Communication Tips
For 12 Months Old

• Sing simple songs with actions and help the child try to copy your actions and sounds ("Ring around the rosie", "Row, row, row your boat")
• Talk in short sentences ("Want some milk?", "Whoops! Fall Down." "Oh, baby cry.")
• Take turns hiding behind your hands, a towel or blanket, then moving it away saying "Where's Daddy?" "Here I am" or "Peek-a-boo"
• Repeat correctly phrases the child says (child - "tu", "adult - Shoe, mommy's shoe")

• Point to and talk about people and things when looking at a family photo album
• During everyday activities, talk about what you are doing using short sentences
• Name pieces of clothing and body parts for your child; talk about "shoe off, sock off, hat on", etc. Play "Where did you go?" when putting on shirts over the child's head.

• Understands some words with hand movements: ("Bye-bye" + wave, "Give me" with open hand)
• Follows simple commands: "Stand up", "Sit down", "Don't touch"
• Understands "no"

• Imitates sounds you make; ("Whee!" "Oh-oh!", Noise with lips)
• Tries to say sounds and words; ("Baba" for "Bottle", "doo" for "Juice")
• Tries to sing along with music
• Makes sounds while playing alone or with people

• Actively takes turns in familiar games with adults (handing back and forth, knocking down stacked blocks, dumping out containers, banging on pots)

• 2 or more ear infections (Always have a follow-up visit with your doctor once the medicine is done to make sure that the fluid in the ear is gone)
• Difficulty chewing foods; food/liquid coming out of the nose
• The child does not try to show you things by reaching or looking.