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12-18 Months

First steps, first words, and pointing to show you what they want.

Developmental information

12-18 Months · Developmental information

Open the communication milestones checklist for 13 to 18 months

Source American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

12-18 Months · Developmental information

Open the CDC 15 months milestone checklist

Source CDC

12-18 Months · Developmental information

Open the CDC 18 months milestone checklist

Source CDC

Communication and play

12-18 Months · Communication and play

Open 5 games to play with toddlers, 18 months

Source Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Movement and hand skills

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Move to the beat

What this helps your child practice

Shaking, swaying and twirling to the beat.

Materials needed

Music. Simple props like ribbons or homemade shakers.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Listen to music that gets your toddler moving to the beat.
  2. 2Add simple props like ribbons or homemade shakers to encourage shaking, swaying or twirling.
  3. 3Sing simple songs and rhymes with actions for your toddler to copy.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Open simple songs and rhymes with actions
Get a link to share

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Put small containers into larger ones

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Different-sized containers.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Give your toddler different-sized containers so they can put the small ones into larger ones.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Build with blocks or pegs

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Wooden or plastic blocks, or pegs.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Encourage your toddler to build things with wooden or plastic blocks, even just with pegs.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Drawing, collage, finger painting and playdough

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Paper, collage materials, finger paint and playdough.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Get creative with physical play together: drawing, collage, finger painting or playdough.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Ride-on toys

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

A ride-on toy.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Try ride-on toys from 12 months.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Outdoor play on different ground

What this helps your child practice

Gross motor skills on hilly, sandy, rocky and other surfaces.

Materials needed

A park, backyard, beach or another safe outdoor space.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Go for outdoor play in parks or backyards, at the beach, or anywhere your toddler can safely walk, run and explore.
  2. 2Let your toddler use playground equipment. Supervise your child to help them avoid injury.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

12-18 Months · Movement and hand skills

Roll a ball back and forth

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

A ball.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Play with balls together. Roll a ball backwards and forwards with your toddler.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

Feeding

12-18 Months · Feeding

Open the feeding and swallowing milestones for 12 to 18 months

Source American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

12-18 Months · Feeding

Open the 12 to 15 months feeding schedule

Source SolidStarts

Watch these

Short clips of what these moments can look like. Direct links are still being added by staff, so open the Liftoff hub page to watch them.

Therapists would like to see approximately 50 words by 18 months.

  • Assists with dressing
  • Walks independently
  • Says 3 or more words besides mama or dada
  • Follows 1-step directions without gestures
  • Copies you doing chores or other activities
Open the 12-18 Months page in the Liftoff hub

When to ask for help

You know your child best. Raise any of these with your pediatrician or your child's therapy team.

  • Has difficulty chewing or transitioning to age-appropriate table foods.
  • Is not using gestures (pointing, waving, showing) or attempting to communicate wants and needs.
  • Is not saying any meaningful words by around 15 months.
  • Does not respond consistently to their name or simple directions.
  • Shows little interest in interacting with others or playing simple games.
  • Is not walking independently by around 18 months.
  • Has difficulty picking up small objects or using both hands during play.
  • Frequently loses balance or appears unusually stiff or floppy.
  • Loses skills they previously had.
  • You have concerns about your child's development, communication, feeding, or movement.