All information below was taken DIRECTLY from www.webmd.com and www.pathways.org

Toddler Development: 1-Year-Old

"Your baby’s first big birthday has arrived! As you get ready for the celebration, think back over the last 12 months as a time of incredible growth and development. In just one year, your baby has transformed from a completely helpless newborn into an independent little person.

One Year Baby Milestones: Motor Skills

Your 1-year-old should be standing alone, and may even have taken those first tentative solo steps. If she hasn’t, hopefully, you’ll have your video camera ready to capture the moment when she does.

Wobbly WalkerMother And Son Playing With Toys On Floor At Home

Push toys will be tons of fun for your tot at this age because it allows them to show off their new skill! Toys like these also help them build balance and strength. Baby may still fall occasionally, but it’s okay. Helping baby up and saying “you’re ok” will get them back walking in no time.

One Year Baby Milestones: Growth

Your baby’s weight has likely tripled since birth. At month 12, babies also have grown by 50% -- about 9 to 11 inches -- and their brain is about 60% of its adult size. After an incredible one-year growth spurt, your baby’s weight gain will start to slow down as her activity level increases.

One-year-olds are pretty good at doing a few things for themselves, such as eating with their fingers, helping their parents dress them, and turning the pages of a storybook. Your baby should be starting to use a few everyday items correctly, including a spoon, telephone, and hairbrush. Although her aim with these things might not be perfect, she certainly has the right intention.

One Year Baby Milestones: Sleep

By one year, your baby should be sleeping less during the day and more at night. Most children at this age still need an afternoon nap, but their morning nap may be a thing of the past.

One Year Baby Milestones: Eating

At one year, you can make the transition from breast milk or formula to cow’s milk. Start with whole milk. Your baby needs the extra fat for healthy brain growth and development. Don’t transition to low-fat milk -- or any other low-fat foods, for that matter -- until after your baby’s second birthday, or advised by your pediatrician.

If you’ve been breastfeeding, you might decide that one year is the time to start weaning your baby. It tends to be easier on both mother and baby to wean gradually, dropping one feeding at a time. The bedtime feeding is usually the last one to go. To replace nursing, you can give your 1-year-old a cup of milk, a snack, or something to suck on.

Now that your baby is eating more table foods, be very careful about choking hazards. Avoid giving your 1-year-old whole grapes, pieces of hot dogs, popcorn, or any other foods that could get stuck in her throat. Always stay close by your baby during mealtimes. You can now give foods that contain honey. Eggs and nut butter are also acceptable.

One Year Baby Milestones: Communication

Your baby’s vocabulary is expanding quickly. You’ll probably hear a few words, like “Mama,” “Dada,” “no,” or “uh-oh” on a regular basis now. One-year-olds learn language by imitating their parents’ speech, so expect that your baby will turn into a little mimic if she hasn’t done so already. At this point, mama really refers to mama, and dada really means dada.

By one year, babies are becoming more social. They are starting to understand what people are saying to them, and they are using their newfound language skills to get the attention of those around them. In month 12, your baby will also start testing the limits, which can include responding to your requests with a “no” or even throwing a tantrum. Be firm and let your child know that these behaviors are not acceptable. Meanwhile, reward good behaviors with praise or a treat.

Talking Back

Now that baby is a little older you might be able to tell that they understand the words you are saying. Your baby probably has several words that they use regularly and can even respond to simple questions you ask like, “Do you want a cookie?”

Your baby will prefer certain people to others now. You can see her becoming shy or anxious around strangers, and clinging to you when you try to leave. Both stranger and separation anxieties will pass. For now, be sympathetic to your baby’s worries. When you have to go out, make leaving as quick and painless as possible and assure your baby that you will return soon.

No… A Favorite Word

You may have noticed that baby is very curious and is constantly getting into things in their quest to discover new things. Because of this, you may be using the word “no” quite a bit and it may even be your tot’s favorite word. Saying “no” is your child’s first show of independence.

