http://understandingmilestones.wikispaces.com
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Stages and sequences that ALL individuals go
through from birth to adulthood.
Universal.
Scaffolding process.
Need pre-requisite skills before new skills
can be developed.
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Preparation for ALL students.
Education versus academics.
Skills for life.
Difference between education and daycare.
Special Programs and education.
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Function is dependent on long term goals.
Every student should be receiving functional
programming – not just IS students.
Samples of functional programming:
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University Program Goal
Applied Program Goal
Work Entrance Goal
Life Skills Goal
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Communication Skills
Motor Skills
Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Social and Play Skills
Communication
Motor Skills
Thinking and
Problem Solving
Social and Play
Skills
Gurgles, Coos,
Giggle, Squeals
Sits with
support
Inspects objects
for a long time
Explores
textures, tastes,
sounds
Focuses on
Rolls front to
other’s mouths
back, then back
when they speak to front
Retrieves a
partially hidden
toy
Sensory-motor
play evident
Mouths
everything
Grasps objects
(full hand)
Shakes and
bangs toys
Enjoys and
imitates social
play
Eye gaze
Tries to
cooperate with
dressing
Signals for
‘more’ – enjoys
repeated play
Prefers to attend
to faces rather
than objects
Communication
Motor Skills
Thinking and
Problem Solving
Social and Play
Skills
Identifies
objects when
named
(pointing)
Sits
independently;
stands alone
and takes 1st
steps
Can shift
Turn-taking in
attention from
play and social
person to object interactions
Responds to
‘where is’ by
pointing
Accurately
reaches for toys
Finds hidden toy Functional play
and will search
with actual
for toy
objects
Understands
about 50 words
Self feeds with
fingers
Overgeneralizes
learning
Joint Attention
Greater control
Stacks objects;
releasing than
can match
grasping objects simple shapes
Tries to make
adults laugh
Social
referencing
Communication
Motor Skills
Thinking and
Problem Solving
Social and Play
Skills
Identifies simple
body parts
Hops on two
feet
Purposefully
explores toys
Loves chasing
games
Responds
appropriately to
yes/no question
Can move small
objects from
palm to fingers
Knows cause
and effect
Functional and
Dramatic play
Combines words Builds tower of
into 2 word
4 blocks
sentences
Long term
memory for
events
Reacts to
emotions of
others
Takes 1-2 turns
in
communications
Begins sharing –
but will take
another’s toy
without concern
Parallel play
Simple tool use
Communication
Motor Skills
Thinking and
Problem Solving
Social and Play
Skills
Knows big and
little
Walks
upstairs/down –
alternating feet
Attends to more
than 1 stimulus
at a time
Plays with
dolls/figures in
sequenced play
Asks and
answers
what/where
questions
Catches large
ball against
chest
Completes a
simple puzzle
Can recover
from tantrums
on own
Identifies
gender
Pincer grasp
developing
Can sequence
play/learning in
2-3 steps
Shows fears
Understands
amount - ‘one’
versus ‘all’
Toileting
Starting to
categorize
Associative Play
Communication
Motor Skills
Thinking and
Social and Play
Problem Solving Skills
Follows 2-3
steps of
unrelated
activities
Catches and
throws ball
Relates detailed
experiences
Prefers to play
with peers
rather than
alone
Knows
opposites
Colours within
the lines
Understands
how/why
questions
Develops
themes in play
Takes 3-4 turns Can do zipper
in conversation with help and
snaps
Categorizes
according to
different
features
Can play in a
group –
cooperative
play
Speech paired
similar to an
adult
Initiates plans;
problem-solves
on own
Believes he/she
can do anything
Can imitate
horizontal line
and circle
Communication
Motor Skills
Describes how
to do things
Kicks to a target Thinks up new
uses for objects
Likes group
games and
sports
Creates rhymes
Able to skip
Attends to
letters and
numbers
Makes up
costumes for
play
Retells sequence Draws shapes
of a story
with spatial
understanding
Listens to long
stories
Wants to please
peers
Uses humour,
argues, answers
‘what happens
if’ questions
Makes
Can wait for a
inferences about turn; makes up
motives of
jokes, tattles.
others
Can imitate
cross (at 4) and
X at about 5
Thinking and
Problem Solving
Social and Play
Skills