Scharf et al. Pediatrics in Review 2016 Milestone Category

Social/Emotional

Milestone Name	Expected Age
Discriminates mother’s voice	1
Cries out of distress	1
Reciprocal smiling: responds to adult voice and smile	2
Expression of disgust (sour taste, loud sound)	3
Visually follows person who is moving across a room	3
Smiles spontaneously at pleasurable sight/sound	4
Stops crying at parent voice	4
To and fro alternating vocalizations	4
Recognizes caregiver visually	5
Forms attachment relationship to caregiver	5
Stranger anxiety (familiar versus unfamiliar people)	6
Looks from object to parent and back when wanting help (eg, with a wind-up toy)	7
Lets parents know when happy versus upset	8
Engages in gaze monitoring: adult looks away and child follows adult glance with own eyes	8
Uses sounds to get attention	9
Separation anxiety	9
Follows a point, “Oh look at ...”	9
Recognizes familiar people visually	9
Experiences fear	10
Looks preferentially when name is called	10
Gives objects to adult for action after demonstration (lets adult know he or she needs help)	11
Shows objects to parent to share interest	12
Points to get desired object (protoimperative pointing)	12
Shows desire to please caregiver	13
Solitary play	13
Functional play	13
Points at object to express interest (protodeclarative pointing)	14
Purposeful exploration of toys through trial and error	14
Shows empathy (someone else cries, child looks sad)	15
Hugs adult in reciprocation	15
Recognizes without a demonstration that a toy requires activation; hands it to adult if can’t operate	15
Kisses by touching lips to skin	16
Periodically visually relocates caregiver	16
Self-conscious; embarrassed when aware of people observing	16
Passes M-CHAT	18
Engages in pretend play with other people (eg, tea party, birthday party)	18
Begins to show shame (when does wrong) and possessiveness	18
Begins to have thoughts about feelings	20
Engages in tea party with stuffed animals	20
Kisses with pucker	20
Watches other children intensely	22
Begins to show defiant behavior	22
Parallel play	24
Begins to mask emotions for social etiquette	24
Reduction in separation anxiety	28
Imitates adult activities (eg, sweeping, talking on phone)	30
Begins to take turns	33
Tries to help with household tasks	33
Starts to share with/without prompt	36
Fears imaginary things	36
Imaginative play	36
Uses words to describe what someone else is thinking (“Mom thought I was asleep”)	36
Deception: interested in “tricking” others and concerned about being tricked by others	48
Has a preferred friend	48
Labels happiness, sadness, fear, and anger in self	48
Group play	48
Has group of friends	60
Apologizes for mistakes	60
Responds verbally to good fortune of others	60
Has best friend of same sex	72
Plays board games	72
Distinguishes fantasy from reality	72
Wants to be like friends and please them	72
Enjoys school	72