Child development test 1 year. Child development per year: advice to parents. What can a baby do at twelve months?

The child celebrates his first anniversary older, stronger and more conscious. He has personal character traits unique to him, has his own opinion, preferences in games and food. The baby strives to actively explore new territories, and it is practically impossible to keep him, because such qualities as perseverance and even stubbornness begin to appear. Now parents will have to take into account the opinion of the little person, and knowing what a child of 1 year should be able to do, try to guide him in the right direction.

A one-year-old child weighs about 10 kilograms, and his height is approximately 76-78 centimeters; compared to the first months of life, he has tripled in size. Now, due to active pastime, the baby will grow slower, but will begin to improve his abilities and acquire new skills.

Features of the changes:

By the age of one year, many children already have about 8-12 teeth, four of which are molars. Even if not everyone has appeared yet, this should happen in the near future.
A characteristic feature of children at this time is their feet, which are still completely flat, since there remains a pad of fat that disappears over time. Despite this, children can now stand up freely from any position and can walk without support or the help of adults. In general, most children master walking by the age of one and a half years.
Kids know all their relatives well, call them by name, respond to their name, vigorously showing joy or sadness if they are about to part.
Now, day by day, the child will become more and more independent, and by copying the behavior of his elders, he will develop his own manners, so parents should monitor their actions and not the best habits, so as not to see their repetition in the baby’s actions later.

Proper upbringing is important during this period - if children live according to a certain regime, they quickly learn discipline. In this case, it is easier for them to explain the meaning of the requirements and taboos on certain things. Unfortunately, it is impossible to do without prohibitions, and besides, the child himself feels more protected when they exist. In the end, established rules make life easier for the whole family and protect the health and psyche of children.

The physical and mental development of a child at the age of 1 has reached certain heights, but it is too early for parents to relax; there is still a lot of work ahead to ensure that the little person grows up not only strong and smart, but also has such important human character traits as kindness, sensitivity, empathy .

What should a 1 year old child be able to do?

Physically, the one-year-old child has stepped far forward, and in the literal sense. Some early babies, although rare, immediately choose a method of movement such as walking and, in fact, skip crawling.

But considering the average option, we should list the following skills that apply to most children:

one-year-old babies are very mobile - they crawl a lot, sit well, know how to get up and sit down, doing it quite deftly;
children walk holding on to the hand of their father and mother, or leaning on the sofa;
Many people manage to squat and get up on their own;
The little ones have mastered climbing stairs quite well and can carefully go down, including getting down from elevated areas;
A child’s speech skills improve significantly at the age of 1 - his vocabulary is about 15-20 words, although sometimes he confuses syllables;
The kids understand their parents’ speech perfectly and try to repeat after them all unfamiliar words;
a one-year-old toddler is already quite capable of answering the question “Where” and “Who” addressed to him by saying his name or pointing his finger;
The child can also be entrusted with some tasks, for example, wiping off the dust, helping mom set the table, or washing fruit;
the child will very quickly build a tower from several cubes, and with his hand he can already take two small objects, using two fingers for manipulation;
a year, children love to find and hide toys, throw them, take them apart;
children at this age know the names and appearance of many animals, trees, and household items;
they remember events that happened 4-5 days ago;
use cutlery, cup, toothbrush and comb independently.

The social activity of children also increases, they become more sociable and are drawn to communicate with peers. Adults are truly happy when they observe the manifestations of their emotionality - now they are able to smile, laugh, and have learned to hug and kiss mom and dad. When there is an overabundance of feelings, they even kiss their toys - their favorite bears and dolls. The feelings of one-year-old children are sometimes visible in their gestures and facial expressions, and relatives usually understand this language well.

However, children can express not only contentment and positive emotions - they can be angry and indignant about prohibitions, look upset when dad leaves for work, show resentment if they are put to bed early. Kids themselves have a good understanding of the emotional state of their father and mother, determining it by tone of voice and facial expression, and due to the rapid formation of long-term memory in them, they often demonstratively show resentment, remembering recent unpleasant events.

Reflecting on what a 1-year-old child should be able to do, let’s add that he can dance and sing, study his reflection in the mirror with interest, know the purpose of many household devices, and carry out simple requests and tasks from adults. All that remains is to set a good example for them so that the child quickly absorbs useful information and puts it into practice.

How boys and girls develop at 12 months

The differences between the abilities of children of both sexes are, in fact, not distinguishable, but behavior patterns begin to differ greatly. When the question arises of what a one-year-old boy should be able to do, it is logical to answer “everything”, with the difference that he is less sensitive, more independent, and often protests when he is offered help. The child begins to feel not just a person, but a little bit like a man, who, in fact, is busy, for the most part, with men’s affairs. He plays a lot on his own, loves cars, construction sets, and outdoor games with a ball.

Does a 12-month-old girl need to be able to do this? Of course, yes, but the baby will prefer a quieter time spent feeding and dressing the doll, treating animals and similar activities.

But natural egoism is developed in children of both sexes - they do not understand why they should give their toy to someone else. And psychologists do not recommend forcing them to do this; in order to avoid scandal and hysteria, it is better to distract the child with something more interesting.

By one year of age, children also become firmly accustomed to self-care skills. In addition to using a spoon and a cup, they already use a fork, bite off and chew hard pieces, wash their hands by wiping them with a towel, and master the potty. Kids can already take off their hats, outerwear, socks and Velcro shoes. And to get dressed faster, they need training.

What should a child be able to do in one year? Of course, what his own parents will teach him, having found the right time for this and interested the baby. Basically, the achievements and failures of one-year-old children depend on them

Joint games and activities

One-year-olds should develop different skills and abilities, paying attention to each point. At this age, everything is important - the physical and creative improvement of the baby, the formation of his logical thinking, training of memory and attention.

Activities and games with your baby can have different goals, but they are all necessary:

The development of motor function is probably one of the main goals. To help the baby in this difficult task, we can advise parents to purchase for the baby a gurney in the form of a large beautiful car or a toy stroller, which will stimulate the desire to walk, while at the same time serving as a support for the baby.
Among the games that develop fine motor skills, as well as logic and memory, we can highlight large mosaics and puzzles, construction sets, lacing games, cups, jars and small parts for folding and pouring.
One-year-old children are already suitable for more complex educational toys - insert figures, labyrinths, simple applications.
To develop coordination and dexterity of your baby's hands and fingers, use salt dough or plasticine. Of course, the child will not yet be able to make a figurine from this material, but he will be happy to decorate the rolled out cake with small elements - shells, buttons, colored beads.
Reading is a necessary element not only of development, but also of education, so a child needs to read every day. Firstly, he can remember new words, and secondly, he will learn the correct pronunciation. In addition, studying interesting and necessary information will increase his intelligence and broaden his horizons.
Children will be happy to “play” musical instruments if you give them a drum, a baby piano, a xylophone, maracas, a toy tambourine or a harp.
Little children love drawing, and this is a very useful activity for them. In the process of creating their extraordinary masterpieces, children improve visual function, train their fingers, learn to correctly perceive color combinations, develop imagination, memory and thinking. In addition, paints and pencils are excellent tools for children's experiments, the main thing is that mom and dad are nearby.
Finger theater will also be a good workout and, at the same time, a game. In this case, the child has the opportunity to independently create characters from paper, cardboard or other materials, and then put on a real performance. This game involves several aspects of a child’s development at once.

