Developmental Milestones

How to help your 9-month-old’s development:

• Play games with “my turn, your turn.”
• Describe what your baby is looking at; for example, “red, round ball.”
• Teach cause-and-effect by rolling balls back and forth, pushing toy cars and trucks, and putting blocks in and out of a container.
• Play peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek.

How to help your 12-month-old’s development:

• Give your child crayons and paper, and let your child draw freely. Show your child how to draw lines up and down and across the page. Praise your child when she tries to copy them.
• Play with blocks, shape sorters, and other toys that encourage your child to use his hands.
• Hide small toys and other things and have your child find them.
• Ask your child to label body parts or things you see while driving in the car.
• Sing songs with actions, like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Wheels on the Bus.” Help your child do the actions with you.
• Give your child pots and pans or a small musical instrument like a drum or cymbals. Encourage your child to make noise.”