Child Development at Twelve Months

 

Posture & Large Movements

• Sits well and for indefinite time.
• Can rise to sitting position from lying down.
• Crawls rapidly, usually on all fours.
• Pulls to standing and lets himself down again holding on to furniture.
• Walks round furniture stepping sideways.
• Walks with one or both hands held.
• May stand alone for a few moments.
• May walk alone.

Vision & Fine Movements

• Picks up small objects, eg blocks, string, sweets and crumbs, with precise pincer grasp of thumb and index finger.
• Throws toys deliberately and watches them fall to ground.
• Looks in correct place for toys which roll out of sight.
• Points with index finger at objects he wants to handle or which interest him.
• Watches small toy pulled along floor across room 10 feet away.
• Out of doors watches movements of people, animals, motor cars, etc., with prolonged intent regard.
• Recognises familiars approaching from 20 feet or more away.
• Uses both hands freely, but may show preference for one.
• Clicks two bricks together in imitation.
• Watches rolling balls 21/8 inches at 10 feet.

Hearing & Speach

• Knows and immediately turns to own name.
• Babbles loudly, tunefully and incessantly.
• Shows by suitable movements and behaviour that he understands several words in usual context (e.g. own and family names, walk, dinner, pussy, cup, spoon, ball, car).
• Comprehends simple commands associated with gesture (give it to daddy, come to mummy, say byebye, clap hands, etc.)
• Imitates adult’s playful vocalisations with gleeful enthusiasm.
• May hand examine common objects on request, eg. spoon, cup, ball, shoe.
• Immediate response to baby tests at 3–41/2 feet but rapidly habituates.

Social Behaviour & Play

• Drinks from cup with little assistance.
• Chews.
• Holds spoon but usually cannot use it alone.
• Helps with dressing by holding out arm for sleeve and foot for shoe.
• Takes objects to mouth less often.
• Puts wooden cubes in and out of cup or box.
• Rattles spoon in cup in imitation.
• Seizes bell by handle and rings briskly in imitation, etc.
• Listens with obvious pleasure to percussion sounds.
• Repeats activities to reproduce effects.
• Gives toys to adult on request and sometimes spontaneously.
• Finds hidden toy quickly.
• Likes to be constantly within sight and hearing of adult.
• Demonstrates affection to familiars.
• Waves ‘bye-bye’ and claps hands in imitation or spontaneously.
• Child sits, or sometimes stands without support, while mother dresses.

Source: Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects No 102. HMSO 1960, revised 1975.