MilestoneSocial· 4mo–8mo

Laughter

Produces genuine laughter in response to social interaction or stimulation

Medium (60%)
Specialized0 related · 1 prereq

What the research says

Referenced across 1 developmental framework: cdc_milestones

Full quotes, source languages, and document links coming soon as we finish the source-evidence indexing pass.

Before this (1)

Required (1)

  • Social Smile
    Min: secure
    Laughter develops from smiling as more complex emotional expression

Helpful

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Character

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How it's taught

cdc_milestones

Engage in playful interaction; play peek-a-boo, make funny faces and sounds, gentle tickling; respond enthusiastically when baby laughs to encourage more

Materials: No special materials needed; use playful interaction, peek-a-boo games

What mastery looks like

Not yet

Does not produce laughter; may smile but no vocalized laughter

  • Smiles but does not laugh
  • No vocalized pleasure sounds beyond cooing
  • Does not respond to playful stimulation with laughter
Emerging

Produces occasional chuckles or brief laugh-like sounds

  • Makes brief chuckling sounds
  • Laugh is inconsistent or hard to elicit
  • May laugh only with very specific stimulation
Developing

Laughs regularly in response to social play

  • Laughs during playful interaction
  • Laugh is becoming more consistent
  • Responds to peek-a-boo or tickling with laughter
  • Laugh sounds more mature and sustained
Secure

Laughs readily and consistently during social interaction

  • Laughs regularly
  • Laugh is clear and sustained
  • Responds to various forms of play with laughter
  • May anticipate funny moments and laugh
Reflexive

Uses laughter as social communication; laughs at increasingly complex humor

  • Laughs to engage others in play
  • Finds humor in unexpected events
  • Laughter is part of back-and-forth social exchange
  • May laugh at simple cause-and-effect humor

Activities for this (1)

Social4mo–8mo

Squeal & Giggle Sound Safari

A playful sound-making activity that encourages your baby to experiment with high-pitched squealing sounds through fun interactions and silly faces.

Formal assessments

No matching assessment items indexed yet.