Common Developmental Delays
Developmental delays can range from mild to severe. This article provides some developmental benchmarks to help you identify these delays.
In this article, you will find:
Cognitive benchmarks
Listed below are some cognitive benchmarks to look for.By six months:
- uses hands and mouth to explore objects
- finds a partially hidden object
- plays two to three minutes with one toy (examining, rotating, touching, poking)
- imitates a familiar gesture
- finds a completely hidden object
- deliberately touches an adult's hand or toy to start an activity
- retrieves an object to resume play
- guides a toy with hands
- throws objects to see what happens
- rotates an upside-down picture
- uses tools to solve problems such as climbing on a chair to get a toy on a table
- matches sounds to appropriate animal picture
- engages in symbolic play (e.g., uses a stick to brush a doll's hair)
- talks to himself to expand on play theme or to an imaginary friend
- understands the concept of two (e.g., can pick out two toys when directed)
- discriminates between sizes (points to the Oreo instead of the M&M when asked which is larger)