Ages Six-to-Twelve Months

Motor Development Milestones

• Learns to sit up by his/her self for a short period of time (approximately 5 minutes)
• Uses finger and thumb to pick up objects such as pieces of food (pincer grip)
• Begins to hold own bottle
• Pulls self into a crawling position by raising up on arms and drawing knees up beneath
• May accidentally begin scooting backwards when placed on his/her stomach; soon will transition to crawling forward
• Enjoys being held and supported in the standing position; may jump in place

Cognitive Development Milestones

• Uses hand, mouth, and eyes in coordination to explore own body, toys
• Imitates actions such as pat-a-cake, waving bye-bye, and playing peek-a-boo
• Shows some fear or hesitation when placed on a high surface such as a changing table, stairs; depth perception is becoming evident
• Searches for a toy or food that has been completely hidden under cloth; beginning to understand that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen
• Explores objects in many ways, turns them, feels surfaces, bangs & shakes them
• Reaches accurately with either hand
• Plays actively with small toys such as a rattle
• Holds small object in one hand while reaching toward another object
• Inspects objects with hands and eyes simultaneously
• Ten to Twelve Months
• Speech and Language Development
• Babbles or jabbers deliberately to initiate a social interaction
• Shakes head for no
• Looks for a voice when name is called
• Babbles in sentence like sequences; followed later with a language like inflection
• Waves “bye-bye”
• Claps hands together when asked
• Imitates sounds that are similar to those already learned
• Imitates motor noises, tongue clicks etc
• May say “dada” or “mama”
• Enjoys rhyming and simple songs
• Shows interest in vocalizing while listening to music
• Hands toy to an adult when appropriate gestures accompany the request

Social Development Milestones

• Clings to parent or caregiver while resisting separation, exhibits a fear of strangers
• Desires for caregiver to be in constant sight
• Enjoys being near and included in daily activities of caregiver or family members
• Enjoys novel experiences and opportunities to examine and explore new objects
• Begins to assert self be resisting caregiver’s requests
• Offers toys or objects to others
• Becomes attached to a favorite toy or object
• Looks toward and smiles at person calling his/her name
• Repeats behaviors that get attention
• Jabbers continuously
• Can execute simple directions and request
• Understands the meaning of the word or sign for “no”