Age | Evidence of normal cortical development |
6 to 12 months | Awareness of surroundings |
Interaction with examiner (social smile, inquisitiveness, habituation) |
Cooing and gurgling, sometimes making of nonspecific "mama" and "dada" sounds |
Looks at and pats picture to show interest |
12 to 20 months | 6- to 8-word vocabulary |
Comprehends 1-step commands |
Points to 2 or 3 body parts |
Points at pictures |
24 months | Names 2 or 3 body parts |
Uses phrases and simple sentences |
Names pictures, follows simple stories |
24 to 36 months | Concept of self (referring to self as "I," knowledge of name and age) |
Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar stories |
36 months | Counts 3 objects |
Understands prepositional concepts (eg, "over" and "under") |
Asks questions |
Names 3 colors |
Begins to recognize letters |
48 months | Copies a square and a cross |
Begins to develop ability to rhyme |
5 or 6 years | Spells monosyllabic words |
Counts to 10 |
Recognizes numbers, letters, sight words |
6 years | Copies a triangle |
Reads and retells familiar stories |
6 or 7 years | Does simple addition and subtraction |
Reads polysyllabic words |
7 years | Copies a diamond |
Sounds out or decodes unfamiliar words |