For parents who care deeply
Child Development Milestones (0–12 Years)
Understand what children typically learn at every age, discover important developmental milestones, and know when extra support may help.
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1 Year milestones
1-Year-Old Milestones
Around 12 months, your baby is becoming a confident explorer. They're starting to communicate, taking their first wobbly steps, and discovering how the world works.
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How to use: Tap any domain below to open its checklist. Tick what your child can usually do, then Save to update progress on this page.
1-Year-Old Milestones — Milestone Checklist
Communication & Language
- ☐ Says 1–3 clear words — e.g. Like ‘mama’, ‘dada’ or ‘ball’.
- ☐ Responds to their name — e.g. Turns and looks when called.
- ☐ Babbles with intonation — e.g. Sounds like real conversation.
- ☐ Waves ‘bye-bye’ — e.g. Especially when prompted.
- ☐ Points at things they want — e.g. Reaches up for a toy on a shelf.
- ☐ Follows simple gestures — e.g. Looks where you point.
- ☐ Understands ‘no’ — e.g. Pauses briefly when told no.
- ☐ Imitates familiar sounds — e.g. Copies a dog ‘woof’ or car ‘brrm’.
- ☐ Uses gestures to communicate — e.g. Lifts arms to be picked up.
- ☐ Recognises names of familiar people — e.g. Looks at Grandma when named.
- ☐ Shows understanding of routines — e.g. Goes to door when you say ‘walk’.
Gross Motor
- ☐ Pulls to stand on furniture — e.g. Uses the sofa to stand.
- ☐ Cruises along furniture — e.g. Side-steps around the coffee table.
- ☐ Takes a few steps on their own — e.g. Walks 2–3 steps before falling.
- ☐ Crawls confidently — e.g. Quickly crosses a room.
- ☐ Sits without support for long periods — e.g. Plays sitting up for 10+ minutes.
- ☐ Climbs onto low furniture — e.g. Crawls up onto the couch.
- ☐ Lowers from standing safely — e.g. Sits down without tumbling.
- ☐ Rolls a ball back to you — e.g. Pushes a ball with both hands.
- ☐ Stands alone briefly — e.g. Lets go of furniture for 1–2 seconds.
- ☐ Bears weight on legs — e.g. Stands while you support hips.
Fine Motor
- ☐ Uses a pincer grasp — e.g. Picks up small food with thumb and finger.
- ☐ Bangs two objects together — e.g. Knocks two blocks like cymbals.
- ☐ Drops objects into a container — e.g. Puts blocks into a bucket.
- ☐ Turns pages of a board book — e.g. Sometimes a few at a time.
- ☐ Releases objects on purpose — e.g. Hands you a toy when asked.
- ☐ Tries to feed self with fingers — e.g. Picks up cheerios neatly.
- ☐ Pokes with index finger — e.g. Points at pictures in a book.
- ☐ Stacks 2 blocks — e.g. Sets one block on another.
- ☐ Scribbles briefly with a chunky crayon — e.g. Makes random marks.
- ☐ Holds a spoon (messily) — e.g. Tries to feed self yogurt.
Social Skills
- ☐ Plays peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake — e.g. Laughs and joins in.
- ☐ Shows preference for familiar adults — e.g. Reaches for parent in a crowd.
- ☐ Mimics simple actions — e.g. Copies you clapping.
- ☐ Hands a toy to share briefly — e.g. Gives you a block, then takes it back.
- ☐ Shows affection — e.g. Cuddles a favourite teddy.
- ☐ Watches other children with interest — e.g. Studies kids at the park.
- ☐ Smiles in response to attention — e.g. Beams when greeted.
- ☐ Plays simple back-and-forth games — e.g. Rolls a ball with you.
- ☐ Looks at people’s faces during interaction — e.g. Makes eye contact when you talk.
- ☐ Shows shyness or anxiety with strangers — e.g. Clings to you with new adults.
Emotional Regulation
- ☐ Calms when comforted — e.g. Settles in your arms.
- ☐ Shows clear emotions — e.g. Cries, laughs, gets angry.
- ☐ Has separation anxiety — e.g. Upset when you leave the room.
- ☐ Seeks security objects — e.g. Reaches for a favourite blanket.
- ☐ Mimics emotional expressions — e.g. Frowns when you frown.
- ☐ Looks to caregiver in new situations — e.g. Checks your face for reassurance.
