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
See what your child is learning
Talking about everyday activities as you do them helps build your child's communication skills—and their brain! Be sure to point to objects as you say their name to help them learn new words.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:
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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"
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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
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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
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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
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Health
- Eat mashed, ground, or cut up food and other soft foods with breast milk
- Sleep about 14 hours per day
- Stay on schedule with shots
Act early by talking to a doctor, teacher, or social worker if your child:
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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.
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.
EarlyLearn
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.