Monkey see, monkey do. Your child will conquer many 12-month milestones in her first two years, but she will look to you to learn how to interact with others. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, your little one will start to develop a very specific image of her social world, including caregivers, friends and acquaintances, at 12 months.
“There is a lot going on at this age,” explains Corinna Bittle, a board-certified behavior analyst and founder of behavior consulting company bitKids. “They are learning to walk, learning to talk, realizing that they are truly separate beings from us. They want to be with us, but also want to be separate from us. They are exploring and taking risks, but coming back to check in with parents.”
Here’s what you can expect at this stage:
And read
our guide to developmental milestones for kids
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Interacting With Others
Your little one may be ready to explore the world, but she’s still hesitant about people she doesn’t know. This is the age where your child may start to appear shy or nervous around strangers. “It is completely normal for children to be nervous around strangers — some will be, some won’t,” says Bittle. “The important thing is to make your child feel loved and to appreciate that this is a stressful time for them.”
Your child will probably enjoy being around and observing other children at this age, but she likely won’t play with them. Tears may erupt if someone touches her favorite toy, and she may snatch objects from others. But your little one won’t always be rude to others. She hasn’t discovered empathy for others’ feelings yet, so sharing is not in her vocabulary. With time and positive reinforcement from you, she will learn to treat others as she would like to be treated. You can help her by sitting with her and another child her age and rolling the ball to each of them. Encourage them to roll the ball to each other. They might not, but at least you’re planting the seed!
Interacting With You
Because your child is taking in everything that is going on around her, you will notice that you have a little parrot on your hands. “One of the most crucial things for parents of 12-month-olds is to practice a back-and-forth type of chatter with the child,” says Dr. Robert Murray, a pediatrician and professor at Ohio State University. Show them how to properly interact with others and lead by example. Demonstrate how to properly pet the dog, show how to greet others with a wave or gesture to an object as you say its name — your little one will try to mimic you. Dr. Murray explains, “This serve-and-volley type of exchange quickly builds language skills, strong connections in the brain, and close relationships between parent and child.”
Imitating will also show up in the form of pretend play. You may notice your tot pretending to sweep the floor, read the newspaper or talk on the phone. According to Dr. Murray, “play is a critical teacher. One of the most important things that a parent can do, besides show love and affection, is to find opportunities for their child to play with everything in their environment.” Help your tot serve up a make-believe dinner, pretend to make a purchase or set your child to “work” with a paper and crayons. “Parents can see development happening during these times. These are the times that make parenting fun,” Dr. Murray says. You join in, too — doctor’s orders!
How to Help
As a parent, your job is to encourage your child to reach these milestones throughout their second year. However, you may notice a rise in temper tantrums. “The middle part of the brain — containing the emotional center — develops very quickly in the second year of life. This part of the brain deals with fear, anxiety and emotions. Children in the 12- to 24-month range tend to react to challenges and frustrations with extreme emotional outburst, ” explains Dr. Murray. “Temper tantrums are just another form of communication. Parents can help the process by using calm, gentle, loving responses that indicate to the child that there are limits, but that they understand their frustration.“
Every baby develops at a different pace, so it’s impossible to tell exactly when your child will perfect a given skill. The 12-month milestones listed above will give you a general idea of the changes and growth you can expect from your child during this fun year.
For more milestones, check out this Overview of Milestones for 1 Year Olds
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Stephanie Glover is a lifestyle and parenting blogger at A Grande Life. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
