The way your child learns, plays, and acts shows you important steps in development. All children grow and develop at their own rate. However, most follow a predictable skill path along the way. These skill paths are called developmental milestones; skills that most children can perform by a certain age. Refer to the checklist below to determine what milestones your child has completed by 1 year of age.

By one year most children: 

Fine Motor (skills that require balance and movement of small muscle groups)

_ Successfully pick up a Cheerio using their thumb and all their fingers.

_ Pick up a Cheerio using the tip of their thumb and one finger.

_ Help turn the pages of a cardboard book.

Cognitive (memory, problem solving, thinking, and overall play)

_ Hold a toy in each hand and bang them together.

_ Are able to find a toy after watching you completely hide it under a blanket.

_ Copy your actions such as placing a toy in a box (they may not let go of the toy).

_ Copy scribbling back and forth on paper with a crayon.

Communication

_ Are able to complete a task without seeing the actions (wave bye-bye without you waving first, cover eyes when told peek-a-boo).

_ Follow a simple direction such as “come here” or “give it to me.”

_ Say three words such as mama, baba, or dada (a “word” is a sound they use consistently to mean someone or something).

_ Point to objects they want.

Social-Emotional

_ Smile at other children.

_ Give a toy to an adult.

_ Initiate play by bringing over toys and books.

_ Leave contact with a familiar person repeatedly.

Gross Motor

_ While holding onto furniture, they bend down, pick up a toy and return to standing.

_ Cruise around furniture while holding on with one hand.

_ Take several steps while holding your hand for balance.

_ Stand in the middle of the floor unsupported.

Self-Care

_ Begin to feed themselves with a spoon with a lot of spilling.

_ Drink from a cup with a lid.

_ Help with dressing by lifting a foot or pushing their arms through the sleeves.

Talk to your doctor or contact an early intervention program in your community if you notice any of the following signs of a possible developmental delay in your child at one year of age.

_ No crawling.

_ Can’t stand when supported.

_ Doesn’t learn gestures such as waving or shaking their head.

_ Doesn’t point to things they wants.

_ Loss of skills.

ASQ. Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ – 3)

CDD. Centers for Disease Control <www.cdc.gov>

D’Eugenio, Diane and Rogers, Sally J. Early Intervention Developmental Profile (EIDP). 1981. University of Michigan.