Growth and Development during the First Year of Life

Your infant should:

Social Skills:                                                                       

● be starting to smile                                                           

● imitate facial expressions                                    

● mimic sounds

● babble, coo, gurgle

Emotional Development:

● begin to self soothe after crying

● be able to express various emotions eg. anger,

   sadness, happiness

● be developing a sense of  love and trust with

    caregiver(s)

Fine Motor Skills:

● put toys in their mouth

● reach for objects

● hold toys

● bat at toys/mobiles

● bang toys together

● throw toys

Gross Motor Skills:

● lift head

● kick their legs

● roll over

● sit with support

● begin to crawl

● likes to bounce with support

Sensory Skills:

● like to examine and feel different

   textures/toys

● look for dropped toy

● love to hear music, listen to voices and different sounds

● like to look at faces, pictures and bright colours

● enjoy being cuddled, stroked and massaged

Your infant should:

Social Skills:

● be learning to finger feed

● drink from a cup

● imitate others actions

● say "mama" "dada"

● indicate needs using gestures

● understand simple commands

● play along side another child

Emotional Development:

● be very curious about their environment

● start to have mood swings and temper tantrums

● object when can not have their own way

● loving but tend to be self centered in their view of

   the world

● show separation anxiety when caregiver leaves

Fine Motor Skills:

● grasp objects with thumb and fore   

   finger

● hold two objects at the same time

● drop and pick up objects

● can push  pull and throw objects

Gross Motor Skills:

● sit unassisted

● pull to standing position

● walk holding onto furniture

● move from lying to sitting position

● crawls well