The information in the table below is a comprehensive list of cognitive developmental milestones. A brief version of this information aimed at parents can also be found in an easy-to-use checklist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Three Years- Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
- Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
- Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
- Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
- Turns book pages one at a time
- Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
- Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when warned
Four Years- Names some numbers
- Understands the idea of counting
- Remembers parts of a story
- Understands the idea of same and different
- Draws a person with 3 or more body parts
- Names a few colors
- Understands some direction words like under on top, middle
- Plays dress up and pretends to be someone or something else
- Tells you what comes next in a story
Five Years- Counts to 10
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
- Can write some letters of their name
- Names some letters when you point to them
- Pays attention for 5-10 minutes during activities
- Uses words about time like yesterday, tomorrow, morning, or night
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). CDC's Developmental Milestones. An electronic resource available from:
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