CDC Milestone Category

Social/Emotional

Milestone Name	Expected Age
Begins to smile at people	2
Can briefly calm himself (may bring hands to mouth and suck on hand)	2
Tries to look at parent	2
Smiles spontaneously, especially at people	4
Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops	4
Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning	4
Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger	6
Likes to play with others, especially parents	6
Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy	6
Likes to look at self in a mirror	6
May be afraid of strangers	9
May be clingy with familiar adults	9
Has favorite toys	9
Is shy or nervous with strangers	12
Cries when mom or dad leaves	12
Has favorite things and people	12
Shows fear in some situations	12
Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story	12
Repeats sounds or actions to get attention	12
Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing	12
Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”	12
Likes to hand things to others as play	18
May have temper tantrums	18
May be afraid of strangers	18
Shows affection to familiar people	18
Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll	18
May cling to caregivers in new situations	18
Points to show others something interesting	18
Explores alone but with parent close by	18
Copies others, especially adults and older children	24
Gets excited when with other children	24
Shows more and more independence	24
Shows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)	24
Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase games	24
Copies adults and friends	36
Shows affection for friends without prompting	36
Takes turns in games	36
Shows concern for crying friend	36
Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”	36
Shows a wide range of emotions	36
Separates easily from mom and dad	36
May get upset with major changes in routine	36
Dresses and undresses self	36
Enjoys doing new things	48
Plays “Mom” and “Dad”	48
Is more and more creative with make-believe play	48
Would rather play with other children than by himself	48
Cooperates with other children	48
Often can’t tell what’s real and what’s make-believe	48
Talks about what she likes and what she is interested in	48
Wants to please friends	60
Wants to be like friends	60
More likely to agree with rules	60
Likes to sing, dance, and act	60
Shows concern and sympathy for others	60
Is aware of gender	60
Can tell what’s real and what’s make-believe	60
Shows more independence (for example, may visit a next-door neighbor by himself [adult supervision is still needed])	60
Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very cooperative	60