Ready or not, baby is on the move and babbling away!

Pathways.org reminds parents of several developmental milestones baby should reach around 10-12 months old and also offers ideas to help accelerate learning and development!

10-12 Months

Motor Games and Activities

• Get baby to stack toys such as blocks or rings and describe each toy as your baby picks it up
• Lie down on the floor and have baby crawl over you
• Practice new gestures with baby like blowing kisses, clapping hands, or giving a high five
• Use a toy to encourage baby to crawl when they are in a tummy time position
• Roll a soft ball across the floor and encourage baby to crawl after it
• Allow baby to play with toys they can push or pull across the floor
• Read with baby while they lie on their tummy
• Play with stackable blocks
• Let baby play with large objects like tunnels, pillows, or cushions while supervised
• If baby is already walking, let them try riding toys that they can sit on and scoot across the floor
• Provide push toys that allow baby to practice walking with some support
• Encourage baby to dance and sway to music
• Provide opportunities for baby to experience slow, rocking movements

Sensory Games and Activities

• Play peek-a-boo with baby
• Have baby look at their reflection in the mirror and point out each body part
• Encourage baby to crawl over, under, and through various objects in your home
• Introduce baby to new textures through food, toys, clothes, sponges, etc.
• Provide plenty of skin-to-skin contact with caregivers
• Keep baby away from areas where people are smoking or using harsh chemicals

Communication Games and Activities

• Practice waving bye-bye when a guest leaves your home
• Read daily from big, colorful books and let baby turn the pages
• Encourage baby to wave hello when meeting new people
• Ask baby to point to different body parts when you name them
• Ask baby questions and encourage response with words, baby sounds, cooing, or babbling. Record the conversation and play it back for baby to hear
• Direct baby’s attention to interesting objects by helping them point their finger
• Name textures, shapes, and sizes to help baby attach words to tactile experiences
• Describe your actions throughout the day as you dress, feed, and bathe baby
• Respond to baby’s sounds to encourage two-way communication

Feeding Games and Activities

• Offer baby an assortment of food to try
• Keep track of where baby is in their feeding development, well-meaning friends and family may give baby food inappropriate for their age

Pathways.org also offers information on the milestones your baby should reach.

Better Watch Out! You Have a Little Explorer

Give your child space to explore and discover on their own. Baby-proofing is key because baby will start climbing and pulling on furniture. It won’t be long before they are walking on their own and then you’ll be so busy running after baby you won’t need that gym membership anymore!

Baby’s First Word

Has baby said “mama” or “dada” yet? If not, baby is probably getting close! Reading stories together, describing your actions, and singing songs are all great ways to help develop language skills. When baby is babbling, repeat the sounds they are saying and turn them into real words. For example, if baby says “ba”, repeat it by saying “ball.”

Playtime = Fun Time

Playtime will become a lot more interactive during this stage, as baby is learning new gestures and starts to understand that there is a “back-and-forth” in conversation.

Michaela Madison Reporting

(Information-Pathways.org/Photo-Tung Vu from dablet.com)