Key Milestones of Play for 0-3 Months:

• Enjoys playful face-to-face interaction with people.
• Coos in response to playful interaction.
• Notices and responds to sounds.

Key Milestones of Play for 3-9 Months:

• Enjoys playful interactions with others, e.g. peek a boo.
• Is vocalizing in response to playful interaction.
• Turns head toward sounds.
• Maintains eye contact with familiar people during playful interaction.
• Enjoys playing with toys of varied textures.
• Enjoys musical toys.
• Raises hands to be picked up.
• Enjoys various types of movement, such as being gently swung.

Key Milestones of Play for 9-12 Months:

• Turns head in response to name being called.
• Points to objects of interest by 12 months.
• Enjoys playing and banging musical toys.
• Frequently explores the environment when placed on floor.
• Enjoys moving to get a desirable toy.

Key Milestones of Play for 1-3 Years:

• Is interested in interacting with people (plays patty cake).
• Raises hands to be picked up.
• Maintains eye contact with people during playful interactions.
• Is interested in imitating others.
• Is able to locate objects you are pointing to.
• Enjoys banging and playing with musical toys.
• Enjoys playing with new toys.
• Enjoys exploring and playing at the playground.
• Enjoys swinging on playground swings.
• Enjoys sitting to look at or listen to a book.
• Is able to participate in messy activities that result in dirty hands.

Key Milestones of Play for 3-5 Years:

• ​Play is now highly social and focused on peer relationships.
• The preschool age child participates in circle time, singing and dancing games, and art time.
• Group play replaces parallel play and the preschooler shows interest in being a friend.

Key Milestones of Play for 5-7+ Years:

• Fine motor control so that children will be able to hold a pencil and start writing.
• Engages with books and begins relating the story to their own life.
• Testing their physical abilities at the playground.
• Will keep trying if they don't get it right the first time.
• Imaginative play will become more planned and the story will continue over days.
• Enthusiasm for learning new things and using toys that relate to their learning.