4-6 Years
Developmental Milestones
This resource is for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical, developmental, or therapy evaluation. If you have concerns about a child’s development, please consult your pediatrician or a licensed therapist.
Milestones:
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Hops and stands on one foot for 5–10 seconds
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Catches a medium-sized ball with hands
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Climbs and descends stairs alternating feet without support
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Uses scissors to cut along lines, cut out shapes
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Draws a person with 2–4 body parts
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Copies cross, square, diagonal lines, and triangle (by 5 years)
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Maintains balance on uneven surfaces
Milestones:
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Uses fork and spoon with good coordination
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Spreads with knife (by 5–6 years)
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Eats a variety of family foods without difficulty
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Drinks from open cup without spilling
Milestones:
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Speaks in full sentences of 4–6 words
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Answers “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why” questions
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Tells stories about events from their day
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Understands concepts of “same” and “different”
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Most speech understood by strangers by age 4
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Knows name, age, and some personal information
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Uses correct grammar for most common sentence structures
Milestones:
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Engages in cooperative play with peers
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Understands and follows game rules
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Demonstrates safety awareness during play
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Shows empathy and concern for others
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Manages most personal care tasks independently (toileting, dressing)
Pathways.org. (2021). Milestones & Abilities. Retrieved from https://pathways.org
Folio, M. R., & Fewell, R. R. (2000). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Parham, L. D., Ecker, C., Kuhaneck, H., Henry, D. A., & Glennon, T. J. (2007). Sensory Processing Measure (SPM). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Learn the Signs. Act Early—Developmental Milestones.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (n.d.). Developmental Norms for Speech and Language. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org