One Year Baby Milestones: Baby’s First Shoes

Now that your baby may be starting to walk, it’s time to think about buying that first pair of baby shoes. Though you might be tempted to reach for the cutest shoes on the shelf, comfort, and fit are the most important priorities for your baby’s first pair of shoes. Go to a store that specializes in children’s shoes and ask a salesperson to measure your baby’s feet. Make sure there is enough room in the shoes for your baby’s feet to grow. You’ll probably need to go shoe shopping again in two or three months as your baby’s feet continue to grow.

Tips for Your Baby’s 12th Month:

One-year-olds love to explore. Provide plenty of opportunities for safe exploration by filling cabinets with unbreakable Tupperware containers, wooden spoons, and whisks or by putting large, different textured items inside a box. Use a firm ‘no’ when something is off limits and redirect your baby's attention.

If your child is a good climber, think about removing the bumpers from her crib and dropping the crib mattress now so that she doesn’t get a leg-up and fall over the top of the crib railing.
At your one-year visit, check with your pediatrician to make sure your baby is up-to-date on all vaccinations.

Make sure that the house is still baby proofed with stairways gated, no blind cords hanging down where baby can reach them, pots and dishes put back away from counter edges, and household cleaners out of reach.
Make sure your baby is in a rear-facing car seat.

 

Personality All Their Own

Your child’s likes and dislikes are becoming more obvious during playtime. They probably like to stack blocks and knock them down, scribble, and put things in containers. All of these are great activities to learn new fine motor skills."

Your Child at 2: Milestones

Movement Skills
At this age, your child should be able to:

Stand on tiptoes
Kick a ball
Start to run
Climb on and down from furniture without help
Walk up and down stairs while holding on
Throw a ball overhand
Carry a large toy or several toys while walking
You've probably noticed how your child has stopped staggering when he walks and has transitioned to the smoother heel-to-toe movement of the typical adult walker. In the months ahead, he'll become a more coordinated runner, learn to walk backward, turn corners, and with a little help, stand on one leg.

He'll naturally improve his motor skills by running, playing, sliding down slides, and climbing. It's good for him to have a time each day to go outside and explore. This will let him improve motor skills, have fun, and let off steam. But you need to supervise him.

Hand and Finger Development
Your child should be able to:
Scribble at will
Turn over a container and pour out its contents
Build a tower of four blocks or more

By now, your child can coordinate the movements of his wrist, fingers, and palm so he can turn a doorknob or unscrew a jar lid. He also can hold a crayon or pencil, even though the grip might seem awkward to you. Still, it's good enough for him to start making some lines and circles on a piece of paper. His attention span will be a lot longer than at 18 months and now that he can turn the pages in a book, he can participate more when you read together. Drawing, building blocks, or using a construction set will keep him happy for a long time.

Your toddler may show a preference for either his left or right hand at this age. But there's no need to pressure him to choose one or the other. Some kids develop a preference later on. Others can use either hand equally well. So let it happen naturally.

Language Skills
Your child should be able to:

Point to things or pictures when they are named
Know the names of parents, siblings, body parts, and objects
Say a sentence with two to four words
Follow simple Instructions
Repeat words overheard in a conversation

Social/Emotional Skills
Your child may:

Copy others, especially adults and older children
Get excited around other kids
Show growing independence
Play mainly beside, instead of with, other children
Show increasing defiance (doing things you told him not to do)
Be more aware of himself as separate from others

Learning, Thinking Skills
Your child should be able to:

Find things even when they're hidden under two or three layers
Starting sorting shapes and colors
Complete sentences and rhymes in familiar books
Play simple make-believe games
Follow two-part instructions (such as "drink your milk, then give me the cup")

Developmental Delays
Tell your doctor if your child can't do any of the following by age 2:

Walk properly -- he should not be walking exclusively on his toes or unsteadily after several months of walking
Say a two-word sentence
Imitate actions or words
Follow simple instructions
Remember skills he used to have

 

Your Child at 3: Milestones

"At around age 3, children’s imaginations and language skills seem to get supercharged. They’re figuring out all kinds of words, making up stories and play activities, and learning to build relationships. Mixed in with all this fun, they’re also trying to learn right from wrong and how to manage their feelings, which can sometimes overwhelm them.

