One year olds
One year olds see a huge amount of physical development during the year including taking their first steps alone. Their play usually starts by shifting from mastering fine motor skills - like a thumb-and-forefinger grasp - to exercising larger muscles. Some children this age have an attention span of two to five minutes for quiet activities, although not every one year old's favorite games may not be all that quiet.
Most childen of this age think it's fun to push, throw, and knock everything down. They'll give you a toy as well as take one, and they like games where they can put things in containers and pour them out again. This works well with blocks in buckets or boxes and with pots and pans and we make sure we have lots of these toys at Mini Ps.
It's important to remember that all children are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your child has the potential to accomplish - if not right now, then soon. If your child was premature, keep in mind that babies born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions about your child's development, ask your doctor.
Here are some of my hints and tips on issues that may be of interest to parents of one year olds. Comments and suggestions are always much appreciated!
