Your Toddler’s Development Milestones at 1 Year Old
Arguably one of the most exciting stages of your baby’s childhood, the year between one and two is packed with amazing milestones – here are some of our favorites.
Every stage of your little one growing up is exciting (and sometimes hard, emotional and scary – don’t worry, we get it!) but there’s nothing quite like the first couple of years for awe-inspiring changes in your child.
From one to two some kids make huge leaps and bounds developmentally, and every stage is equally delightful and challenging. There’s so much to celebrate and so much to learn.
And there are fun things you can do together to encourage those new developmental moments, too. And it all comes down to more play – yay! So let's run through the milestones your little one might reach this year, and how to help nurture them further...
Remember – childhood development isn’t a linear thing, it meanders this way and that, depending on the toddler. Every child will develop in their own time – avoid comparison where you can (easier said than done, we know). Please take this article as a gentle guide, not a set checklist!
Movement, Crawling and Walking
By one, babies are working hard on their gross motor skills, some having mastered crawling or the ever-so-elegant bum shuffle. Between one and two some children will also start taking their first steps – a significant milestone which also means your life is about to get a lot more mobile...! (You have to hand it to them, toddlers are confident. But their enthusiastic adventures don’t always align with their abilities!).
In time, they’ll be testing your nerve by taking to the stairs, climbing up or down using the safety of your hand. Next comes running and jumping, which some toddlers manage before their second birthday. Expect stiff legs and awkward hops while they get used to their little legs working!
Play tip for encouraging movement: When your little one starts showing signs of being on the move, encourage them to come to you by using their favorite toy! Wiggle the toy to catch their attention, use encouraging sounds and give plenty of praise.
Talking and Communication
While your mini me might have been babbling away for some time, between one and two some children start to use words. It might start with the name of a familiar object, pet or person (you, if you’re lucky!), or it could simply be ‘no’ – a sign of things to come.
As they approach their second birthday, some toddlers might start to string words together and gain a sense of self. They might be able to use their own name as well as communicate what they would like, such as “my drink” or “my turn”, with a handful of words.
Even if your child isn’t chatting away quite yet, they might be finding new ways to communicate through actions and sounds. Look out for pointing and gesturing, or games where they pretend to chat on the phone.
Play tip for encouraging communication: Reading books is a great way to expand your toddler’s vocabulary, helping them to identify common words through repetition and linking words to pictures.
Playing, Friends and Food
Between one and two, children still play alongside each other, instead of directly with one another. You can read more about the 16 different types of play, here!
As they grow, they’ll begin to fine tune their motor skills, and might be able to do things like build towers from multiple bricks, like LEGO® DUPLO® bricks, use toys such as shape sorters and begin to pass things from one hand to the other. Around this age, many little ones start enjoying creative play too, like drawing, play dough or making mud pies.
Your child will likely be on their way to becoming an independent eater, feeding themselves with their hands, cutlery or a mix of both. The challenge now is catering to their, ahem, ever-changing tastes...!
Play tip for encouraging creativity: Encourage your child’s imagination by chatting to them as they get creative with paints or play dough. Describe the marks they’re making and the colors, offer praise, add in different materials like rolling pins or paint brushes if you can, and ask simple yes-no questions to keep them engaged.
We hope you’re feeling prepared for what your child’s second year might hold! It’s certainly going to be a busy one. In among the possible walking, talking, playing and jumping though, there’ll still be plenty of time for cozy cuddles, so enjoy those, too!