Child development: Your child around 12 months

Child development: what are the things that your child start doing when he is around 12 months? 

Curious and adventurous

Around 12 months, children are very curious about the world around them and want to explore their environment. Even if your toddler really has an adventurous spirit, he needs to know that you are not far away. Your presence gives him the feeling of security he needs to explore. Since your child may still be living with so-called separation anxiety, he is afraid of not seeing you again when you leave. That's why he does not want to lose sight of you.

More and more autonomous

At the same time, he is at the age when he wants to develop his autonomy, to experiment and to show you what he is capable of. He feels proud to be able to do little things by himself and also to move and walk to explore. The more you are available and reliable when he needs you, the more he learns to operate independently. At this age, children are able to eat alone, and they actively participate in dressing and undressing. For example, your toddler can raise his arms to help you take off or put on his sweater.

The importance of boundaries

Your child likes to explore, but he is not yet aware of the danger. That's why you need to make sure your home is safe for a young child. On the other hand, it's time to start setting boundaries, especially to protect your baby from dangerous things and to teach him that there are things he can not do, such as kicking another child or stand on a chair. He understands what "No! Means, but it will take time to accept what that means. When you say "no" to your child, you put a stop to his experiments. For that reason, he might start screaming or insisting on continuing what he was doing because he likes to feel empowered. To meet this need for autonomy, then offer him another activity that will allow him to experiment in a safe way.

A better understanding of language

Around 12 months, your child still says few words, often less than ten. And apart from "dad" and "mom", those he uses are not easy to understand. He uses a jargon of his own, he imitates the sounds of his environment and he often points to get what he wants. He does not understand everything you say, but he begins to understand simple instructions like "Go get your doggie". He can also start pointing certain parts of his body at your request. When you speak to him and name the actions you take and the objects in his environment, you stimulate his understanding of words. Thus, he can more easily tell them when he feels ready.

A great interest for repetition

Children of this age love repetition, and they learn by doing and doing the same things over and over again. For this reason, your toddler may start wanting the same story over and over again. During playback, he can sometimes point to familiar objects. He also imitates adults very well and he likes to perform. The more you react and exclaim, the more he will want to do it again.

Meet other people

When you and your toddler spend time with other children and other parents, you get used to the presence of other children and adults, as well as introducing you to the parallel game with another child. These are the first experiences of socialization, and they are important. For example, with your child, you can go to storytelling at the library, join a play group made up of friends or people you meet at the daycare, or have a coffee with your friends. On the other hand, it is better not to compare your baby to others, because each child develops at his own pace.

Remember that every child is unique. Not all children develop at the same speed in all areas (for example, mobility, communication, relationship building). The information on this website is designed to be general. If your child's development is worrying you, it is best to consult your doctor.

Source: http://naitreetgrandir.com