Milestones can help you steer through all this change. They tell you the kinds of skills children typically learn at a given age, which helps you see if your child is learning all the right things and lets you prepare for what’s next. Along with milestones, it also helps to know how to support your child’s development and how to keep your little one safe.

Milestones at Age 3
These are the skills you can expect your child to know at age 3 -- or soon after. Keep in mind that milestones are guidelines -- children reach them at their own pace. Some kids have these skills before age 3, some later. Still, if these milestones give you concerns that your child might be falling behind, talk to your child’s doctor.

Language and Communication Skills

Follows commands with 2-3 steps, like “Pick out your PJs and brush your teeth”
Has conversations using 2-3 sentences at a time
Knows how to use pronouns like “I,” “you,” and “we,” and knows some plural words like “cats” and “cars”
Names friends
Names common objects and understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
Says first name, age, and gender
Speaks sentences with 3-4 words
Talks clearly enough that even strangers can usually understand
Movement and Physical Skills
Climbs and runs well
Jumps and may hop on one foot
Pedals a tricycle
Walks up and down stairs using one foot on each step

Social and Emotional Skills

Copies what adults and friends do
Doesn’t get upset when parents leave, like at daycare drop-off
Dresses and undresses without help
Gets the idea of “mine,” “his,” and “hers”
Likes to help with tasks around the house
May be potty trained during the day
Openly shows affection
Really likes routine -- gets upset with big changes
Shows concern when friends are upset
Shows a wide range of feelings
Takes turns when playing with others

Thinking and Mental Skills

Copies circles
Does 3-4 piece puzzles
Knows what “two” means
Makes up stories and plays make-believe with animals, dolls, and people
Names some colors
Screws jar lids on and off and turns door knobs
Stacks more than six blocks
Turns pages in a book one at a time
Uses toys with levers, buttons, and moving parts

How to Help Your Child

There’s a ton you can do every day to help your child learn and grow, such as:

Allow plenty of time for play, including make-believe and running around

Ask your child to talk about what she sees when in the car or when out and about

Create and stick to a bedtime routine -- nightmares and waking at night are common at this age, but routine can help

Give your child plenty of time to play with friends and work on taking turns

Read to your child every day and ask questions about the stories

Sing simple songs together and play rhyming games

Suggest activities like coloring, drawing, and doing art with crayons, paper, tape, markers, and other supplies

Talk and listen to your child -- ask them about what happened during the day with their friends or activities they did

To help your child learn to work with strong feelings and impulses, you can:

Give your child clear, reasonable rules -- focus on praising the behaviors you want to see

Help your child express feelings -- when you read books, show your child how to relate to what the characters feel

Use time-outs when needed

When it comes to TVs, smartphones, computers, and tablets, doctors suggest that you:

Keep technology out of bedrooms
Limit screen time to 1 hour a day of high-quality programs
Talk about what you watch together and how it applies to the world

How to Keep Your Child Safe

All these new skills are exciting. You need to let your child explore, but you also need a watchful eye, especially with common dangers likes falls, burns, and poisons.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Always wear helmets on bikes, tricycles, and other riding toys

Check that you have window guards in place on the second floor and up -- and keep furniture away from windows

Don’t keep guns in your home. If you have a gun, keep it unloaded, locked away, and separate from bullets. And make sure children can’t get the key.

Keep a close eye out when playing near streets and driveways

Let your kid explore, but guard against falls, especially around playgrounds, doors, windows, and stairs

Make sure your child always rides in a car seat in the back -- and switch to a booster seat when your child outgrows it

Never leave your kid alone in the car, house, or yard -- and don’t count on older brothers and sisters to watch your child for you

Use caution in the kitchen -- spills, splatters, and hot surfaces can cause serious burns

Watch your child at all times when in or around water

As your child becomes a better climber, you’ll find that drawers, cabinets, and countertops that used to be safe are now a problem. Make sure medicines, cleaning products, and small household objects that can be swallowed -- like magnets and batteries -- can’t be seen or reached."

