Your one-year-old's senses are sharper than ever, and they're drawn to various interesting sights and sounds. They'll pay attention to music, and spend time watching objects and people that capture their interest. Take the time to experience these things together — they're eager to share the things they see and hear, learning from how you react.

What you can do: Share music, nature, interesting objects. Narrate your reactions: "Oh, that dog is so big! Did you see that?"

At some point between one year and a year and a half, your little one will start walking with confidence. This new skill opens up their ability to explore the environment dramatically. They can't run yet, but they might try.

What you can do: Encourage walking to destinations rather than carrying. "Can

Pinching, gripping, poking, and letting go — your little one is getting better and better at using their hands and fingers. Don't toss out the sippy cup yet — they're still getting the hang of their new fine motor abilities and will make plenty of fumbles. That's all part of the learning process.

What you can do: Offer activities that require pinching and precise grasping — puzzles, stickers, turning pages in books.

Balance and coordination milestones begin to emerge from Month 6 with sitting. The foundations are being built through tummy time and reflexive movement right now.

Your little one wants to learn about everything. They've got an inquisitive mind and the heart of an explorer. With new mobility, they're more focused in their exploration and will rely on you to help make sense of what they discover. They may point at things, making inquisitive gestures and sounds.

What you can do: Follow their pointing. Name what they're pointing at. This pointing-and-naming loop is one of the most powerful vocabulary-building mechanisms.

Your one-year-old is becoming more creative. They're becoming interested in the arts — happy to spend time experimenting with crayons and pens, making marks on paper (and walls — watch out!). They may also take to exploring the sounds musical instruments make.

What you can do: Provide fat, easy-to-grip crayons and big paper. Offer simple toy instruments. Protect your walls.

Problem solving emerges and deepens progressively through the first year. The neural pathways for thinking, planning, and cause-and-effect understanding are being laid right now through every sensory experience and interaction your baby has.

If your toddler started talking early, they now have anywhere from 50 to 200 useful words. They're acquiring a new word every other day or so, and you can help by pointing things out and naming them. Pretty soon, they'll be pointing to things and asking what they're called.

What you can do: Point and name, point and name, point and name. "That's a truck. A big red truck." This labelling is how vocabulary explodes.

Social sharing and cooperation emerge from Month 6 onward. Right now the most important social development is the bond forming between your baby and their primary caregivers through consistent, responsive, and loving care.

Your little one likely has a firm grasp of several common words and phrases you use throughout the day. They'll soon be able to follow simple instructions and change their behaviour to match what you say. They're comfortable using their body to communicate when they don't know the right word.

What you can do: Give simple one-step instructions. "Bring me the ball." "Come here." "Put that down." Respond consistently to every attempt at compliance.

Your one-year-old is learning how to express how they feel about you — with kisses, snuggles, and hugs. They're getting to know their full range of emotions, and that's a big challenge. It's during these months that tantrums first appear.

What you can do: Name the emotion: "You're frustrated. I can see that." This emotional labelling builds emotional literacy — the foundation of self-regulation.

Security and happiness are built through consistent, responsive caregiving in the early months. Every time you respond to your baby's cues, you are building the secure attachment that underpins all future emotional development and wellbeing.