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One-year-olds are delightful. Babies this age are developing a real
personality and will reward you with laughter, funny faces, and
affectionate hugs. First steps and first words are exciting events.
Growth during this time is still rapid, but height and weight gains are
not as dramatic. As growth decreases, appetite decreases and children
may eat less.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
weight: 17-30 pounds
height: 27-35 inches
crawls well
stands alone, sits down
gestures or points to indicate wants
likes to push, pull, and dump things
pulls off hat, socks, and mittens
turns pages in a book
stacks 2 blocks
likes to poke, twist, and squeeze
enjoys flushing toilets and closing doors
enjoys carrying small objects while walking, often one in each hand
holds crayon and scribbles, but with little control
waves bye-bye and claps hands
walks without help
enjoys holding spoon when eating, but experiences difficulty in
getting spoon into mouth
rolls a ball to adult on request
INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
says 8-20 words you can understand
looks at person talking to him
says "hi" or "bye" if reminded
uses expressions like oh-oh
asks for something by pointing or using one word
identifies object in a book
plays peek-a-boo
looks for objects that are out of sight
understands and follows simple 1-step directions
likes to take things apart
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
becomes upset when separated from parent
likes to hand objects to others
plays alone on floor with toys
recognizes self in mirror or pictures
enjoys being held and read to
imitates others, especially by coughing, sneezing, or making animal
sounds
enjoys an audience and applause
IDEAS FOR CAREGIVERS
Enjoy some "floor time" with one-year-olds each day. Crawl around
together, play peek-a-boo behind the sofa, or roll a ball back and
forth. Young children will love having you down on their level.
Review your baby-proofing. Children's increasing growth and mobility
make it possible for them to reach unsafe heights and play with
dangerous material. Get down on your knees in each room and look at
things from a child's perspective. Put toxic items like paint,
dishwashing detergent, medicine, and make-up in high cupboards,
preferably with a safety cabinet latch.
Put together an "everyday junk box" of items that are fun to feel,
poke, and squeeze. You might include plastic margarine tubs, an old
sock, tissue paper to crumple, measuring cups of different sizes, a
turkey baster, a nylon scarf, an egg carton, and paper cups. Remember,
items smaller than a half-dollar can cause choking.
Encourage play with safe mirrors. Stand or sit with a child before a
mirror. Talk with him, make funny faces, and encourage movement.
Provide a variety of simple picture books. Children can point at
objects, animals, and people as you name them. Encourage them to name
items and talk about the activities in the pictures.
Provide equipment so that children can practice placing small items
into containers. For example, let them drop clothespins into a plastic
bottle. Provide containers with loose-fitting lids, and encourage
children to open and close them.
Relax and have fun dancing to music. Encourage children to bounce,
sway, and wiggle.
Use diapering time to point to some body parts and say them with an
infant. Nose, ears, arms, legs, tummy, toes....
Talk frequently to children to increase language skills and encourage
cooperation. You can make dressing time more interesting by pointing to
and identifying the name of clothes or body parts. For instance, "See
this warm, red coat? Your arms go into the sleeves. See this soft, blue
cap? It goes on your head!"
Around 18 months a child may get anxious and clinging about being
separated from parents and other familiar caregivers. This behavior is
normal. If possible, minimize separations during this time and stick to
consistent routines.
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