Picks up objects in palm using thumb and first two fingers with other fingers flexed for support
Your baby has been developing their ability to use their hands and arms to intentionally grip objects. They will have begun to reach for items which interest them, often holding them in the centre of their palm.
Starting to pass objects from one hand to the other
Your baby has been exploring the world through holding and moving interesting objects. They will have been using an increasingly varied set of movements of their hands and arms and may even have enjoyed bringing their hands together near the centre of their body.
Recreates familiar situations with toys
You might have noticed your child copying you and others for a little while, now they will be starting to imitate familiar situations when they play with their toys. You might notice them putting their toy cars to bed or giving a teddy a meal.
May seek out a familiar adult when uncertain
Your toddler will have been using ‘social referencing’ for some time now, this means that they look towards you and other people in new situations to see how you feel about a situation and this helps them to decide how to respond.[1] They are secure in their attachment to those who look after them regularly and will use these people as a secure base when in unfamiliar situations.
Eager to be part of social interactions e.g., Laughs when others laugh
Your toddler has been interested in other people since they were born, and they have gradually developed skills to interact in different ways. They are now even more aware of the conversations and might join in, even if they don’t fully understand what is happening. For example, if you are chatting with friends and then everyone laughs your toddler might look at everyone and join in with the laughter.
Shows self-aware emotions such as embarrassment and pride
Your child has been developing their sense of self for some time, they will have recognised their reflection in a mirror and have been using their name to talk about themselves. This recognition of themselves paves the way for greater self-awareness including experiencing emotions such as pride, embarrassment and guilt.
Is more able to self-soothe when upset
Your child has needed your help to calm down when upset, and you and they might know what helps them to calm if they are upset. You might notice your child is sometimes able to soothe themselves when they are upset and might be starting to recognise what helps them to calm down. Self-soothing or self-regulating is a difficult skill and even as adults we sometimes need support from others to regulate. Although your child might be able to self-soothe sometimes, they might often still need your support.
Begins to look for and play with other children who like doing the same things as them
Your child has been interested in watching other children play for a while and might have been playing alongside children doing similar things. They will now look for other children who are doing things that they enjoy and will play with them. They might play with different children at different times, choosing based on what other children are doing rather than seeking out a particular child.
Needs a prompt to listen to you, but then can usually focus on what you are saying
Since birth your toddler has been listening to everything around them, from speech to environmental sounds. They have been making sense of these sounds and they rapidly began to learn that listening to and responding to language would provide them with meaningful interactions. Recently your toddler may have been listening to stories and will be engaging in two-way conversations.
