Developmental Milestones And Toys For A 1 Year Old

When choosing wooden toys as gifts or presents for a 1 year old, it is important to keep in mind the following developmental milestones:

LEARNING
· Stacks objects (Plan Toys Stacking Rings or the Pintoy Happy Stacker)
· Places objects inside one another.
· Tries to put on or take off lids.
· Manages to place circle into a shape sorter (Shape Sorting Cube).
· Drops toys or objects intentionally and repeats and watches where they go (wooden blocks are perfect).
· Enjoys listening to stories and turning pages, often in random order or a few at a time.
· Enjoys music, rhythm and rhymes.
· Explores new objects by transferring from hand to hand, feeling or poking with one finger.
· Notices colour (Wonderworld Rainbow Sound Blocks)

LANGUAGE
· Shows definite understanding of words.
· Will use a mixture of speech sounds, real words and gestures to get and hold attention.
· First spoken words are usually a person or well known object such as mum-mum/dad-dad/shoe/milk.
· Knows own name.
· Understands simple instructions such as “clap hands.”
· Names prominent body parts such as nose, eyes, toes, belly button.
· Attends to pictures when named.

IMAGINATION
· Shows affection by hugging people or a doll or a Teddy.
· Begins to mimic actions such as covering eyes while playing “Peek-a boo.”
· Plays fetching games with adults.
· Offers food to other people or toys.
· Understands the use of objects and can pretend to use them, such as wash face with a washer or brush hair with a hairbrush.

PHYSICAL
· Pulls to stand up, crawls rapidly, walks around furniture or walks alone with an unsteady gait.
· Crawls up stairs. With an increase in mobility it is important to “child proof” the house to minimise accidents.
· Points with the index finger.
· Has a precise pincher grip to pick up small objects or food.
· Can stir a spoon in a cup.
· Will drink from a cup and feed themselves, even if it is very messily.
· Co-operates during dressing by staying still or holding out an arm or a leg for the clothes or shoe.
· Can roll a ball.
· Starts to put marks on paper with a crayon.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
· Is developing bonds of love and trust with family members.
· Can be apprehensive with strangers.
· With some children separation from a parent can cause anxiety and they can appear “clamped to a leg.”
· Starts to show independent behaviour and understands that the meaning of “NO” is a prohibition.
· Waves goodbye.
· Begins to imitate activities like nodding the head or tapping with a hand.
· Begins to respond to requests such as “Come here.”
· Gives toys to other people on request.
· Uses gestures to convey meaning such as raising arm to be picked up.

By: Hilda Franks

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Choosing the right toys for children to help their development is very important. The Wooden Toy Store offers a wide range of suitable toys including wooden bikes and wooden puzzles.