Development Milestones and Activities of Your One-Year-Old

A healthy child needs to grow both physically and mentally. This is why it is very important for parents to not only focus on the physical development of their child but also his psychological development.

Physical developmental milestones

• Enjoys playing and clapping.
• Develops basic and fine motor skills: Gross motor skills – carries out basic tasks such as walking, crawling and staying on their knees. Fine motor skills - picks up objects using the thumb and another finger.
• Lifts cup and spoon.
• Attempts to eat alone.
• Walks without help.
• Stretches the index finger.
• Scribbles using chalk.
• Draws circle shapes.
• Loves to play using imagination.
• Sits on the floor to pick up something.
• Bends from the waist to pick something up from the ground.
• Eats with fingers.
• Speaks basic phrases.
• Starts to control urinating and stools.

Psychological development milestones

• Understands some applications of basic tools, e.g: Comb - to brush hair, Phone - to talk
• Places two building blocks on top of each other.
• Identifies when a picture is turned upside down.
• Uses sounds and emotions to gain attention.
• Able to copy a line or circle.

First-year vaccinations

At 18 months (1 ½ year) your little one will have completed the Triple vaccine and Polio oral vaccine. This prevents diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus and polio.

Sleep

At this age, your child will usually get 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. In addition, they will need two naps during the day.

What you can do to help your child’s development:

• Read storybooks daily.
• Let your child search for objects and say the names of prominent body parts such as face, hands etc.
• Give them colourful pictures and toys.
• Encourage singing and creativity.
• Encourage them to identify commonalities and create curiosity.
• Read picture books, storybooks.
• Encourage playing with building blocks.
• Appreciate efforts to do new things.
• Don't get angry when they refuse to follow instructions.
• Slowly implement disciplinary measures so that your child understands the consequences of their behaviour.
• Show your child how water flows using a tap.
• Teach your child how to protect themselves and their body.
• Don't force your child to speak.