- ☐ Recovers from upset with support — e.g. Stops crying when held.
- ☐ Shows excitement about familiar events — e.g. Squeals when bath fills.
- ☐ Tolerates short waits — e.g. Waits a moment for a snack.
- ☐ Shows preferences clearly — e.g. Pushes away food they dislike.
Play Skills
- ☐ Explores objects with hands and mouth — e.g. Mouths every new toy.
- ☐ Bangs, shakes, and throws toys — e.g. Tests how each toy sounds.
- ☐ Plays with cause-and-effect toys — e.g. Loves pop-up button boxes.
- ☐ Drops items to see them fall — e.g. Drops spoon from highchair repeatedly.
- ☐ Imitates simple play — e.g. Copies stirring a spoon in a cup.
- ☐ Looks for hidden toys — e.g. Searches under a blanket.
- ☐ Enjoys music and rhythms — e.g. Bounces to a beat.
- ☐ Plays alongside others — e.g. Sits near a sibling at play.
- ☐ Uses simple objects functionally — e.g. Pretends to drink from a cup.
- ☐ Pulls toys on strings — e.g. Walks while dragging a pull-toy.
Learning & Thinking
- ☐ Object permanence — e.g. Knows toy still exists when hidden.
- ☐ Follows a one-step instruction with gestures — e.g. ‘Give me the ball’ with hand out.
- ☐ Imitates familiar actions — e.g. Copies brushing hair.
- ☐ Recognises familiar pictures — e.g. Points to dog in a book.
- ☐ Looks at correct picture when named — e.g. Points to bus when asked.
- ☐ Explores how things work — e.g. Pushes buttons on toys.
- ☐ Notices small details — e.g. Picks up a tiny crumb.
- ☐ Remembers familiar songs — e.g. Anticipates the actions in pat-a-cake.
- ☐ Tries new ways to solve problems — e.g. Reaches around a barrier.
- ☐ Recognises self in mirror — e.g. Smiles or pats own reflection.
Daily Living Skills
- ☐ Drinks from an open or sippy cup — e.g. With some spills.
- ☐ Helps with dressing — e.g. Pushes arm into a sleeve.
- ☐ Self-feeds finger foods — e.g. Eats small pieces of banana.
- ☐ Tries to use a spoon — e.g. Scoops messily.
- ☐ Sleeps mostly through the night — e.g. Wakes 0–2 times.
- ☐ Chews soft solids well — e.g. Eats well-cooked pasta.
- ☐ Sits in a high chair calmly — e.g. Stays seated for a meal.
- ☐ Brings food to mouth from a spoon — e.g. With practice.
- ☐ Cooperates with nappy changes — e.g. Lies still for short changes.
- ☐ Tolerates teeth wiping — e.g. Lets you clean gums with a cloth.
Attention & Self-Regulation
- ☐ Pays attention to faces — e.g. Watches you talk for several seconds.
- ☐ Focuses on toys for 1–3 minutes — e.g. Plays with a single toy briefly.
- ☐ Switches attention with prompts — e.g. Looks away when name is called.
- ☐ Follows simple ‘look at this’ cues — e.g. Joins your shared focus.
- ☐ Sits for a short story — e.g. Listens to 1–2 pages.
- ☐ Pauses when told ‘no’ — e.g. Stops reaching briefly.
- ☐ Notices new objects in the room — e.g. Looks at a visitor entering.
- ☐ Engages in joint attention — e.g. Looks at toy you point to.
- ☐ Persists with a toy — e.g. Keeps trying to fit a shape in a hole.
- ☐ Calms with predictable routines — e.g. Settles for known nap routine.
Sensory Processing
- ☐ Tolerates different textures — e.g. Plays with sand or grass.
- ☐ Mouths objects to explore — e.g. Common until ~18 months.
- ☐ Responds to sounds — e.g. Turns to noisy toys.
- ☐ Notices and watches lights — e.g. Looks at ceiling fan.
- ☐ Enjoys gentle movement — e.g. Loves being lifted or swung.
- ☐ Reacts to strong tastes — e.g. Makes a face at lemon.
- ☐ Notices smells — e.g. Sniffs food before eating.
- ☐ Calms with cuddles or wrapping — e.g. Settles when held snugly.
- ☐ Tolerates baths — e.g. Sits and splashes happily.
- ☐ Looks toward sources of sound — e.g. Tracks a ringing phone.