3-5 Years
developmental milestones and their importance
Your baby’s first smile, first word, first step – as a parent, these are all special moments that you will treasure for a long time. Did you know that these little moments of joy were also important markers of your baby’s development? Your paediatrician or child care specialist would call them by a more sober name – Developmental Milestones.
- Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age
- They are behavioural and physical checkpoints in a child’s development.
These milestones can be used as a framework to identify children who may be at risk for developmental delay. Developmental delay occurs when a child exhibits a significant delay in the acquisition of milestones in one or more domains of development. Early detection of developmental delays allows for early interventions and support.
Download our mobile app to access ‘The Milestone Tracker’ and check whether your child meets the milestones in the relevant age-group. If a risk of developmental delay is detected, you can opt for expert support from our clinical team and start an early intervention program.
Read on to know more about the milestones in the age-group you have selected. Please note that even within the broad confines of milestones, each child is unique and the timelines can vary.
Developmental Milestones for Ages 3 to 5
3 Years
Motor (Physical Development) Milestones
- Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
- Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
- Uses a fork
Communication Milestones
- Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
- Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
- Says first name, when asked
- Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time
Cognitive Milestones
- Draws a circle, when you show him how
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
- Notices other children and joins them to play
4 Years
Motor(Physical Development) Milestones
- Catches a large ball most of the time
- Serves himself food or pours water, with adult supervision
- Unbuttons some buttons
- Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
Communication Milestones
- Says sentences with four or more words
- Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
- Talks about at least one thing that happened during his day, like “I played soccer.”
- Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”
Cognitive Milestones
- Names a few colours of items
- Tells what comes next in a well-known story
- Draws a person with three or more body parts
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
- Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
- Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
- Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
- Likes to be a “helper”
- Changes behaviour based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)
5 Years
Motor(Physical Development) Milestones
- Buttons some buttons
- Hops on one foot
Communication Milestones
- Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
- Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
- Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Cognitive Milestones
- Counts to 10
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
- Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
- Writes some letters in her name
- Names some letters when you point to them
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
- Sings, dances, or acts for you
- Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating
Follow the trail of developmental milestones.
Skills, knowledge and abilities to make a smooth and successful transition to school