Developmental Indicators

"Essential Learning Begins Prior To Kindergarten"


Concerned About Your Child's Development In These Areas?

  • Speech & Language Skills
  • Motor Skills
  • Cognitive Skills
  • Social-Emotional Skills
  • Self-Help Skills

Call 425.408.5570 for information.

Your child may be eligible for a free screening or an evaluation to find out if they should receive free services. 
Screening and evaluations are conducted by Northshore School District Specialists: Speech and Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Teachers and Psychologists.

Use these indicators as a guide to assess your child's development:

Speech & Language Skills

Three Years:

  • 70-80% of speech is understandable
  • Has a vocabulary of 500-1000 words
  • Talks in complete sentences of 3-5 words
  • Repeats words and sounds

Four Years:

  • Speaks fairly well, using complex sentences "Daddy went to the store to buy food"
  • Asks and answers who, what, when, why questions
  • Enjoys singing simple songs

Motor Skills

Three Years:

  • Throws ball overhand, kicks a ball forward
  • Climbs up and down small slide by self
  • Stacks 5-7 blocks, draws a circle and square
  • Enjoys playing with play dough

Four Years:

  • Hops on one foot, jumps over object 5" high
  • Runs, jumps, hops, catches a ball, and pedals a tricycle
  • Stacks 10 or more blocks, threads small beads

Cognitive Skills

Three Years:

  • Listens attentively to short stories for 10 minutes
  • Matches an object to a picture

Four Years:

  • Recognizes familiar words in simple books
  • Understands simple concepts-biggest, same
  • Asks a lot of questions

Social-Emotional Skills
Three Years:

  • Follows simple directions and routines
  • Enjoys playing alone but near other children
  • Enjoys playing with other children briefly

Four Years:

  • Enjoys playing with other children
  • Enjoys pretending, has long attention span
  • Continues one activity for 10-15 minutes

Self-Help Skills

Three Years:

  • Uses toilet with some help, can pull up pants
  • Feeds self, brushes teeth

Four Years:

  • Dresses self without much assistance