1 Year

Discover tips, tools, and support for this age

  1. Brain Building
  2. Milestones
  3. Programs

Your little one may get more and more curious! Encourage them as they explore things through banging, shaking, and throwing. At this stage, they may also respond to simple requests and begin to take independent steps. 

Scroll down to learn more about your toddler’s development, get support such as child care, and find free activities to go to together.

 

The Early Childhood Family Toolkit

The Early Childhood Family Toolkit is a growing collection of our favorite resources for families with young kids. Discover learn-at-home tips and activities, health support, and more—all chosen by the NYC Department of Education.

 

Explore our favorite family resources

Brain Building

Learn through life's everyday moments

Delicious Descriptions
When shopping with your child, point out what you see. Use lots of different words to talk about the taste of different foods. Maybe you could say, "There are some juicy, sweet oranges," or "I bet those yellow lemons are sour!" Follow their lead and talk about what they point and look at.

See what your child is learning

You're building skills when you guide your child's attention and make connections between words and what they mean. They are learning important skills like focus and self-control. When you respond to a word, sound, point, or even a look, you're showing them what they "say" is important.
Vroom
See more tips

Milestones

Skills children develop as they play, learn, speak, act, and move are called milestones. Learn about milestones to help you understand your child's development and act early if you have concerns.

Around 1 year old, many children:

  • Social

    • Are shy or nervous with strangers
    • Cry when mom or dad leaves
    • Have favorite things and people
    • Show fear in some situations
    • Pass a book when they want to hear a story
    • Repeat sounds or actions to get attention
    • Put out arm or leg to help with getting dressed
    • Play games such as "peek-a-boo"

  • Communication

    • Respond to simple, spoken requests like "give me the book"
    • Use simple gestures, like shaking head "no" or waving goodbye
    • Make sounds with changes in tone, more like speech
    • Say "mama" and "dada" and make exclamations like "uh-oh!"
    • Try to say words they hear others say

  • Learning

    • Explore objects in different ways, such as shaking, banging, or throwing
    • Find hidden things easily
    • Copy gestures
    • Start to use things correctly, like drinking from a cup or brushing hair
    • Can bang two things together
    • But things in a container and take things out of container
    • Let go of objects without help
    • Poke with index finger

  • Physical Development

    • Get into a sitting position without help
    • Pull themself up to stand
    • Walk holding onto furniture, called "cruising"
    • May take a few steps without holding on
    • May stand alone

  • Health

    • Eat mashed, ground, or cut up food with breast milk whole cow’s milk, or unsweetened, fortified soy beverage
    • Have up to 3 ounces of grains daily, including whole grains (1 ounce equals ½ cup oatmeal, ½ cup of rice or 5 whole wheat crackers)
    • Have 2/3 to 1 cup of vegetables daily (examples: 1/3 cup cooked carrots, 1/3 cup broccoli, 1/3 avocado)
    • Have ½ to 1 cup of fruit daily ((examples: ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce, ½ large banana, ½ cup chopped berries). Fresh, frozen canned or dried all count
    • Have 1.5 to 2 ounces of protein foods daily (1 ounce equals 1 egg or ¼ cup of beans or lentils). Protein foods include beans, lentils, tofu, poultry, fish, eggs and meat
    • Have 1.5 to 2 cups of dairy or suitable substitute daily. This includes whole cow’s milk, whole plain yogurt, or unsweetened fortified soy beverage
    • Drink water between meals for thirst

Act early by talking to a doctor, teacher, or social worker if your child:

  • Act Early

    • Doesn't crawl
    • Can't stand when supported
    • Doesn't say words like "mama" or "dada"
    • Doesn't learn gestures such as waving or shaking head
    • Doesn't point to things

Programs

Find the support your family needs to thrive

The Early Intervention Program (EIP)

NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

Help for infants and toddlers with disabilities

Early Intervention is a voluntary program for infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays with support for families.

Health Baby Toddler

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

NYS Department of Health (NYS DOH)

Healthy food for families

Free healthy food, counseling about healthy eating, breastfeeding support, and referrals for women, infants, and children under five.

Food Baby Toddler Pre-Schooler Caregiver

Infants and Toddlers

NYC Department of Education (DOE)

Free or low-cost child care for children six weeks to two years old

Early child care and education services for up to 10 hours a day.

Child Care Baby Toddler
See all programs
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