You should not literally understand the standard indicators of what a 12-month-old toddler should be able to do, because a lot depends on the desire and real interest of the parents in the success of their child. And here it should be recalled that it will help to find time for joint lessons and games - a correctly compiled daily schedule for the little person.

Daily routine of a one-year-old baby

When creating a routine for a child, it should be taken into account that children who prefer to sleep once during the day should get up later. This, of course, is not a whim of the baby, but his peculiarity of the body and one quiet hour during the day is enough for him to remain vigorous and cheerful. In total, a child needs about 13-14 hours of rest per day, while at night he can sleep from 9 to 10 hours, and during the day 3-4 hours. Now is the time to teach children to fall asleep on their own.

One-year-old children eat with adults, but they are prohibited from certain foods, including pickles, marinades, sausages and smoked products. Too soft food, prepared in the old-fashioned way, as at the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods, can lead to malocclusion and digestive disorders, so children need to be given fairly solid food in the form of small pieces. At the age of one year, you can gradually transfer your child to four feedings a day, especially if he no longer eats mother’s milk.

The rules of care remain the same as in previous months and include all basic hygiene procedures. As for exercise and massage, babies need them, as they help strengthen the structure of muscle tissue, ensure normal blood circulation and enrich the body with oxygen. Massaging, in addition, relieves tension after active wakefulness.

Child development at twelve months: video

Imagining what a child should be able to do at the age of 1, and knowing the rules of upbringing and education, parents, of course, should constantly encourage the child to engage in cognitive activity and the desire to do everything independently. But at the same time, we must not forget that in front of you is a small child who, as before, needs parental love and affection, and a dry, teacherly tone cannot replace them.

By the age of one year, the baby should already know about 12 words. Your task is to enrich the baby’s vocabulary. How to do it? Read him as many fairy tales and poems as possible. Books must have bright pictures. So, the child will see the drawing and listen to you, thereby he will compare the images with the actions that you will tell. At this age, children already understand everything that adults tell them, but they cannot answer. Therefore, ask your child’s opinion about what you read, let him answer incomprehensibly, but this is how his speech will develop.

Special games will also help you. Show your child a cow in the picture; imitate her mooing. The same applies to other animals. This is where educational cartoons can come to your aid.

Talk to your baby without babying: he repeats after adults, copies their model of behavior, so he may begin to pronounce words incorrectly. Constantly communicate with the baby, even if he does not answer you. He must hear the correct speech of adults; this is the only way the child will speak quickly.

Understanding the world around us

One-year-old children learn about the world around them. Has your child started crawling around closets, under beds, and is he interested in many things? Rejoice, because this is how he makes new discoveries for himself. Do not scold the baby under any circumstances, but give him the opportunity to explore all the subjects that interest him. Be sure to remove all small items, otherwise your child may swallow them.

Physical development

Teach your baby to do exercises. Let these not be boring exercises, but fun dancing to dynamic music. Thus, the child will be provided with a boost of energy for the whole day. Also, do not forget about hardening procedures, which will increase the baby’s immunity.

Development of fine motor skills of hands

It is necessary to develop the fine motor skills of the baby’s hands; to do this, give him objects of different shapes and sizes. Let him feel them, turn them over, move them from hand to hand. Buy special toys, such as bead mazes. By moving them, the baby will develop fine motor skills.

Walks

While walking on the street with your child, explain to him everything that is happening around him. For example, talk about a passing tram, kittens playing, trees, plants, houses, etc. Teach your baby to distinguish colors, shapes, sizes; understand the purpose of certain objects.

Let the baby run around, play in the sandbox, and communicate with peers. Explain to him what to do and what not to do. It just seems to you that the little one doesn’t understand anything yet, but in reality this is not the case.

A whole year has passed since the day a tiny bundle of happiness appeared in your life and your home. What is it - a child at 12 months, what has he become and what awaits him ahead? The restless time of infancy is over, he has grown up, taken his first steps and has already managed to show his character. He learned to frown and laugh wildly, mastered the first communication skills and can already do a lot on his own. What next, what to teach a one-year-old child now, what should his weight be, what to feed, how to develop correctly - we will try to give answers to these questions.

Physical development of a one-year-old baby

The first thing that, of course, worries the mother is the physical development of the baby. Thinking about how her child is developed, she involuntarily compares him with other children: thin or plump, stands firmly on his legs or is still unsure. To dispel any doubts that may arise, let us turn to the average statistical indicators.

Looking into the baby's mouth, we will see 12 strong milk teeth. If there are fewer of them, don’t worry - the child’s development by 12 months often follows an individual plan. Provide vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium in your baby's diet - the teeth will grow.

Weight fluctuates between 10 and 11 kilograms (the last increase before weighing is at least 350 grams). Thus, by the age of 1 year a child should gain about 7 kilograms. Let's look at the growth. For a 12-month-old child, it should be 72-77 centimeters; over the last month, the increase in height should be 1.5 centimeters. Note that after a year, his physical parameters will change more slowly, because the baby will begin to move more.

New independent actions

As a rule, a child begins to walk at 1 year of age. His other actions related to the environment are also expanding. The vertical position enriches the physical skills of the baby, and the mind of a great researcher encourages them to use them.

At one year old, the baby is actively exploring the world around him: he is no longer so dependent on his mother, so you need to keep an eye on the child - he can end up anywhere

Stand firmly on your feet and take your first steps (we recommend reading:). If your child stands poorly and crawls more willingly, you should take him to the pediatrician. The doctor will determine the reason for this behavior and give useful recommendations. You may need to undergo a special massage course. There is no serious reason for concern, but it is desirable that by the age of one year the child confidently gets on his feet.
A 12 month old baby is trying to learn how to climb on and off the sofa. Learns to go up and down stairs. If he climbs easily, then when descending, fear may appear, based on the formed instinct of self-preservation. Help the baby, tell me how to do it correctly, so as not to develop a phobia in the child in the future.
Independence is also manifested in the desire to hold the spoon yourself. The baby can transfer it from one hand to another, tries to take porridge or puree with it, and learns to eat himself.
New skills include scooping up water, opening cabinets, doors, drawers, removing beads over the head, and tearing paper into pieces. While bathing, he can splash not only with his hands, but also with his legs. Once he has learned to stand firmly, he can try to climb out of the bath. Never leave him alone while bathing.

Learning through imitation and active participation

Imitating adults is a natural process for a one-year-old child to learn about the world. If you do exercises in the morning, your baby will repeat gymnastic exercises after you, follow dad into the kitchen and help him repair something. It is important here that the example is correct and useful.

