The goal of this study was to develop and subsequently evaluate the internal construct and criterion-related validity of the Preschool Imitation and Praxis Scale (PIPS). Different task characteristics were selected considered to be important as unravelled in research in apraxic adults to tap a broad range of possible imitation mechanisms. Participants included 498 children without disabilities (1-4.9 years) and 47 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (1.9-4.5 years). Exploratory factor analysis disclosed 4 dimensions in the scale, labelled: goal directed versus non-goal directed procedural imitation and single versus sequential bodily imitation. Internal consistency for the PIPS scale (alpha = 0.97) and subscales was high (alpha ranged from 0.79 to 0.96). In both samples, the PIPS scale score was strongly related to age (r = 0.78, respectively r = 0.56). Significant relationships between the PIPS score and mental, language, motor ages in the ASD sample supported criterion-related validity (r ranged from 0.59 to 0.74). The PIPS appears to have fundamentally sound psychometric characteristics, although more research is needed. (Contains 3 tables.)