Your Child at 4: Milestones

With so much change, it can be hard to know what’s normal. Milestones can help. They tell you the kinds of skills children typically learn at a given age, which gives you a better sense of your child’s progress and lets you prepare for what’s coming next. As you look at all these new abilities, it also helps to know how to support your child’s development and the steps you can take to keep your child safe.

Milestones at Age 4
These are the skills you can expect your kid to know at age 4 -- or soon after. Keep in mind that milestones are guidelines -- children reach them at their own pace. Some kids have these skills before age 4, some later. Still, if these milestones give you concerns that your little one might be falling behind, talk to your child’s doctor.

Language and Communication Skills
Answers simple questions
Knows some basic grammar rules and uses more and more words correctly
Says first and last name
Sings simple songs and knows poems or rhymes from memory
Speaks clearly and in sentences of four or more words
Tells stories

Movement and Physical Skills

Goes up and down stairs without help
Hops and stands on one foot for at least 2 seconds
Kicks a ball forward
Pours drinks, mashes own food, cuts food with parent’s guidance
Throws a ball overhand
Usually catches a bounced ball

Social and Emotional Skills

Can dress and undress without help
Cooperates with other kids
Gets more creative when playing make-believe
Likes doing new things
Likes playing with other kids more than playing alone
May confuse what’s real and what’s make-believe
Pretends to be Mommy or Daddy
Talks about likes and dislikes
Works through conflicts with others

Thinking and Mental Skills

Copies and draws simple shapes, such as squares and circles
Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
Follows three-step commands, like “Find your backpack, grab your coat, and put on your boots”
Gets the idea of counting and knows some numbers
Knows some colors
Remembers parts of stories
Starts to copy capital letters
Starts to get the idea of time
Understands the ideas behind “same” and “different”
Uses scissors

How to Help Your Child

There’s a ton you can do every day to help your child learn and grow, such as:

Allow your child to make simple choices, like what to wear or what to play.

Give plenty of time for your kid to be active, and play games together like tag.

Let your child do some self-care on their own, like getting dressed, using the bathroom, and brushing teeth.

Practice counting and singing simple songs, like the ABCs.

Read to your child every day.

Set time to play with other kids -- let them work out conflicts on their own, but step in when needed.

Suggest activities like drawing and making art with paper, scissors, and glue.

Talk to your child -- patiently answer questions and help them express their feelings.

Teach your child how to make up after hurting someone’s feelings.

And when it comes to TVs, smartphones, computers, and tablets, doctors suggest that you:

Keep technology out of bedrooms.

Limit screen time to 1 hour a day of high-quality programs.

Talk about what you watch together and how it applies to the world.

How to Keep Your Child Safe

All these new skills are exciting. You need to let your child explore, but you also need a watchful eye, especially when it comes to common dangers likes falls, burns, poisons, and strangers.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Always wear helmets on bikes, tricycles, and other riding toys.

Check the height and weight limits of your child’s car seat -- when your child outgrows it, use a booster seat.

Don’t keep guns in your home. If you have a gun, keep it unloaded, locked away, and separate from bullets. And make sure children can’t get the key.

Let your child explore, but guard against falls, especially around playgrounds, doors, windows, and stairs.

Keep an eye out when playing near streets and driveways.

Use caution in the kitchen -- spills, splatters, and hot surfaces can all cause serious burns.

Watch your child at all times when in or around water -- and think about signing your kid up for swimming lessons.

You’ll also find that your child can reach drawers, cabinets, and countertops that used to be considered safe. Make sure medicines, cleaning products, and even small household objects that can be swallowed -- like magnets and batteries -- can’t be seen or reached.

This is also the age to make sure your child knows what to do around strangers. Teach your child her full name, address, and phone number. Also, let your child know to ask only certain adults for help, like people with uniforms or name badges.

And, tell your child:

No one can ask you to keep a secret from your parents.

No one can ask you to see or touch your private parts -- the parts that a bathing suit covers.

No one can ask you to look at, touch, or help with their private parts.