The tactile way of studying objects is preserved in a 1-year-old little man. Besides, he still tries to taste what he picks up. Now that he can independently move around the house, carefully monitor what comes into his eyes and hands - remove small and dangerous things away so that the child cannot swallow them or put them in his nose and ears.
Having been observing the world for a long time from a lying position or in the mother’s arms, by the age of one year the former baby is ready to become the center of the universe. A 12-month-old child develops at a rapid pace (see also:). He wants to take part in everything, he wants to be a full-fledged actor. If something is forbidden to him or he is not allowed somewhere, the baby is able to show his character and express his dissatisfaction with an angry grumble or scream. Here he also copies you.
An important personal hygiene item for a 12-month-old child is a chamber pot. Most parents introduce their baby to it earlier, but if you have not yet accustomed your child to it, use the recommendations given on our website.

There are no fewer dangers lurking right in the baby’s house than on the street, so parents must take measures: buy plugs for sockets, remove sharp objects and medications from the bottom drawers

Speech, emotions and behavior

Having reached the age of one, the child parts with the simplest speech sounds such as “agu” and “gu-gu”, and consciously tries to pronounce syllables and individual words. Subject to normal development, he can please you with 5-10 easy words from his own vocabulary. His main desire is for mom and dad to understand him. Learn to understand your child, especially since if there is a lack of words, the child can supplement his speech with gestures.

In addition, he correctly voices what he sees: his mother will be “ma”, and the car will be “holes” or “shi”. He also understands the words that adults say to him: in response to a remark about an object that it is “kaka,” the child will throw it out of his hands. If your child is stubbornly silent, refer to the video lessons of Dr. Komarovsky. They explain in detail the reasons for such silence and give advice on how to correct the situation.

In a 1-year-old child, the need for emotional expression of his desires and actions also increases. The speech is complemented by tears and laughter, fear and joy. If a baby sees a stranger, he may cry, but a familiar person evokes joyful emotions in him. He reacts well to music, loves to dance to it if he stands firmly on his feet.

Mom should understand that this is a person in front of her, not a baby. Learn to praise a boy or girl for good behavior, say “thank you” to them, setting a personal example of politeness. Stock up on educational games and read to your baby more so that new words appear in his speech.

What to feed a 1 year old baby?

The baby's diet consists of products recommended for feeding a child at the age of one. An exception is the diet of children who have allergic reactions to certain foods. It is not permissible to feed a child for 12 months with spices, chocolate, smoked products, sausages, and spicy foods. The time has come - the baby must be taught to handle a spoon independently. However, Dr. Komarovsky advises keeping formula for a one-year-old child on the menu, but it is better to give it not from a bottle, but by pouring it into a bowl.

A one-year-old baby can slowly switch to adult food, but not harmful, but healthy, which will help him actively develop fully

Pay special attention to the consistency of food, as the child must develop a chewing reflex. Replace mashed potatoes with stewed potatoes or vegetables. Also include tender meat and fish cutlets in your baby’s diet. Make sure he doesn't bite off large pieces. You can give bread, cookies, fruits. Keep the intervals between feedings at 3.5-4 hours. Give your baby only freshly prepared meals: anything that has been left in the refrigerator for a day is not suitable for the child to eat.

Health and personal hygiene

A visit to the pediatrician with a child aged 1 year is a mandatory procedure. The doctor takes physiological measurements (height, weight, chest volume and head circumference) and takes tests. Specialists (orthopedist, neurologist, surgeon) check the baby in their areas. Be sure to visit an ophthalmologist and dentist so as not to miss any little details in the child’s development. Personal hygiene of the baby consists of:

ability to wash hands and face, attempts to brush teeth;
mandatory hand washing after going outside and before eating;
evening bathing or rinsing in the shower;
personal hygiene items (soap, towel, toothbrush, comb).

The issue of vaccination is discussed with the pediatrician. Recently, there have been numerous debates about the feasibility and safety of vaccinations. Many children tolerate various vaccinations well, but there is always a risk of individual intolerance. It is wrong to discuss something based on rumors; it is better to consult a doctor. You should not decide on your own whether to refuse vaccination. The topic of vaccinations is covered in detail in other materials on our website.

*Where does he get so much energy? *

372. Cheerfulness.

A year is an amazing age. Many things change for your child: his tastes in food, his behavior with people around him, his attitude towards himself and others. When he was very small and helpless, you could do whatever you wanted with him: put him where you wanted him, give him toys that you thought were suitable for him, feed him food that was good for him. Most of the time he obeyed you good-naturedly. But with a one-year-old child it will be more difficult for you. He seems to realize that he is not destined to be his parents’ toy for the rest of his life, that he is a person, a person, that he has his own desires and thoughts.
When you ask him to do something he doesn't like, he feels the need to insist. His nature demands it. He says “no” with words or actions, even when it comes to things he likes. Psychologists call this “negativism,” mothers say: “He’s as stubborn as a donkey.” But imagine for a moment what would have happened to him if he had never had the desire to say no. He would become a robot, a mechanical man. You would not be able to resist the temptation to constantly command him and he would stop developing and learning new things. When he grows up and goes to school, and later to work, everyone around him will take advantage of his inability to say “no” and he will always be a worthless person.

373. Passion for exploration.

The one-year-old is an avid explorer. He reaches into every hole, sticks his finger into every crack, shakes the table and everything that is not nailed down tightly, pulls books out of the bookcase, climbs on everything he can, pushes small objects into large ones, and then tries to push large objects into small. The tired mother says, “He sticks his nose in everywhere,” and judging by her tone, it annoys her. She does not understand what an important period her baby is going through. It is absolutely necessary for the child to find out the size, shape and mobility of all the things around him, to try his strength before moving on to the next stage of development, just as he will subsequently move from class to class. The fact that he “sticks his nose everywhere” is a sign of his intelligence and good mood.
You've probably already seen that he doesn't sit still for a minute unless he's sleeping. This is not nervousness, but a desire to know everything. He needs mobility in order to tirelessly practice and learn new things.

*Prevent accidents and fears*

374. A year is a dangerous age.

Parents cannot prevent all accidents. Even if they tried to do this, their caution and anxiety would make the child timid and dependent. But the vast majority of serious accidents can be easily prevented if the usual causes that cause them are known and reasonable efforts are made to avoid them. Here is a list of these funds.
Low tables and chairs are safer than high ones. If you use a high chair, choose a chair with a wide base to prevent it from tipping over, with straps to secure a child who can crawl and climb to the chair, and a latch that holds the tray in place to prevent the child from tipping it over. The stroller must be equipped with straps to secure a child who can climb. Windows should be equipped with bars or should only open at the top.
It is not recommended to allow a child to be in the kitchen while cooking or when adults are eating. There is a danger that splashes of hot fat will fall on him, or the mother will knock over something hot, or the child himself will push a hot pan off the table. At this time, it is best to place the child in the playpen, either in his chair, or to block off a place on the floor using chairs placed on their sides. The playpen or chair should be far enough from the stove. A child may surprise you by reaching for an object that is quite far away. Get into the habit of turning pot handles toward the inside of the stove. When serving food, place coffee pots and other hot vessels only in the middle of the table. The same applies to kerosene lamps. Do not place tablecloths hanging from the table, as a child can easily pull them off.
If your child is still putting things in his mouth, do not give him small objects such as buttons, peas, beans, beads, nuts or corn, as the child may inhale them and choke. Remove sharp pencils and other sharp objects from your child's eyes if the child puts them in his mouth.
Get into the habit of always testing the bath water before putting your baby in, even if you remember doing it before. Sometimes children get burned on hot taps. Do not allow your child to touch electrical appliances. Do not leave buckets of hot water on the floor. Electrical wires must be in perfect condition. Teach your child not to touch or chew them as early as possible (see section 384). Cover electrical outlets you are not using with tape or place heavy furniture in front of them. Screw the light bulbs into sockets that the child can reach.
Hold the matches high enough so that even a 3-4 year old child cannot reach them even if he wants to.
Wells, pools, tanks must be securely closed.
Dispose of broken glass and empty cans into tightly sealed bins. For used razor blades, use a tin box with a slot at the top.
Do not allow your child to approach a strange dog, as at this age he may accidentally frighten it or hurt it and it will bite him.

