Children develop at their own pace, so it's impossible to tell exactly when yours will learn a given skill. The developmental milestones below will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if your child takes a slightly different course.

Developmental Health Watch
Alert your child's doctor or nurse if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

• Acts extremely fearful or timid
• Acts extremely aggressively
• Is unable to separate from parents without major protest
• Is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on any single activity for more than five minutes
• Shows little interest in playing with other children
• Refuses to respond to people in general, or responds only superficially
• Rarely uses fantasy or imitation in play
• Seems unhappy or sad much of the time
• Doesn't engage in a variety of activities
• Avoids or seems aloof with other children and adults
• Doesn't express a wide range of emotions
• Has trouble eating, sleeping, or using the toilet
• Can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality
• Seems unusually passive
• Cannot understand two-part commands using prepositions ("Put the doll on the bed, and get the ball under the couch.")
• Can't correctly give her first and last name
• Doesn't use plurals or past tense properly when speaking
• Doesn't talk about her daily activities and experiences
• Cannot build a tower of six to eight blocks
• Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon
• Has trouble taking off clothing
• Cannot brush her teeth efficiently
• Cannot wash and dry her hands
• Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once