Seven to Twelve Months

Motor Development Milestones

  • Learns to sit up by his/her self for a short period of time (approximately 5 minutes)
  • Uses finger and thumb to pick up objects such as pieces of food (pincer grip)
  • Begins to hold own bottle
  • Pulls self into a crawling position by raising up on arms and drawing knees up beneath
  • May accidentally begin scooting backwards when placed on his/her stomach; soon will transition to crawling forward
  • Enjoys being held and supported in the standing position; may jump in place

Cognitive Development Milestones

  • Uses hand, mouth, and eyes in coordination to explore own body, toys
  • Imitates actions such as pat-a-cake, waving bye-bye, and playing peek-a-boo
  • Shows some fear or hesitation when placed on a high surface such as a changing table, stairs; depth perception is becoming evident
  • Searches for a toy or food that has been completely hidden under cloth; beginning to understand that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen
  • Explores objects in many ways, turns them, feels surfaces, bangs & shakes them
  • Reaches accurately with either hand
  • Plays actively with small toys such as a rattle
  • Holds small object in one hand while reaching toward another object
  • Inspects objects with hands and eyes simultaneously
  • Ten to Twelve Months
  • Speech and Language Development
  • Babbles or jabbers deliberately to initiate a social interaction
  • Shakes head for no
  • Looks for a voice when name is called
  • Babbles in sentence like sequences; followed later with a language like inflection
  • Waves “bye-bye”
  • Claps hands together when asked
  • Imitates sounds that are similar to those already learned
  • Imitates motor noises, tongue clicks etc
  • May say “dada” or “mama”
  • Enjoys rhyming and simple songs
  • Shows interest in vocalizing while listening to music
  • Hands toy to an adult when appropriate gestures accompany the request

Social Development Milestones

  • Clings to parent or caregiver while resisting separation, exhibits a fear of strangers
  • Desires for caregiver to be in constant sight
  • Enjoys being near and included in daily activities of caregiver or family members
  • Enjoys novel experiences and opportunities to examine and explore new objects
  • Begins to assert self be resisting caregiver’s requests
  • Offers toys or objects to others
  • Becomes attached to a favorite toy or object
  • Looks toward and smiles at person calling his/her name
  • Repeats behaviors that get attention
  • Jabbers continuously
  • Can execute simple directions and request
  • Understands the meaning of the word or sign for “no”
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