and plays pat-a-cake
• Makes the "sounds" of familiar animals
• Gives a toy when asked
• Uses words such as "more" to make wants known
• Points to his or her toes, eyes, and nose
• Brings object from another room when asked
• Recognizes self in mirror or picture
• Refers to self by name
• Plays by self; initiates own play
• Imitates adult behaviors in play
• Helps put things away

Between two and three

• Identifies body parts
• Carries on 'conversation' with self and dolls
• Asks, "What's that?" And "where's my?"
• Uses 2-word negative phrases such as "no want"
• Forms some plurals by adding "s"; book, books
• Has a 450 word vocabulary
• Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age
• Combines nouns and verbs "mommy go"
• Understands simple time concepts: "last night", "tomorrow"
• Refers to self as "me" rather than by name
• Tries to get adult attention: "watch me"
• Likes to hear same story repeated
• May say "no" when means "yes"
• Talks to other children as well as adults
• Solves problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
• Answers "where" questions
• Names common pictures and things
• Uses short sentences like "me want more" or "me want cookie"
• Matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little
• Plays near other children
• Watches other children; joins briefly in their play
• Defends own possessions
• Begins to play house
• Symbolically uses objects, self in play
• Participates in simple group activity
• Knows gender identity

Between three and four

• Can tell a story
• Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
• Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
• Names at least one color
• Understands "yesterday," "summer", "lunchtime", "tonight", "little-big"
• Begins to obey requests like "put the block under the chair"
• Knows his or her last name, name of street on which he/she lives and several nursery rhymes
• Joins in play with other children; begins to interact
• Shares toys; takes turns with assistance
• Begins dramatic play, acting out whole scenes

• Has sentence length of 4-5 words
• Uses past tense correctly
• Has a vocabulary of nearly 1,500 words
• Points to colors red, blue, yellow and green
• Identifies triangles, circles and squares
• Understands "In the morning" , "next", "noontime"
• Can speak of imaginary conditions such as "I hope"
• Asks many questions, asks "who?" And "why?"
• Plays and interacts with other children
• Dramatic play is closer to reality, with attention paid to detail, time, and space
• Plays dress-up
• Shows interest in exploring sex differences

Between five and six

• Has a sentence length of 5-6 words
• Has a vocabulary of around 2000 words
• Defines objects by their use (you eat with a fork) and can tell what objects are made of
• Knows spatial relations like "on top", "behind", "far" and "near"
• Knows her address
• Identifies a penny, nickel and dime
• Knows common opposites like "big/little"
• Understands "same" and "different"
• Counts ten objects
• Asks questions for information
• Distinguished left and right hand in herself
• Uses all types of sentences, for example "let's go to the store after we eat"
• Chooses own friends
• Plays simple table games
• Plays competitive games
• Engages in cooperative play with other children involving group decisions, role assignments, fair play

Last updated February 13, 2008