Longitudinal study
Stanford SHQ (Stenhaug, Ram & Frank 2021)
Stanford University · 2021
Normative Research
This is a population-level study. Its data informs the age windows and confidence scores behind our milestone predictions — telling us when most children reach a given milestone, and how much variation exists.
Sample size
21.9k+
children
Countries
1
USA
Age range
Birth
to 6 years
Milestones covered
422
in our corpus
Coverage by age & domain
Each cell shows how many items this source covers in that age band and developmental category. Darker = more coverage.
| 0–12mo | 12–24mo | 24–36mo | 36–48mo | 48–60mo | 60mo+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Heart | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Curriculum | 160 | 175 | 72 | 69 | 61 |
Domains assessed
Gross motorFine motorLanguageCognitionSocial & emotional
How we used it
422 canonical items linked via supporting_frameworks during P31 B1 normative calibration; the primary voice activity library (1,339 activities) maps to these canonical milestones.
Citation
Stenhaug, B., Ram, N., & Frank, M. (2021). Stanford SHQ Longitudinal Study. Stanford University.
Developmental milestones (422)
Canonical milestones in our developmental ontology that cite this source.
- Cruising Along Furnituremilestone · 8–15mo
- Independent Page Turningmilestone · 15–20mo
- Cooperative Play Skillsmilestone · 45–75mo
- Shows understanding of basic norms relevant to {him/her} (for example, knows that paint goes on paper)milestone · 16–22mo
- Looks for an object on the ground when {he/she} drops itmilestone · 6–12mo
- Understands that objects have a shape, texture, or size (for example, tries to roll a round object)milestone · 16–22mo
- Finds objects hidden under a blanket or other coversmilestone · 9–15mo
- Pays attention to the location of objects {he/she} has seen hiddenmilestone · 7–13mo
- Finds an object hidden under two or three coversmilestone · 19–25mo
- Shows understanding of the difference between "inside" and "outside" (for example, places an object "inside" a box when asked to do so)milestone · 17–23mo
- Identifies animals by their soundmilestone · 14–20mo
- Responds differently towards a family member than towards a strangermilestone · 6–12mo
- Calms down when {he/she} hears familiar voicesmilestone · 1–7mo
- Reacts with joy towards signs of affectionmilestone · 1–7mo
- Is shy or anxious with strangersmilestone · 12–18mo
- Stretches {his/her} arms to be carriedmilestone · 6–12mo
- Interacts with those familiar to {him/her} (laughs, plays, or babbles)milestone · 7–13mo
- Smiles at people when {he/she} makes eye contactmilestone · 1–7mo
- Shows affection to those familiar to {him/her}milestone · 14–20mo
- Shows preferences for certain peoplemilestone · 6–12mo
- Associates objects with the family members that use them (for example, mom's purse)milestone · 17–23mo
- Recognizes {his/her} parentsmilestone · 1–7mo
- Vocalizes when someone talks to {him/her}milestone · 7–13mo
- Makes consonant sounds ("m, n, p, t, d…")milestone · 4–10mo
- Makes vowel sounds, such as "eh" or "ah"milestone · 3–9mo
- Babbles as if simulating a conversationmilestone · 8–14mo
- Makes guttural sound such as "ga", "gu" or "gr"milestone · 1–7mo
- Varies the tone of {his/her} babblingmilestone · 6–12mo
- Makes repeated syllable sounds (consonant and vowel "baba, dada...")milestone · 7–13mo
- Asks for help by babblingmilestone · 8–14mo
- Climbs well (for example, a ladder at the playground)milestone · 36–42mo
- Bends over easily without fallingmilestone · 36–42mo
- Can seat {himself/herself} on a child-size chairmilestone · 36–42mo
- Stands on tiptoemilestone · 24–30mo
- Helps getting {himself/herself} undressed (for example, pulls {his/her} pants down)milestone · 21–27mo
- Knows how to use personal hygiene objects (for example, tries to brush {his/her} hair with the right brush)milestone · 15–21mo
- Can unzip a large zippermilestone · 36–42mo
- Can unbutton {his/her} clothesmilestone · 48–54mo
- Can pull off {his/her} pantsmilestone · 36–42mo
- Can pull off {his/her} shoesmilestone · 36–42mo
- Can put on shoes without tiesmilestone · 48–54mo
- Extends arm or leg to help when being dressedmilestone · 10–16mo
- Can hold a pencil in writing position (using the index finger, middle finger and thumb)milestone · 36–42mo
- Draws circles without needing to see an examplemilestone · 48–54mo
- Draws squares without needing to see an examplemilestone · 48–54mo
- Understands three word phrases, such as "Look, the dog!"milestone · 11–17mo
- Gives you an object if you ask for itmilestone · 12–18mo
- Turns towards familiar objects or people when they are namedmilestone · 9–15mo
- Knows the name of at least three objectsknowledge · 14–20mo
- Points to "Mom" and "Dad"milestone · 14–20mo
- Points at an animal's image when you make its sound (for example, points to a dog if you go "woof")milestone · 16–22mo
- Answers simple questions with gestures, behavioral changes or wordsmilestone · 14–20mo
- Understands approximately 100 to 300 words (everyday words)knowledge · 19–25mo
- Holds up fingers to tell ageknowledge · 36–42mo
- Answers simple "who?", "what?", and "where?" questionsmilestone · 48–54mo
- Understands common verbs (for example, eat, play and sleep)milestone · 33–39mo
- Understands the difference between one, two and manymilestone · 22–28mo
- Understands the difference between front and back (for example, points to corresponding side)milestone · 22–28mo
- Shows understanding of "big" versus "small" (for example, by pointing to corresponding object)milestone · 24–30mo
- Names or points to tools used for different professions (for example, a doctor's stethoscope)milestone · 24–30mo
- + 362 more items