Social and Emotional

• Is shy or nervous with strangers 
• Cries when mom or dad leaves 
• Has favorite things and people 
• Shows fear in some situations 
• Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story 
• Repeats sounds or actions to get attention 
• Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing 
• Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake” 

Language/Communication

• Responds to simple spoken requests 
• Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye” 
• Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech) 
• Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!” 
• Tries to say words you say 

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing 
• Finds hidden things easily 
• Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named 
• Copies gestures 
• Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair 
• Bangs two things together 
• Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container 
• Lets things go without help 
• Pokes with index (pointer) finger 
• Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy” 

Movement/Physical Development

• Gets to a sitting position without help 
• Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”) 
• May take a few steps without holding on 
• May stand alone 

• Doesn’t crawl
• Can’t stand when supported
• Doesn’t search for things that she sees you hide
• Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada”
• Doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head
• Doesn’t point to things
• Loses skills he once had