Activities and Expectations for Your Baby 12-18 Months Old

During the 12- 18 Month stage your toddler should master the very important milestone of learning to walk. Gross motor development will move quickly during these few months. Your toddler is now becoming independent and will develop his own interests and toy preferences. With his new found independence your toddler's interest in self feeding and dressing will increase. Your toddler is now able to isolate his pointer finger and play with toys using both his right and left hand. He will begin to stack 2 or more cubes, place pegs in a pegboard, and place a circle in the right place of a puzzle board. You’ll be delighted as your toddler indicates the first signs of pretend play such as bringing a bottle to a doll’s mouth. Interest and attention for books will increase and your toddler will want to turn the pages himself. Your toddler should have some words in his vocabulary and will be responding to simple requests. Your baby will love to be the center of attention during this stage and will begin to give you hugs and kisses.

 During this stage your baby will be motor driven.  He may be more interested in moving then social interaction or even playing with toys.  This is good,  he will need this movement practice to help develop his stability in upright and build his balance. This would be a good time to introduce a rocking horse.  Hold your toddlers hand and help him at the steps. Introduce him to ball games and bubbles. Your baby can start playing with toys such as mega blocks and large pop beads, items that he can put together and pull apart.  He will begin to stack cubes. He will enjoy basic shape puzzles, pegboards, nesting cups, and shape sorters. It's time to introduce crayons and paper to hold and scribble on. Increase your song repertoire and play in song such as "open- shut- them". Provide animated stuffed animals your toddler can activate and sing with. You can teach your toddler body parts and animal sounds.  Encourage your toddler to start participating in routines such as clean up and taking off his own socks before the bath.  Encourage independent feed skills with utensils and assist as needed. Keep talking and reading to your baby and encouraging more language development.