Developmental Milestones for 1-Year-Olds

Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers

Social/Emotional

Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised

Social/Emotional

Looks when you call their name

Social/Emotional

Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)

Social/Emotional

Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Social/Emotional

Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Social/Emotional

Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does

Social/Emotional

Shows you an object they like

Social/Emotional

Claps when excited

Social/Emotional

Hugs stuffed doll or other toy

Social/Emotional

Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

Social/Emotional

Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by

Social/Emotional

Points to show you something interesting

Social/Emotional

Puts hands out for you to wash them

Social/Emotional

Looks at a few pages in a book with you

Social/Emotional

Helps you dress them by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

Social/Emotional

Makes different sounds like 'mamamama' and 'babababa'

Language/Communication

Lifts arms up to be picked up

Language/Communication

Waves 'bye-bye'

Language/Communication

Calls a parent 'mama' or 'dada' or another special name

Language/Communication

Understands 'no' (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Language/Communication

Tries to say one or two words besides 'mama' or 'dada,' like 'ba' for ball or 'da' for dog

Language/Communication

Looks at a familiar object when you name it

Language/Communication

Follows directions given with both a gesture and words

Language/Communication

Points to ask for something or to get help

Language/Communication

Tries to say three or more words besides 'mama' or 'dada'

Language/Communication

Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say 'Give it to me'

Language/Communication

Looks for objects when dropped out of sight, like a spoon or toy

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Bangs two things together

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Looks for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Gets to a sitting position by self

Movement/Physical Development

Moves things from one hand to the other hand

Movement/Physical Development

Uses fingers to 'rake' food toward self

Movement/Physical Development

Sits without support

Movement/Physical Development

Pulls up to stand

Movement/Physical Development

Walks, holding on to furniture

Movement/Physical Development

Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it

Movement/Physical Development

Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

Movement/Physical Development

Takes a few steps on their own

Movement/Physical Development

Uses fingers to feed self some food

Movement/Physical Development

Walks without holding on to anyone or anything

Movement/Physical Development

Scribbles

Movement/Physical Development

Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes

Movement/Physical Development

Feeds self with fingers

Movement/Physical Development

Tries to use a spoon

Movement/Physical Development

Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Movement/Physical Development

Responds to own name by looking toward you

Communication

Says 1-3 meaningful words

Communication

Points to several body parts when asked

Communication

Pulls to standing using furniture

Gross Motor

Crawls on hands and knees

Gross Motor

Walks several steps independently

Gross Motor

Runs without falling

Gross Motor

Uses thumb and finger to pick up small objects (pincer grasp)

Fine Motor

Stacks 2 small blocks

Fine Motor

Scribbles with a crayon

Fine Motor

Drops and picks up toys on purpose

Problem Solving

Finds a hidden toy under a cloth or container

Problem Solving

Puts round shapes into a shape sorter

Problem Solving

Plays social games like peekaboo or pat-a-cake

Personal-Social

Holds a cup and drinks with some spilling

Personal-Social

Uses a spoon with some spilling

Personal-Social

Hands-and-knees crawling — child moves forward on hands and knees (creeping pattern)

Gross Motor Milestones

Walking with assistance — child walks upright while holding on to a stable object with one or both hands

Gross Motor Milestones

Standing alone — child stands for at least 10 seconds without holding on to anything or anyone

Gross Motor Milestones

Walking alone — child takes at least 5 independent steps without holding on to anything or anyone

Gross Motor Milestones

Shows distress when routine changes — indicates awareness of sequence and order in daily life

Order

Insists on putting things 'back where they belong' — drive to classify and organize the environment

Order

Follows a predictable sequence in self-care routines — uses order to develop independence

Order

Absorbs sounds and rhythms of language — the unconscious absorption of the 'mother tongue'

Language

Babbling and first words — spoken language emerges from immersion in a language-rich environment

Language

Explosion of vocabulary — rapid word acquisition through naming and conversation

Language

Explores objects with mouth and hands — using senses to learn about the physical world

Sensory Refinement

Fascinated by textures, sounds, and colors — heightened sensitivity to sensory details

Sensory Refinement

Developing gross motor control — rolling, crawling, pulling up, driven to move the whole body

Movement

Walking and refining balance — compelled to walk, climb, carry, and refine coordination

Movement

Refinement of hand movements — driven to use hands purposefully: pouring, threading, folding

Movement

Fascinated by tiny objects — picks up crumbs, inspects small insects, notices minute details

Small Objects

Pincer grasp mastery with small items — precision handling of small objects supports concentration

Small Objects

Transferring and sorting tiny items — uses small objects for purposeful work and categorization

Small Objects

Explores mark-making with a variety of tools — uses crayons, paint, chalk, or fingers to create marks on surfaces

Hundred Languages of Expression

Uses objects to represent other things during play — a block becomes a phone, a stick becomes a spoon

Hundred Languages of Expression

Shows interest in what other children are doing — watches, approaches, or reaches toward peers during activities

Social Collaboration & Community

Engages in parallel play alongside peers — works on similar activities near other children with occasional interaction

Social Collaboration & Community

Shows sustained attention to an object or phenomenon — gazes at, reaches for, or manipulates something with focused interest

Investigation & Inquiry

Repeats an action to test what happens — drops objects, stacks and topples blocks, or pours water to observe the result

Investigation & Inquiry

Explores a space independently — moves through the environment, touching, looking at, and interacting with available materials

Environment as Third Teacher

Selects own materials from accessible shelves — chooses what to work with from an organized, inviting display

Environment as Third Teacher

Looks at photos of own past activities with interest — recognizes self and events in documentation displays

Documentation & Reflection