Month 12

Mental Development

• Concentrate when listening to their favourite story
• Recognise certain objects in books and point to them
• Begin to understand simple questions
• Speak the first word, usually “mama” or “dada”
• Be able to identify certain objects and understand what they are, such as cat

Visual Development

• See moving objects clearly and with great interest
• Recognise familiar people from a distance of 6 metres or more

Growth

• Weigh about 8.9 kg if she’s a girl or about 9.6 kg if he’s a boy
• Be about 74 cm tall if she’s a girl or about 75.7 cm tall if he’s a boy

Motor Development

• Be able to stand for a moment without support
• Walk two or three steps without support
• Use a spoon with increased skill
• Put objects into a container
• Start to throw objects

Social and Emotional Development

• Return hugs with affection
• Play simple games, such as `pat-a-cake`
• Like to be constantly within sight and hearing of a familiar adult
• Be an active and responsive part of the family