A fifth of all poisonings occur in one-year-old children. At this “exploratory” age, children eat everything without being embarrassed by the taste. They especially love pills, pleasant-tasting medicines, cigarettes and matches. You might be surprised by the list of substances that especially often cause poisoning in children:
1) aspirin and other medications;
2) poisons against rats and insects;
3) kerosene, gasoline and polish;
4) lead, which is part of the paints that the child chewed off furniture and other objects (nowadays furniture and toys are painted with paint that does not contain lead. But on the street, on window sills, verandas, etc., there may be such paint, and also when repainting furniture, etc.);
5) furniture varnish;
6) lye and other alkaline compounds used for disinfection;
7) pesticides for plants;
8) powders for cleaning kitchen stoves.
Now is the time to give your apartment a thorough inspection. Try to see it through the eyes of a child. Remove all medications. Find safe places for household chemicals, polish, ink, cigarettes, tobacco, and plant sprays. Keep poisonous substances in separate cabinets or on shelves, away from harmless drugs and substances used in food, so as not to rush to grab the wrong thing. Never let children play with bottles or containers containing toxic substances, no matter how well sealed they are. Put brightly colored labels on your medicine bottles to avoid mistakes. Do not keep poisons against rats and insects at home. Throw them away. Make sure that empty cans and boxes containing toxic substances are thrown away immediately.

376. Protect your child from scary sights and frightening sounds.

A one-year-old child may be occupied with the same thing for several weeks, such as a telephone or airplanes flying overhead or light bulbs. Allow him to touch and explore everything that is not dangerous. However, if something scares a child a little or poses a danger to him, it is wiser not to focus his attention on this subject. It is better to distract the child's attention with something than to increase his fear.
At this age, children are often frightened by unfamiliar objects that are suddenly moved by adults or make a loud sound, for example, books with panoramic pictures that rise when the book is opened. A child may get scared when you open an umbrella, when a vacuum cleaner starts working or a siren sounds, a dog barks, a train whistles, or even leaves rustle.
Try to keep your child away from scary objects until he gets used to them. If he's scared of the vacuum cleaner, don't use it for a few months, at least while he's at home. And then turn on the vacuum cleaner when the child is some distance away.

377. Fear of bathing.

Between one and two years old, a child may begin to be afraid of bathing because his mother dropped him in the water, or soap got into his eyes, or he was frightened by the sound of water being sucked into the bathtub opening. To avoid getting soap in the eyes, the sponge or cloth you use to soap your baby should be damp, not wet. If he is so scared that he doesn't even want to sit in the bathtub, don't force him. Try washing it in a basin.
If your one-year-old child does not like having his face and hands washed after eating, place a bowl of water in front of him and, while he splashes his hands in the water, you wash his face with a wet hand.

*Independence and sociability*

378. The child becomes both more dependent and more independent.

This sounds contradictory. A mother complains about her one-year-old child: “He screams every time I leave the room.” This does not mean that he is developing a bad habit. The child just grows up and understands how much he depends on his mother. It makes you uncomfortable, but it's a good sign. But, aware of his dependence on his mother, the child feels an irresistible desire to do everything his own way, explore new places, meet new people.
Watch a baby crawl while its mother washes dishes in the kitchen. At first he plays with pots and pans with interest, then he gets bored and goes to explore the dining room. He crawls under the table and chairs, picking up specks of dust and testing them on his tongue, stands on his feet and touches the handles of the chest of drawers. After a while, he needs human company again and returns to the kitchen. Thus, either the desire for independence or the need to feel safe takes over, and the child in turn strives to satisfy both of these needs. After several months, the child becomes bolder and more decisive in his experiments and research. He still needs his mother very much, but not as often. He becomes increasingly independent, but his courage is partly built on the confidence that at any moment he can count on his mother’s protection.
You need to understand that independence is based not only on the freedom you give your child, but also on the sense of security you give him. Some people imagine it the other way around. They try to “raise” independence in the child by keeping him alone in the room for a long time, even when he cries in fear and calls for his mother. I think violent methods never bring good results.
So, a one-year-old child stands at a crossroads. If he is not disturbed, he will gradually become more independent and sociable with strangers (both adults and children), more self-confident, and more cheerful. But if you protect your child from communicating with people, constantly take care of him (see section 477), he will be tied to his mother’s skirt, shy with strangers, and withdrawn into himself. There can be no talk of any independence.
Don't put him in a stroller after he can walk. Once he starts walking, don't take the stroller with you. Don't be angry if your child gets dirty, that's how it should be. Try to take him for walks in a safe place where you won't have to constantly monitor him, where he can play with other children and get used to them. If he picks up a cigarette butt, you should immediately jump up, take it away and distract the child's attention with something interesting. Do not allow him to eat sand and soil, because this can cause digestive upset and infection with worm eggs. If he puts everything in his mouth, give him a hard cookie or something clean that he likes to chew to keep his mouth busy. If you keep a healthy child who can walk in a stroller, this will protect him from accidents, but it will hold back his development and will not give him the opportunity to express his individuality.

379. Let the child out of the playpen if he insists.

Some children willingly play in the playpen until they are one and a half years old, while others already at 9 months consider the playpen to be a prison. Most children enjoy playing in the playpen until they can walk, which is approximately 15 months. I would advise letting the child out of the playpen when he becomes uninterested there. I don't mean to say that he should be released as soon as he whines. If you give your child something new and interesting, he can play happily in the playpen for another hour. Children “grow out” of the playpen gradually. At first, the child becomes bored only after a fairly long stay in the playpen. Then he gets tired of staying there earlier and earlier. It may be several months before he begins to protest against the playpen at all. In any case, let the child out when he clearly does not want to stay there anymore.

