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Baby is 1 year old: his awakening and his development
His gross motor skills progress at one year
A 1 an, each child moves in their own way : many still walk on all fours, but some babies skip this step and prefer to slide on the buttocks or stomach. Your little one may be starting to take their first steps by leaning on furniture or holding your hands. The end of the first year sometimes even coincides with the acquisition of walking. If this is not the case for your baby, don’t worry: this step will be done a little later, when he knows how to control falls. At 1 year old, your child may also start to stoop, crawl up and down stairs, hence the need to install safety barriers.
His progress in fine motor skills
At this age, your child handles objects with greater skill: he can hold two of them in one hand. His coordination improving, he now passes an object from one hand to another. He also manages to turn the pages of hardback books. Your baby can also pick up objects that you give him. In a seated position, he manages to turn to take what is behind him.
Language and understanding
Around 1 year old, some children already formulate one or two words. The first is often dad, children usually pronouncing the “p” before the “m” in “mum”. Babies are also babbling more and more, even though the language is mostly body language. To show you what he wants, your little one points the finger.
At this stage, your baby understands simple questions and commands. He can point to objects or some of the parts of his body if we name them. He will also begin to shake his head and test your resistance capacity. To do this, he tends to throw everything on the ground. But it also allows him to understand the consequences of his actions. Because at this stage of development, children begin to be aware of certain cause and effect relationships. So it’s not just to test yourself.
Also, your child’s memory is developing and he can distinguish between what belongs to him and what belongs to others. Little by little, he puts himself in the place of the other. At first, it is a mirror identification, that is to say, he feels things as if they were addressed to him. He will subsequently develop real feelings of empathy.
Your baby’s manual games at 1 year old
At 1 year old, play becomes the main source of distraction for children. But for calm activities, their concentration time is very short, it varies from two to five minutes. In parallel, interest in patrol games, especially in sandboxes, is growing. Babies also begin to hold a pencil and doodle.
Your baby especially appreciates built-in or plug-in toys. At this stage, the little ones often divert the toys from their original function. They also love to stack cubes, build towers, tear them down and start over, and love to share their exploits with their parents. Your child is not yet very sure of his actions, give him games made of fabric or lightweight plastic with rounded edges rather than wooden cubes.
Motor games
Around the age of 1, children, in full motor development, appreciate carriers (truck, tractor), or even push-walkers which make them more autonomous. At this age, they also like to have fun with small semi-rigid balls, to make them roll. Take the opportunity to play with him.
Socializing your baby at 1 year
Your child leads his life more independently and independently. However, your role remains fundamental so that your baby continues to have his bearings. He is also anxious at the idea of being separated from you. It is important to talk to him, to assure him of your return, especially if he cries when you leave a room. At this age, the child acquires the permanence of the object, that is to say, he understands that things (or people) continue to exist even if they are no longer visible. Playing hide and seek while hiding behind the curtain and reappearing can be a good way to reassure him.
At 1 year old, the child goes to meet the other. Now think about teaching him simple rules of politeness. These participate in its socialization and allow it to structure itself. Your baby is starting to understand the concept of “take turns” play. In fact, if you play hide your eyes, he may try to do that too. Now he hands you the items. But be careful, for him, it is a question of lending and not of giving. Be careful not to make them disappear from his visual field.
Now your child is starting to kiss you and is very generous with the hugs. He likes to give as much as to receive. He is delighted when his parents compliment him on his social skills. Do not hesitate to congratulate him!