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Social & Emotional Milestones

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. Social and emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression and management of their emotions, and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others.

View Milestones

Newborn Milestones

Newborn

  • Shows feelings by crying.
  • Uses face and body to show you how he/she is feeling.
  • Shows interest in watching your face.
  • Quiets in response to your touch.
1 Month Milestones

1 Month

  • Shows feelings by crying.
  • Shows interest in watching your face.
  • Quiets in response to touch.
2 Month Milestones

2 Months

  • Shows feelings by crying or smiling.
  • Begins to smile at parent.
  • Follows parent with eyes.
3 Month Milestones

3 Months

  • Quiets to familiar voice or touch.
  • Smiles at people.
  • Enjoys being hugged and cuddled.
4 Month Milestones

4 Months

  • Smiles spontaneously, especially at people.
  • Shows excitement by waving arms and legs.
  • Calms and stops crying when comforted (most of the time).
  • Enjoys playing with people and imitating smiles and frowns.
6 Month Milestones

6 Months

  • Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger.
  • Enjoys playing with others, especially family (such as “peek-a-boo”).
  • Likes to look at self in mirror.
  • Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy.
  • Makes sounds to express happiness or displeasure.
9 Month Milestones

9 Months

  • Shows feelings by smiling, crying and pointing.
  • Prefers certain toys.
  • Clings to familiar adults.
  • Cries when parent leaves and is shy around strangers.
  • Responds to own name.
12 Month Milestones

12 Months

  • Prefers certain people and toys.
  • Imitates sounds, gestures or actions to get parent's attention.
  • Cries when parent leaves and is shy around strangers.
  • Puts arm or leg out to help with dressing.
  • Enjoys playing games like “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake.”
18 Month Milestones

18 Months

  • Shows interest in other children.
  • Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a baby.
  • Imitates your behavior.
  • Tries new things with familiar adults nearby.
  • Hands things to others as part of play.
  • Shows feelings, for example, temper tantrums, fear of strangers, affection with familiar people or clinging to a familiar adult in new situations.
  • Points to show things to others.
2 Year Milestones

2 Years

  • Plays briefly beside other children, and gets excited when with other children.
  • Imitates others, especially adults and older children.
  • Shows more and more independence.
  • Shows defiance, such as doing what he/she was told not to do.
  • Begins to play with other children, as in chasing one another.
3 Year Milestones

3 Years

  • Shows concern and affection for others without prompting.
  • Copies adults and friends (for example, runs when other children run).
  • Takes turns in games.
  • Separates easily from parents.
  • Shows a wide range of feelings.
  • Enjoys routines and may get upset with a major change.
  • Dresses and undresses self.
  • Enjoys helping with simple household tasks.
  • Verbalizes toilet needs and may be toilet trained during the day.
4 Year Milestones

4 Years

  • Plays cooperatively with other children.
  • Negotiates solutions to conflicts.
  • Prefers playing with other children than playing alone.
  • Enjoys doing new things.
  • Becomes more creative in make-believe play.
  • Confuses what’s real and what’s make-believe.
  • Expresses likes and dislikes.
  • Seeks new experiences.
5 Year Milestones

5 Years

  • Wants to please friends.
  • Wants to be like friends.
  • Agrees to rules more easily.
  • Likes to sing, dance and act.
  • Knows the difference between fantasy and reality.
  • Knows who is a boy or girl.
  • Expresses likes and dislikes.
  • Shows increasing independence.
  • Seeks new experiences.
  • Demonstrates both demanding and cooperative behaviors.
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If you have concerns about a child's development and think a child might need extra help to learn and grow, do not hesitate to refer a child.

The family will be contacted by the local school districts to arrange for a screening or evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for Infant and Toddler Intervention or Preschool Special Education services in Minnesota.

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phone icon You can also call 1-866-693-4769 to refer a Minnesota child.
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