Milestones of Development 12 - 18 Month Needs Skill Activity Therapy
This is what you as a parent can do to make your child smarter.
| Area of Development | Skill level | Play Activity |
| Locomotion | crawls skillfully and quickly | |
| body movements | stands alone with feet apart and arms extended for support | |
| locomotion | begins to walk unassisted near the end of this period; falls often; not always able to maneuver around obstacles such as furniture and toys | Arrange for child to push and pull objects – low tables, chairs, boxes, sofa cushions, large pillows, ramps, balance beam, gym mats set up as a wall/maze |
| body movements | uses furniture to lower self to floor; collapses backwards into a sitting position or falls forward on hands and then sits | Step in and out of a circle or hoop on floor – circle drawn on floor with tape, hoop |
| locomotion | crawls backwards down stairs | |
| feeding/eating | helps feed self; enjoys holding spoon and drinking from a glass or cup; not always accurate at getting utensils into mouth; frequent spills | |
| talking/communication | names everyday objects | Use two word sentences with child: “Baby sit” – dolls and accessories |
| imitation | responds with some facial movement but cannot truly imitate facial expressions | Hand your child a mirror and have them talk to themselves |
| talking/communication | produces considerable "jargon": words and sounds put together into speech-like (inflected) patterns | Play “Pick up” and “Where is?” games |
| talking/communication | produces some two word phrases: "more cookie", "daddy bye-bye" | Repeat words clearly; vary tone and inflection |
| talking/communication | uses gestures such as pointing or pulling to direct adult attention | |
| talking/communication | enjoys rhymes and tries to join in | Read nursery rhymes |
| talking/communication | seems aware of the reciprocal aspects of conversational exchanges; some turn-taking in other kinds of vocal exchanges such as making and imitating sounds | Take turns talking and listening |
| listening | follows simple directions: "give daddy the cup" | |
| hearing | when asked, will point to familiar persons, animals, and toys | Seek and find books |
| talking/communication | uses 5 to 50 words; typically these are words that refer to animals, food and toys | Use picture books |
| hands | places nine small blocks in a container | Use box with interesting objects that change frequently – box with wide top, spools, blocks, rattles, cups, cars, “little” people and animals, plastic links |
| hands | puts all pegs in a six-peg board (large pegs) | |
| hands | places 3 geometric shapes in large foam board |
Practice stacking: model for child; work up in number, down in size – rings, pillows, large foam pieces, sponges, diaper boxes, small grocery bag blocks (stuff bags with newspaper and tape shut, empty cereal, cracker, milk, or shirt boxes |
| hands | attempts to activate mechanical objects if child has seen someone else make them work | Give opportunity to manipulate toys that come apart – household goods, nuts and bolts, pop beads, q-tip box, waffle blocks, bristle blocks, links that easily come apart, etc. |
| hands | passes toy to hand on other side of midline (center of body) when offered a second object or toy | Try to hand two objects at once to your child it encourages decision making |
| eyes | enjoys looking at pictures in books | Have plenty of books at home |
| temperament | beginning to assert independence; often refuses to cooperate with daily routines that once were enjoyable; resists getting dressed, putting on shoes, eating, taking a bath | Use positive words often when child uses expected behavior |
| emotional | may have a tantrum when things go wrong | Recognize that this is a way they communicate |
| visual | recognizes self in mirror | Have a mirror in babies crib |
| emotional | enjoys the companionship of other children but does not play cooperatively | Play groups with your children get them used to other children |
| emotional | enjoys singing songs along with an adult | Use tapes, records, and talk a lot; limit TV |
| attachment | enjoys being held and read to | |
