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By 12 months - Ages and Stages

The developmental milestones listed below mark the progress of young children as they learn to communicate and develop their speech and language skills.

You will find:

• Milestones

• Things you can try at home

• Information on play development

• Teachable moments

• What to watch out for

If your child is not meeting one or more of the developmental milestones or if you are concerned about your child's speech and language development please contact us at:

1-888-503-8885

Milestones:

• Consistently uses three to five single words

• Takes turns with sounds e.g. Buh, animal sounds, car noises

• Waves hi/bye (emerging) and begins to use other gestures e.g. hands up means pick me up

• Gives a few familiar objects on verbal request

• Uses a variety of different voice sounds when playing e.g. bababa, dadada, nanana

• Combines lots of sounds as though talking e.g. abada, baduh, abee

• Tries to copy new sounds e.g. ba, animal sounds, car noises

• Makes sounds to get attention, to make needs known, or to protest

• Responds to hearing own name

• Understands "No" and simple requests e.g. "Give it to Mommy." "Don't touch." "Where's the ball?"

• Plays social games with you e.g. Peek-a-boo

• Enjoys being around people

• Follows simple one-step directions e.g. "Sit down"

• Looks across the room to something being pointed at

• Makes sounds while playing alone or with people

• Shows a range of emotions

Things to try at home:

• Look at board books together and name the pictures your child points to or looks at.

• Sing simple songs with actions and help your child to try to copy your actions and sounds. Try songs like "Ring Around the Rosie", and "Row Row Row Your Boat."

• Talk in short sentences e.g. " Want some milk?" "Oops, fall down." "Kitty gone."

• Look at pictures of animals and make animal sounds

• Take turns while you play with bubbles, washing dolls, and rolling a ball.

• Make shakers out of food storage containers using different things inside such as: macaroni, rice or beans.

Play:

• Actively takes turns in familiar games with adults (handing items back and forth, knocking down stacked blocks, dumping out containers, banging on pots).

• Purposefully works to get adult attention such as tugging at pant leg or reaching for a hug.

Teachable Moments:

• Point to and talk about people and things when looking at a photo album.

• During every day activities, talk about what you are doing using short sentences.

• Name pieces of clothing and body parts for your child. Talk about "Shoe off, sock off, hat on."

• Play "Peek-A-Boo" when putting shirts on over your child's head.

Watch out for:

• A child who does not show many emotions such as: anger, fear, and joy.

• Two or more ear infections.

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