380. Let your child get used to strangers.

At this age, a child is by nature distrustful and suspicious of strangers until he takes a closer look at them. Taking a closer look, he comes closer and eventually tries to make friends, but in his own way. For example, a child can stand nearby and look attentively at a stranger, or solemnly give him something and then take it back, or bring everything that he can hold in both hands and dump it all in his lap. Many adults have no idea to leave the child alone while he is watching them. They usually rush towards the child, chatting incessantly, and the child is forced to seek protection from the mother. Then he needs more time to gather his courage and get acquainted. I think the mother will help the child if she immediately warns visitors: “Don’t pay attention to him right away. He’s shy. After a while he’ll come up and introduce himself to you.”
Once your child begins to walk well, you can take him to different places with you so that he has the opportunity to get used to strangers. Go to the store with him twice a week. If possible, take him for a walk where other children play. He can't play with them yet, but sometimes he likes to watch other children play. If the child now gets used to being around children, he will willingly play with them when the time comes, that is, between 2 and 3 years. If the child has never been around children under 3 years of age, it will take him many months to get used to them.

*How to deal with it*

381. A child is easily distracted - this is very convenient.

A one-year-old child strives to know the whole world at once and does not care where to start. Even if he is completely engrossed in the keys, he will throw them away as soon as you give him the egg beater. Wise parents use their child's ability to be easily distracted to guide them.

382. How to organize the environment for a child who walks.

When you tell a mother that her child has grown out of the playpen and that he needs to be lowered to the floor, the mother often says with an upset look: “But he may hurt himself, in any case he will turn the whole house upside down.” Sooner or later he will have to be put down on the floor, if not at 10 months, then at least at 15, when he starts walking. And at 15 months you will find it just as difficult to manage and keep track of your child as you were at 10. At whatever age you give him freedom, you will have to make some changes in the house. So it's better to do it when the time is right.
How to protect a one-year-old child from accidents, or at least how to protect furniture and other things from the child? First, you need to arrange the environment so that he can play with most things he can get his hands on. Then only a quarter of the things in the apartment will remain forbidden. But if you try to forbid your child to touch three-quarters of all things, then you will drive both yourself and him to hysterics. If he has something to do, he won't worry too much about things he shouldn't touch. In practice, you will have to remove breakable ashtrays, vases and various decorations from low tables, and replace them with old magazines. Place the books on the bookshelf so closely that he cannot pull them out. In the kitchen, place pots and pans on the lower shelves, and china and food on the upper shelves so that the child cannot reach them. One mother filled the bottom drawers of her desk with old clothes, toys, and other interesting items so that the child would explore the contents of the drawers to his heart's content, pulling them out and putting them back.

383. How to teach a child not to touch what is not allowed.

This is the main problem between one and two years. There are things in every home that a child should not touch. There are lamps on the tables, which he should not pull by the cord. He must not knock over tables. He should not touch a hot stove or turn on the gas. He shouldn't climb out of the window.

384. At first it’s not enough to say: “You can’t!”

You won’t stop a child with just the word “no”, at least not at first. Even then, it will depend on the tone of your voice, how often you repeat the word, and whether you really forbid or say “no” just out of habit. You cannot rely on this word alone until the child knows from experience what it means and what your reaction will be if he does not listen. Don't shout at him "No!" in a warning tone from the next room. This puts him before a choice. He seems to be thinking to himself: “Either I give up and be a coward, or I will be an adult and do as I want.” Remember that the child’s nature encourages him to test everything and contradict orders.
He will probably continue to do things his way, watching sideways to see if you get angry or not. It is much wiser, as soon as the child tries to do something illegal, quickly approach him and drag him to another part of the room. This way you say "No!" and immediately demonstrate what it means. Immediately give your child a magazine, an empty candy box, or any safe and interesting object. There is no point in giving him an old rattle that he has long since become tired of.
But suppose after a few minutes the child takes up his task again. Again, immediately divert his attention. Do it confidently and cheerfully. Sit with him for a minute or two, show him how to play with a new toy. If necessary, remove what he is trying to take, contrary to your prohibition, or take him out of the room. In this way, you tactfully but firmly let him know: you are absolutely convinced that this item cannot be played with.
Don't resort to arguments, ultimatums, threatening looks, and don't get angry. By doing this, you are unlikely to achieve your goal and will only increase the child’s stubbornness.
You may say, “But he will never understand what he can and cannot do if I don’t teach him.” Don't worry, the child will understand. It's much easier for him to learn a lesson if you teach it in a firm, "got it all" tone. If you shake your finger disapprovingly from across the room at a child who has not yet understood that “No!” really means “impossible,” then you are only inciting him to disobey.
You will do no better if you put him in front of you and give him a good reprimand, because by doing so you will deprive him of the opportunity to retreat with dignity or simply to distract himself with something else. He will have to give in cowardly or challenge you.
I remember one of my friends complained about her one and a half year old daughter, calling her capricious. At that moment Susie entered the room. A disapproving expression immediately appeared on the mother’s face and she said: “Don’t you dare go near the radio.” Susie had not thought about the radio, but her mother reminded her of it, and the girl immediately turned and slowly walked towards the radio. The mother fell into despair whenever her children showed signs of independence. She was horrified by the thought that she would not be able to control them. Feeling insecure, she saw problems where there were none. An inexperienced cyclist who sees a stone far away on the road experiences a similar state. And this bothers him so much that he drives straight towards this stone.
If your child approaches a hot stove, you will not sit quietly and shout from afar: “No!” You, of course, will jump up and pull him away. This is a natural way to stop a child if you really want to stop him and are not just showing character.

385. Take your time and act decisively.

The mother takes her child to the store with her. But instead of calmly walking all the way from the store to the house, he wanders along the sidewalk and climbs the steps of all the houses he passes. The more his mother calls him, the more he hesitates. When his mother gets angry with him, he runs away in the opposite direction. The mother is afraid that he is becoming a naughty child. This is not true, although it may come to that. At this age, the child cannot remember the purpose of the walk, i.e., the store. His nature makes him explore everything that comes his way. Every time the mother calls out to the child, it reminds him that he must assert his independence. What should a mother do? If she is in a hurry to go to the store, it is better to take the child in a stroller. But, if she uses the trip to the store as a walk, then she should spend 4 times more time on the road than if she walked alone, and allow the child to do his research. If the mother walks forward very slowly, from time to time the child will definitely want to catch up with her.
There is another predicament. It's time to go home to eat, and your baby is completely busy playing with the sand. If you say, “It's time to go home,” in a tone that sounds like you're saying, “You can't have any more fun,” you will encounter resistance. But if you cheerfully suggest, “Let's climb the stairs,” he may want to go with you. But let’s say he’s tired and cranky and you can’t do anything to lure him home. The child is stubborn and behaves simply ugly. In this case, pick him up and carry him home without talking, even if he squeals and kicks like a pig. Do this with a confident look, as if telling him: “I know that you are tired and angry. But since you have to go home, then you have to.” Don't scold him, he still won't understand that he's wrong. Don't argue with him, you won't convince him, but you will get upset yourself. A small child who feels unhappy and makes a scene is comforted deep down by the feeling that his mother knows what she is doing.

