Developmental Post #24

This week's developmental post is focused on the developmental milestones of preemies who are 12-15 months old. Previously I have done posts for 9-11 months, 6-8 months old, 3-5 months old and 0-2 months old.

Large/Gross Motor:

• Can walk alone
• Creeps up stairs
• Squats when playing and then resumes standing

Small/Fine Motor:

• Turns pages of a board book
• Stacks things
• Takes the lid off a container (box, tub)

Social/Play Skills

• Combines related objects in play (spoon in cup, man on truck, doll on bed)
• Initiates ball play or other social game
• Imitates adult in simple task (wipes table, dusts, sweeps, etc.)

Communication

• Child's babbling sounds like a sentence of real words intonation
• Uses two single words meaningfully
• Follows a simple direction
• Points to a body part or familiar toy on request

Ways to encourage development:

• When reading a book - encourage your preemie to turn the page
• Put items inside a clear container with a lid and encourage your preemie to take the lid off to get the toy
• Encourage pretend play with items that go together - when "feeding the doll" stir the food in the cup and then feed the baby, put a driver in the truck before it drives away, etc.
• Let your preemie "help" with household tasks like dusting, cleaning tables/cabinets, putting things away, etc.