OT Developmental Milestones of Children 2-5 Years Old

In a previous post, Children Achieving Success: a look into pediatric occupational therapy, we mentioned the importance of understanding the developmental milestones that children should reach at any given age. With this knowledge a parent or teacher can ensure that each child is reaching these goals, and if not they will know to reach out to a doctor or therapist for testing. Below I have listed the developmental milestones for children ages two to five years old.

Developmental Milestones at 2 Years Old

• Removes unfastened coat
• Removes shoes if laces are untied
• Helps pull down pants
• Finds arm holes in pull over shirt
• Stack 4-6 cubes

Developmental Milestones at 2 ½ Years Old

• Removes pull down pants with elastic waist
• Assists in pulling on socks
• Puts on front buttoned coat or shirt
• Unbuttons large buttons
• Draws a vertical line

Developmental Milestones at 3 Years Old

• Copies Horizontal Line
• Copies a Circle
• Puts on pull over shirt with minimal assistance
• Puts on shoes without fasteners (may be on wrong foot)
• Puts on socks (may be with heel on top)
• Zips and Unzips once latched
• Buttons large front buttons

Developmental Milestones at 3 ½ Years Old

• Finds front of clothing
• Snaps or hooks front fastener
• Unzips zipper on jacket separating zipper
• Puts on mittens
• Buttons series of 3 or 4 buttons
• Unbuckles shoe or belt
• Dresses with supervision (needs help to orient front/back)
• Cuts a paper in half within ½ inch of line
• Draws a cross
• Traces a horizontal line
• Grasps a crayon with thumb and index fingers positioned downward to the end of the crayon

Developmental Milestones at 4 Years Old

• Removes pull over garment independently
• Buckles shoes or belt
• Zips jacket zipper
• Puts on socks correctly
• Puts on shoes (needs assistance with tying laces)
• Draws a diagonal line

Developmental Milestones at 4 ½ Years Old

• Draws a square
• Cuts out circle and square on a paper
• Connects dots by drawing straight lines
• Touches each finger to thumb
• Grasps crayon with crayon resting between the top of the index finger and the thumb.

Developmental Milestones at 5 Years Old

• Ties and unties knots
• Dresses unsupervised
• Colors inside the lines
• Folds a paper in half accurately
• Copies a diamond shape