Around 12 to 18 months

Vision and Fine Movements

• Scribbles and dots with texta; may use preferred hand.
• Makes towers of bricks.
• Points to distant objects of interest outdoors.
• Manipulates objects through openings, that is, posting.
• Enjoys precise motor activities, for example, spinning car wheels, opening hinged boxes, turning switches on and off.
• Enjoys repetitive actions, for example, flushing toilets, closing doors.

Large Movements

• Walks confidently with feet only slightly apart, starting and stopping safely.
• Pushes and pulls objects such as large toys and boxes around the floor.
• When held by the hand walks up and down stairs.
• Squats to play with, or pick up, objects.
• Throws objects overhand without falling.
• Jumps, both feet together.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Still very dependent on familiar adult.
• Shows affection to familiar adults.
• Initiates conversations with familiar adults.
• Begins to imitate everyday activities such as sweeping floor, reading a book, pretending to feed a toy.
• Can remove some clothing but cannot replace.
• Recognises self in mirror or photograph.
• Enjoys an audience, and applause for actions.
• Alternates between cooperative behaviour and resistance.

Listening, Speaking and Understanding

• Enjoys being read to, often recognising and putting finger on familiar object or favourite page.
• Asks for something by pointing or using words.
• Raises arms to be picked up.
• Responds to simple directions (without demonstration).
• Demands an object by pointing and vocalising loudly in singly words.
• Enjoys songs and rhymes and tries to join in.
• Shows, when asked, own or doll's hair, shoes, feet, nose ...
• Likes to explore objects by taking them apart.

Seek advice if a child

• Does not understand simple sentences.
• Does not appear to hear sounds.
• Does not move about, for example, creep, crawl, roll, rock, pull self up and step sideways.
• Does not interact playfully with care-giver, brothers and sisters.

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