Healthy Children Milestone Category

Social and Emotional

Milestone Name	Expected Age
Begins to develop a social smile	3
Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops	3
Becomes more communicative and expressive with face and body	3
Imitates some movements and facial expressions	3
Enjoys social play	7
Interested in mirror images	7
Responds to other people’s expressions of emotion and appears joyful often	7
Shy or anxious with strangers	12
Cries when mother or father leaves	12
Enjoys imitating people in play	12
Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys	12
Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings (What do you do when he refuses a food?)	12
Tests parental responses to his behavior (What do you do if he cries after you leave the room?)	12
May be fearful in some situations	12
Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others	12
Repeats sounds or gestures for attention	12
Finger-feeds himself	12
Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed	12
Increasingly inventive in fantasy play	48
Interested in new experiences	48
Cooperates with other children	48
Plays “Mom” or “Dad”	48
Dresses and undresses	48
Negotiates solutions to conflicts	48
More independent	48
Imagines that many unfamiliar images may be “monsters”	48
Views self as a whole person involving body, mind, and feelings	48
Often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality	48
Wants to please friends	60
Wants to be like her friends	60
More likely to agree to rules	60
Likes to sing, dance, and act	60
Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by herself	60
Aware of sexuality	60
Able to distinguish fantasy from reality	60
Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative	60