386. When a child drops and throws things.

A one-year-old child has learned to deliberately drop objects on the floor. He seriously throws food on the floor while sitting at the table, or throws toys out of the crib one by one, and then cries because he wants to play with them. An irritated mother may think that the child is deliberately teasing her. But he doesn't think about his mother - he is delighted with his new achievement and wants to do this all day, just as he will be ready to ride his new bicycle all day later. If you immediately pick up the thrown object, the child believes that this is a game for two, and this makes him even more delighted. Therefore, it is better to never immediately pick up objects thrown by him. Put your child down on the floor when he begins to have fun in this way. Tie his favorite toys to the crib with a 30 cm long rope (longer rope may cause the baby to get tangled). Also tie a few toys to the stroller. Of course, you don't like the fact that he throws food on the floor. But he is unlikely to start doing this before he is full. As soon as he starts throwing food on the floor, pick it up and lower him to the floor. Being angry with a child will not achieve anything, but will only lead to despair.

*Sleep duration varies*

387. Hours of sleep.

Typically, sleep hours change for about a year. If the child previously slept from 9 o'clock, now he will either refuse morning sleep altogether, or his clock will move further and further. If the morning nap is pushed back, the second nap will occur in the middle of the afternoon and this will likely prevent the child from going to bed on time in the evening. He may even refuse to sleep in the afternoon. But don't jump to conclusions. During this transition period, the child may return to the previous sleep schedule that he abandoned 2 weeks ago. You will have to come to terms with these inconveniences, taking comfort in the fact that they are temporary. Even if your baby doesn't want to sleep in the morning, put him in his crib around 9 a.m. to sit or lie down for a while. Thus, you will transfer him to a one-time nap. But some babies get angry if they are put in bed when they don't want to sleep, and you won't get anywhere.
If the baby becomes sleepy just before lunch, this is a sign for the mother to move dinner earlier, to 11:30 or even 11:00 (for a few days). Then after lunch the child will sleep for a long time. But after he switches to one nap (in the morning or in the afternoon), for some time the child may be very tired in the evening. A doctor I know said about it this way: “There is a period in the life of a small child when two sleeps a day is too much for him, but one sleep is not enough.” Therefore, during this period, put your child to bed a little earlier in the evening. Dinner hours change accordingly.
Don't assume that all children change their sleep hours at the same age and in the same way. One child transitions to one nap by 9 months, and another takes two naps a day until age 2.

* The child’s attitude towards food may change *

388. He becomes picky.

At about one year of age, a child begins to relate to food differently. He becomes more picky and less hungry. And this is not surprising. If he continued to eat as much as before and gain weight as quickly, he would grow to be the size of an elephant. Now the child has time to carefully study his menu and decide what he likes and what he doesn’t. Do you remember how he behaved at the table at 8 months? Then it seemed to him that he was dying of hunger before each feeding. He could hardly wait for the bib to be tied on him, and then his mouth reached for each spoon. He didn't care what he ate. He was too hungry to care.
There are other reasons for a child to be picky. He begins to feel like an individual with his own desires. Therefore, if earlier he had doubts about any food, now he resolutely rejects it. The child's memory also improves. Perhaps he thinks to himself: “They give me food regularly, so I will always have time to eat as much as I need.”
During teething, the baby's appetite often decreases, especially when the first molars grow. For quite a long time, he may eat only half of his usual portion, and sometimes even refuse to eat at all. The main thing to remember is that appetite quite naturally changes from week to week or even from day to day. We adults know this from ourselves. Today we want tomatoes, and tomorrow pea soup will seem incredibly tasty to us. The same thing happens with a child. But we don’t notice this until one year, since a child at this age is too hungry to refuse any food.

389. Dr. Davis's experiments.

Dr. Clara Davis set out to find out what children would eat if they were guided only by their desires, and if they were offered a wide choice of simple dishes. For the experiment, she chose three children aged 8 to 10 months who had previously not tasted anything other than breast milk and could not be prejudiced against any types of food.
This is how she fed them. At each feeding, six or eight plates with various simple and healthy foods were placed in front of the children: vegetables, fruits, eggs, cereals, meat, brown bread, milk, water and juices. Children were helped to eat only when they showed exactly what they wanted. For example, an 8-month-old baby put his hand into mashed beets, and then licked it straight from his hand - then he was given a teaspoon of beets. Then they waited again for him to show that he wanted more. Maybe beets again, or maybe grated apple.
Dr. Davis discovered three important things. Firstly, children who chose their own menu from a number of simple, varied dishes developed very well. None of them became too thin or too fat. Secondly, the nutrition of such a child over a certain period of time included all the necessary elements, as if he had eaten in strict accordance with scientific prescriptions. Thirdly, the child’s appetite changed from one meal to another from day to day.
A child may eat mostly greens for several days in a row. Then he will suddenly begin to prefer foods containing starch. And sometimes he will surprise you by limiting himself to only beets for lunch, and he will eat 4 times more of them than you think is normal. And after that he will have no vomiting, no stomach pain, no diarrhea. A child can sometimes drink 250 g of milk in addition to a full lunch, and at dinner refuse milk altogether. Dr. Davis monitored children's meat intake over many days. For several days the child ate the usual portion of meat, in subsequent days he began to eat more and more of it, after which meat consumption decreased again. This fact led Dr. Davis to think: obviously, the child’s body was in dire need of some substance contained in meat, which was the reason for its increased consumption. Then Dr. Davis conducted a series of experiments with older children, even sick ones, and the results were the same.

390. What parents should understand.

The above does not mean that parents should provide their child with a choice of six or eight dishes for each lunch, as in a restaurant. But it does mean that parents can trust their child to decide what to eat, as long as they are offered a variety of healthy foods based on their current tastes. This means that parents can allow their child to eat more than usual of a food item if they want and not worry about the consequences. Moreover, this means that parents do not have to worry if their child develops a temporary aversion to a particular product.
It is difficult for a modern person to come to terms with this. We have heard a lot about the scientific approach to nutrition and have forgotten that our body knew all this millions of years ago. Each caterpillar knows exactly the type of leaves it needs and will not eat any others. A deer will run thousands of kilometers to lick salts if its body requires it. The bullfinch knows well what is good for his body, without having listened to a single lecture on this topic. It is therefore not surprising that man also has some degree of intuitive knowledge of what is good for him. I don't want to say that a child or an adult always eats only what is good for him, and I don't want to say that parents don't need to know what goes into healthy food. If a mother feeds her child only sweets and tea, then there is no way to satisfy the body’s needs from such a set. It is important that the mother knows the benefits of vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, cereals, and can provide her child with a balanced diet. But it is also important for her to know that it is necessary to take into account the child’s instincts, that his appetite must naturally change and that ultimately he will receive all the necessary nutrients if he has not been instilled with prejudice towards any foods.

