Learning Milestones
Our teachers observe, document, and celebrate each child’s development. Here is what growth often looks like at every stage, from six weeks through twelve years.
Infants
0–6 Months
- Begins to smile at people
- Can briefly calm themself
- Tries to look at a parent or a familiar adult
- Coos and makes gurgling sounds
- Begins to follow things with their eyes
- Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy
- Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
- Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning
- Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired
- Responds to affection
- Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
- Brings hands to mouth
- Lets you know if they are happy or sad
- Holds head steady on their own
- May be able to roll over from tummy to back
- Can hold a toy and shake it
6–12 Months
- Knows familiar faces
- Starts to know if someone is a stranger to them
- Likes to play with others
- Enjoys looking at oneself in a mirror
- Can string vowels together when babbling (ah, eh, oh)
- Responds to own name
- Looks around at things and objects
- Shows curiosity
- Can start to pass toys and objects from one hand to the other
- Rolls over in both directions
- Begins to sit without support
- Starts to be clingy to familiar adults
- Has favorite toys or objects
- Understands “no”
- Uses fingers to point to things and objects
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Can get into sitting position, crawl, or “cruise”
Toddlers
12–24 Months
- Plays games with peers and adults
- Responds to simple spoken requests (“wash hands”)
- Uses gestures like waving or shaking head “yes” or “no”
- Says “mama” or “dada”
- Looks at the right picture or object when it is named
- Starts to use things correctly (towel to dry hands)
- Can get into sitting position without help
- Can stand alone
- Shows affection to familiar peers and adults
- Says several single words
- Knows what simple objects are used for
- Points to own body parts
- Scribbles on their own
- Pushes and pulls toys while walking
- Can eat with food utensils with little support
- Likes to help dress themselves
- Will walk, run, climb, jump
Preschool
3 Years
- Plays make-believe with toys
- Shows affection for peers
- Mostly toilet trained
- Understands right and wrong
- Plays with peers and takes turns in games
- Knows colors and begins sorting by shape
- Shows empathy for an upset friend
- Separates easily from parents
- Dresses and undresses self
- Follows multi-step directions
- Says name, age, and sex
- Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
- Builds towers of six blocks or more
- Climbs, runs, and uses stairs one foot at a time
4 Years
- Uses full sentences in conversation
- Draws a person with body parts
- Enjoys doing new things
- Becomes more creative with make-believe play
- Cooperates with other children
- Understands the difference between real and make-believe
- Talks about personal interests
- Sings songs from memory
- Tells stories with details and sequence
- Understands the idea of counting and basic numbers
- Plays simple board or card games
- Predicts what might happen next in a story
- Hops, stands on one foot, and catches a bounced ball
- Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food
Pre-K
4 Years
- Follows multi-step directions and separates easily from parents
- Plays cooperatively and takes turns in games
- Names colors and basic shapes
- Recognizes some letters and numbers
- Speaks clearly in sentences of four or more words
- Tells what comes next in familiar stories
- Dresses and undresses independently (zips, buttons, snaps)
- Builds block structures, puzzles, and patterns
- Demonstrates empathy and respect for others
- Catches a large ball, runs, climbs, and balances
- Begins drawing people and copying basic shapes
- Follows classroom routines
5 Years
- Uses full sentences to tell stories and describe ideas
- Recognizes most letters and their sounds; begins to sound out simple words
- Writes their name and some words with correct letter formation
- Counts toward 20
- Retells familiar stories and makes simple predictions
- Follows directions and transitions smoothly between activities
- Cooperates with peers and solves problems with increasing independence
- Draws a person with multiple body parts; copies a variety of shapes
- Uses scissors, glue, and writing tools safely and independently
- Hops, skips, and balances with control; climbs and swings confidently
- Shows curiosity, asks questions, and persists through challenges
- Takes pride in work and shares learning with others
Junior Kindergarten
4 Years
- Toilet trained and practices independent hygiene
- Separates easily from parents
- Engages in cooperative play and takes turns
- Follows multi-step directions
- Recognizes letters, colors, and shapes
- Tells short stories with sequence and detail
- Uses full sentences in conversation
- Counts objects up to 10
- Begins identifying sight words
- Builds towers, puzzles, and early problem-solving
5 Years
- Writes some letters in their name
- Recognizes and writes numbers 1–20
- Sings songs and tells detailed stories
- Demonstrates empathy and awareness of others’ feelings
- Understands time concepts like yesterday and tomorrow
- Begins simple addition and subtraction
- Reads simple words with support
- Hops, skips, and balances with control
- Shows curiosity about the world and asks thoughtful questions
School Age
Ages 5–8 Years
- Strengthens coordination, balance, and fine motor control
- Begins to understand others’ perspectives
- Expands vocabulary and reading comprehension
- Applies basic math and problem-solving strategies
- Demonstrates empathy and fairness in group settings
- Takes pride in completing multi-step projects
- Understands cause and effect in behavior and choices
- Learns new games and sports with improving skills
- Manages belongings and classroom responsibilities
- Participates actively in group discussions and ideas
Ages 9–12 Years
- Develops critical thinking and reasoning skills
- Recognizes how actions affect others
- Demonstrates more independence and self-regulation
- Organizes tasks and completes projects with less guidance
- Expands interests through clubs and group activities
- Uses writing and research to express complex ideas
- Balances social dynamics with empathy and self-awareness
- Seeks feedback and takes pride in improvement
- Practices teamwork and leadership roles
- Shows curiosity about the world and community involvement
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