Pragmatic Milestones

0 - 6 Months

• Startles to loud sounds
• Responds to voice and sound
• Turns head toward sound source
• Watches speaker’s face when spoken to
• Discriminates between strangers and familiar people
• Stops crying when spoken to
• Varies responses to different family members
• Smiles when spoken to
• Has a social smile
• Uses babbling for gaining attention and expressing demand
• Establishes eye contact 

6 - 12 Months

• Responds to “no”
• Responds to name and pats image of self in mirror  
• Tries to “talk” to listener
• Coos and squeals for attention
• Laughs when playing with objects
• Tries to communicate by actions and gestures
• Smiles at self in mirror
• Plays pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo games
• Copies simple actions of others
• Shouts to attract attention 
• Points to learn new vocabulary

1 - 2 years

• Follows simple directions, especially with a gestural cue
• Waves bye-bye
• Indicates wet pants
• Repeats actions that made someone laugh
• Engages in parallel play
• Pairs gestures with words to make wants known (e.g., “more” and “up”)
• Imitates adult behaviors in play
• Refers to self by name
• Exhibits verbal turn-taking
• Protests by vocalizing “no”
• Engages in simple pretend play, such as talking on a telephone
• Says “bye” and other social words, such as “hi,” “thank you,” and “please”
• Talks to self during play
• Practices intonation, sometimes imitating an adult 

2 - 3 years

• Watches other children and briefly joins in their play
• Participates in associative play
• Requests permission for items or activities
• Begins to use language for fantasies, jokes, and teasing
• Makes conversational repairs when listener does not understand 
• Begins to play house
• Participates in simple group activities
• Defends own possessions
• Carries on “conversation” with self and dolls
• Engages in simple, make-believe activities
• Begins to control behavior verbally rather than just physically
• Looks for missing toys
• Helps put things away
• Engages in longer dialogues
• Holds up fingers to tell age

3 - 4 years

• Follows two-step related directions without cues
• Takes turns and plays cooperatively
• Relates personal experiences through verbalization
• Separates from primary caregiver easily
• Frequently practices conversation skills by talking to self
• Begins dramatic play, acting out whole scenes
• Shows frustration if not understood
• Expresses ideas and feelings