391. Let the child not eat vegetables if he doesn’t want to.

If he suddenly refuses to eat the vegetables he liked last week, so be it. If you don't persuade him, he will soon fall in love with these vegetables again. But, if you insist that he eat what he does not like at the moment, you will only achieve that the child’s temporary aversion to this dish will become permanent. If he refuses some vegetables twice, don't give them to him for, say, 2 weeks.
Of course, it is unpleasant for the mother if the child refuses to eat something that was bought and prepared especially for him and that he liked last week. It is difficult for a mother to restrain herself and not get angry in such a situation. But we must take into account that persuasion and threats will only instill in him an aversion to this dish.
If he likes some vegetables and doesn't like others, which is very typical for a child's second year of life, give him the ones he likes.
If he doesn't want to eat any vegetables at all, give him more fruit. If he eats enough fruits, milk and takes vitamins, he will replenish everything that is available in vegetables.

392. What to do if your child is tired of porridge.

Many children get bored with porridge in the second year of life. Don't force your child to eat it. There are plenty of substitutes that you can offer him, such as bread, pasta, cookies, potatoes, etc. Even if he completely refuses starchy foods for a few weeks, it will not harm him.

393. Don't worry if sometimes your baby doesn't drink enough milk.

Milk is a very valuable product. It contains most of the substances a child needs. About 750 g of milk per day is absolutely enough for any child aged 1 to 3 years, if his diet is varied enough. Most children at this age drink no more than the specified amount of milk, and sometimes less. If parents begin to worry or insist and force the child to drink more, then gradually he will like milk less and less. And eventually he will drink less milk than he would have if he had not been forced to.
Do not ask your child to drink more milk if he has clearly indicated that he does not want any more. Every time he has to resist your persuasion, he feels more and more like he really doesn't want milk. Even if he drinks no more than 200 g per day, don’t worry and wait until he wants more. If he continues to drink less than half a liter of milk, you can replace it with other dairy products (cheese, cottage cheese, kefir, etc.). This issue is discussed in more detail in section 411.
If your child does not want to eat any dairy products for a month, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will prescribe calcium. And the child may sooner or later fall in love with milk again.

394. Do not instill in your child prejudice against any products.

It is not by chance that we are discussing this issue here. The fact is that problems with feeding usually begin between one and two years. The child is stubborn, the mother is worried, and the more the mother insists and persuades the child, the less he wants to eat. And the less the child eats, the more worried the mother becomes. Every lunch becomes torture. And this can go on for years. Tensions that grow in the relationship between parents and children lead to other parenting problems.
The best way to maintain a child’s good appetite is not to interfere with his thinking that he himself wants to eat, and not you want to feed him. Let him eat more than one dish and not eat another at all, if he so desires. You should provide him with a varied and nutritious diet, but choose foods that he really likes. Don't be surprised that his tastes change from month to month.
If you don't force your baby to eat, he will most likely eat enough to meet his body's needs, although the amount will vary from day to day. But, if you think that his diet does not include everything he needs, you should consult a doctor.

395. If a child plays at the table.

This can become a problem even before a year. This happens because the child is no longer as hungry as before. He prefers to climb, play with a spoon or with food, turn over a cup, throw things on the floor. I saw one little boy being fed while he climbed up onto a chair with his feet turned away from his mother. Or another time he walked around the room, and his long-suffering mother followed him with a plate and spoon.
Playing at the table means that the child has grown up and his mother is more concerned about his nutrition than he is. This is all very unpleasant, irritating for you and can ultimately lead to loss of appetite in your child. Don't let this happen. You have probably noticed that a child begins to play while eating when he has partially or completely satisfied his hunger, and not when he is still very hungry. Therefore, if he stops paying attention to the food in front of him, consider that he has eaten enough, lower him to the floor and remove the plate.
You are right to be firm, but there is no need to get angry. If the child immediately starts whining so that his food is not removed, as if he wants to say: “You don’t understand me, he’s not full yet,” give him another opportunity. But, if he doesn't regret that the food was taken away, don't try to feed him a little later. If he is too hungry before the next feeding, feed him early. If you always put food away as soon as your child loses interest in it, he will be more attentive to his food and will not start playing with it before he is full.
But here we need to make a reservation. A one-year-old child takes great pleasure in dipping his hand into vegetable puree or spreading porridge. He can eat willingly at the same time. I would not recommend prohibiting him from experimenting with his food, since for him this is knowledge of the world around him. However, if he tries to tip the plate over, hold it firmly or move it away, or stop feeding.

396. The sooner the child starts eating on his own, the better.

The age at which a child begins to feed himself with a spoon depends mainly on adults. Dr. Davis found in her experiments that some children were quite good at eating with a spoon even before they were one year old. But an overly caring mother will not have a child who eats with a spoon even at 2 years old. It all depends on when you give him the opportunity to try his hand. Most children show the desire to eat with a spoon around the age of one year, and if they are not disturbed, many of them can eat with a spoon without assistance by the age of one and a half years. Preparation for independent feeding begins at 6 months, when the baby eats while holding cookies, bread or something else in his hand, then at 9 months, when you give him food mashed with a fork and he takes small pieces with his hands and puts them in his mouth. If you do not allow your child to eat with his hands, he may learn to eat with a spoon much later than other children.
Most children simply snatch the spoon from their mother's hand when they feel the need to learn to feed themselves. The mother may think that the child is naughty, but it is better if she gives this spoon to the child and takes another one.
The child quickly discovers that simply getting a spoon is not enough, that learning to eat on his own is very difficult. It will take him a few weeks to learn how to scoop food, and a few more weeks to get the food to his mouth without knocking over the spoon along the way. He soon gets tired of these fruitless attempts and begins to play with his food. Then you should remove the food, leaving only a few crumbs of meat so that he has something to experiment with.
Even when he honestly tries to eat with a spoon, he will stain himself and everything around him, and you must come to terms with this. If you feel sorry for the carpet, place a large oilcloth under your child's chair.
If he has learned to use a spoon, don't feed him yourself anymore. First he wants to learn to eat himself, just as he wants to do everything himself. But when he sees how difficult it is, and if you feed him at the same time, he may lose all interest in eating on his own. In other words, when he learns to bring even a grain of food to his mouth, you should give him a few minutes before each meal to independently act. When a child is particularly hungry, he will try his best to satisfy his hunger. The better he handles the spoon, the longer you should leave him alone with his food.
When he learns to eat his favorite food in 10 minutes, you should stop feeding him altogether. At this stage, mothers often make one mistake. They say, for example: “He learned to eat meat and fruits on his own, but I still have to feed him vegetable puree, porridge and potatoes.” This is already risky. If he can cope with one type of food, then he can cope with another. If you continue to feed him food that he is indifferent to, you will increasingly widen the gap between the types of food that he himself wants and those that you want to feed him. Ultimately, he will completely lose interest in “your” food. But, if you simply try to provide him with a varied diet based on his bites and allow him to eat on his own, then, most likely, for several weeks his nutrition will include everything he needs, although one day will be different from the next.
So, between the ages of 12 and 15 months, children themselves want to learn to feed themselves. But suppose the child was not given such an opportunity at this age, and then after 2 years he is told: “You are already big and must eat on your own.” The child may not agree with this, since he is already used to being fed, and he is no longer interested in mastering the spoon. Thus, the mother missed a golden opportunity to teach the child to feed himself.
Dear parents, do not take everything said too literally. And don't worry if your child doesn't succeed. Don't think there is one right age to learn to feed yourself. Don't try to force your baby to eat on his own if he is not ready for it or if he does not show interest. This will lead to other difficulties.
I just wanted to emphasize that children themselves want to master the spoon earlier than many mothers think, and that it is very important that parents gradually stop feeding the child as he gets better and better at doing it himself. Before we talk about the foods your baby can eat, it is important to discuss the most important chemicals that make up the foods and how they are used by the body.
A child's body can be compared to a building under construction. It requires a wide variety of materials to build it and maintain it in good condition. A person can also be compared to a moving mechanism that needs fuel to produce energy and other substances for normal operation, just as a car requires gasoline, oil and water.

