developmental-milestones-12-to-18-months

Parenthood is a remarkable journey, filled with moments of growth and discovery for both you and your child. As your little one transitions from infancy to toddlerhood, they enter a phase of dynamic development. In this blog, we'll explore the key milestones occurring between 12 to 18 months, offering practical insights to help you navigate this exciting stage of your child's growth.

Gross Motor

In this section, we'll delve into the development of your child's gross motor skills, which involve the coordination and control of large muscle groups to perform physical activities like walking and climbing.

Walks unassisted (12-16 months)
Climbs onto and off furniture without assistance (15-18 months)
Retrieves toys from the floor without losing balance (15-18 months)

Fine Motor and Vision

Here, we'll explore the progression of your child's fine motor skills and vision, focusing on their ability to manipulate small objects with their hands and their growing visual perception, crucial for tasks such as grasping objects and tracking movement.

Catches ball as it rolls towards him (13 months)
Sorts one shape (13 months) and two shapes (17-18 months) in a shape sorter
Builds a tower with two cubes (15 months) and three cubes (18 months)
Spontaneously scribbles (15-18 months)

Language and Hearing

In this segment, we'll focus on your child's progress in language and hearing development. This includes their ability to produce sounds, comprehend language, and respond to auditory cues, laying the groundwork for effective communication and interaction with the world around them.

Acknowledges their own name when called (12 months)
Adheres to simple one-step directions (12-15 months)
Identifies body parts (15-18 months)
Indicates desires or interests by pointing (12-14 months)
Utilises the word "No" with intention (13-15 months)
Initiates communication with several single words (15-18 months)

Personal Social

Next, we'll dive into the personal social domain, which encompasses your child's emerging social skills and emotional understanding, including their interactions with others, expressions of emotions, and growing awareness of themselves and their surroundings.

Locates hidden objects that are not too concealed (15 months)
Begins to drink from a cup, removes shoes & socks, attempts dressing, and endeavors to self-feed (18 months)
Mimics actions and everyday tasks observed in their environment (18 months)

Activities You Can Do With Your Child

Engaging in interactive activities with your child at the age of 12-18 months is not just about having fun; it's also about fostering their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. As your little one becomes more mobile and curious about the world around them, providing stimulating and age-appropriate activities can enhance their learning experience and strengthen the bond between you.

Here are some activities to consider:

Roll a ball gently towards your child while they're seated and encourage them to catch it
Encourage walking by offering pull toys that they can manoeuvre around the room
Have fun dancing together to music, allowing your child to move freely and express themselves
Explore shapes and structures with blocks and shape sorters, promoting cognitive and motor skills
Provide crayons or markers for your child to experiment with drawing on paper, fostering creativity and fine motor skills
Demonstrate drawing simple lines like vertical and horizontal strokes and encourage your child to imitate
Share the joy of reading by involving your child in turning pages and discussing pictures in books
Take an interest in your child's curiosities, discussing and exploring whatever captures their attention
Introduce and reinforce vocabulary by naming body parts, toys, and objects during play and daily routines
Foster social skills by taking turns during playtime and conversations, promoting cooperation and communication
Sing nursery rhymes with accompanying actions, encouraging your child to mimic and participate
Create an engaging game by hiding small toys and objects for your child to find, enhancing problem-solving skills
Support independence by allowing your child to feed themselves with a spoon and drink from a cup, even if some spills occur
Encourage imaginative play with toy telephones, cars, dolls, or cooking sets, fostering creativity and role-playing abilities

Limit your child's exposure to screen media to video-chatting only, avoiding other forms of screen time.

Here are some signs to watch out for in your child's development:

Lack of babbling, pointing, or use of gestures by 12 months
Not uttering a single word by 18 months
Regression or loss of previously acquired language skills
Limited responsiveness to affection
Inability to stand unsupported by 15 months
No attempts to take steps while holding onto furniture by 15 months
Failure to walk independently by 18 months
Absence of attempts to scribble by 18 months
Inability to hold and use a spoon or cup by 18 months
Developing a hand preference, favoring one hand over the other

Should you have any uncertainties or queries about your child's development, don't hesitate to seek advice from your healthcare provider or contact the neonatal department at SGH for assistance. For further guidance and helpful resources on this fulfilling journey of parenting, feel free to download our informative leaflet:

Developmental Milestones (12-18 Months).pdf

Toddler Milestones: A Guide to Developmental Progression (12-18 Months)

Gross Motor

Fine Motor and Vision

Language and Hearing

Personal Social

Activities You Can Do With Your Child