This age is called the most capricious and traumatic in the development of children. At 1 year 4 months, your baby is as fickle as the wind in May, so be patient and monitor your baby very closely.

Physiological parameters of a child at 1 year 4 months: weight, height of the baby

Height. For boys, the optimal height is considered to be around 78 cm. The average height of girls at this age is slightly more than 80 cm.
Weight. Girls of this age weigh on average 10.6 kg, boys a little more - 11.3 kg.
Head circumference - 45.6-48.9 cm, chest 47.3-53.1 cm.
Teeth . According to generally accepted norms, the upper canines appear this month, and the first molars begin to erupt.

It is believed that fangs are the most difficult to erupt, so stock up on soothing gels, teethers and strong nerves.

What a child can do at 1 and 4: baby skills at 1 year 4 months

Children of this age are full of energy and cheerfulness. It is very important for a child, in addition to the opportunity to jump and run, to satisfy emotional curiosity and sensory thirst. Let the baby explore the world around him, using all his senses, and touch, examine objects by taste and touch.

What can children do at this age?

The child now stands up independently, walks holding onto a support, sits down and turns in different directions.
Particularly noteworthy is the child’s ability to walk up and down stairs, holding on to an adult’s hand or a railing. In addition, he demonstrates attempts to climb onto chairs, armchairs, and sofas.
At this age, the risk of injury increases significantly, since the baby’s movements are not coordinated and there is no fear of falling.
Therefore, do not leave your child unattended, even for a few minutes!
Children begin to hold a spoon quite confidently in their fists and try to eat on their own and drink from a mug.
Be patient and have bibs. Give your baby the opportunity to eat thick foods on his own - mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, porridge.
The baby can already perform simple actions - raise his arms up, forward, move them behind his back, to the sides, rotate his hands, move his fingers. He can do these actions either independently or at the request of adults.
In addition, the ability to fulfill adult requests “Show me” is considered mandatory. Bring it. Give."
The child reacts emotionally to different situations: parting with parents, returning from a walk, grandmother's arrival, etc.
Children of this age pronounce 4-10 words , know the names of animals, fruits, vegetables, body parts, and household items.
Perform certain actions with toys , play simple story games: they know how to pour sand into a bucket, they can pour water, feed toys, rock a doll.

What to feed and how to care for your babyat 1 year 4 months: child care and diet

As for hygienic care at this age, it can be noted that there is no need to wash the baby often, since he “goes to the toilet” less often, and some by this time are generally “friendly” with the potty.

Otherwise everything is as usual:

morning wash;
teeth cleaning;
evening water treatments.

daytime sleep - 2-3 hours;
Daily walks in the fresh air are required.

At this age, children develop the skill of cleanliness. They begin to wipe their hands themselves; when they get dirty, they may ask to wash them.

It is very important to maintain a daily routine. To overcome the changes occurring with the baby, he needs confidence in the stability of events.

A daily routine gives the child a sense of consistency and calms him down.

You can gradually switch to four meals a day. The fifth feeding in the form of milk or kefir should be reserved for children with poor appetite. But it is not advisable to insist in situations where the child himself shows a tendency to switch to four meals a day.

Approximate serving sizes for each meal

Dishes are still prepared mainly in pureed and chopped form. But gradually, denser foods and more pieces are added to the baby’s diet in order to develop chewing skills.
Children of this age already have their own food preferences - favorite and unfavorite dishes. Listen to your child's wishes, but don't follow his lead.

Menu for a child aged 1 year and 4 months for a week

The suggested dishes can be taken as a basis as a general guide.

It is important to change the baby’s menu so that dishes are not repeated more than twice a week.

Speech and psychology of development of children at 1 year and 4 months: communication and emotions of the baby

At this age, children's speech begins to take on a meaningful form. The baby already knows how to pronounce simple, easy words that relate to a particular situation. For example, seeing a cat, a baby can say “Kitty” and point to the animal.

A child's vocabulary at 1 year 4 months fluctuates greatly. For one it may be only 10 words, for another it may be more than 50.
Stimulate your baby's speech development by reading poetry out loud, as rhymed lines are easier to understand.
Choose brightly illustrated books to read. They help to absorb information not only auditorily, but also visually.
While reading, encourage your child to try to say a word by pointing to the picture that the word relates to.

At this stage, the range of emotions expands significantly:

kids are happy when they succeed at something and get upset if they fail;
try to express agreement or disagreement with facial expressions and gestures;
react differently to familiar and unfamiliar people.

A feature of this age is the ability to “get infected” with emotions and feelings - the baby may cry or laugh “for company.” Children:

they are surprised by new things and frightened by unexpected actions;
easily switch attention from one thing to another.

The difference between boys and girls in behavior and emotional terms is becoming increasingly noticeable. Boys are more self-reliant and independent, less responsive to the emotions of others. Girls are more receptive, cry more often, and like to be held or hugged.

What to do with a 1 year and 4 month old baby: educational activities and games for the child

A child’s games at this age are imitative in nature - they love to repeat after their parents everything they do. Therefore, stock up on toy dishes, a broom, an iron and other similar toys that will help your child feel like an adult.

Properly selected educational games will make your child’s leisure time rich and interesting.

With great pleasure, children are now playing games that develop fine motor skills, and therefore speech centers. For example, a variety of mosaics with large and bright elements. Also popular are a variety of lacing and bright designs with clingy details.
The simplest, most accessible and exciting game - stringing beads or buttons onto fishing line or safety wire.
Great toys would be pyramids and cups. of different sizes and colors, inserted into each other.
At this age, you can already turn your baby’s attention to more complex educational games: simple labyrinths, figures with inserts, games involving rearranging or pouring out all kinds of objects.

Girls and boys of this age prefer different toys and games.

Boys They prefer more active ones, with a ball and cars, but at the same time they spend less time concentrating on any activity.
Girls They like to deal more with small objects and story games: cleaning the house, feeding dolls, treating animals.

At this stage, you can start playing educational games to study the world around you: colors, shapes, properties of objects: large - small, soft - hard, smooth - rough, etc.

At this age, children do not realize the need to share toys and do not want to wait even a minute. Psychologists advise in such cases to switch the baby’s attention to another subject or to occupy him with a simple game, for example, entertain him with finger games.

Just do not overdo it with educational games so that the child does not lose cognitive interest.