I started worrying this weekend that my 13 month old daughter, Eva, was developmentally behind because she’s not as verbal as I was when I was a baby. I started calling my mom “mama” and meaning it at 10 months. Eva is going to be 14 months and still doesn’t do it. She knows only one word — light, in Mandarin. So I’ve been harping about this all day to my friends and colleagues, and my science correspondent friend Geoff, in an effort to poke fun at me and tell me to chill out, sent me this “list” of “milestones.”
Your Child at One Year
Check the milestones your child has reached by his or her 1st birthday. Take this with you and talk with your child’s doctor at every visit about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.
What most children do at this age:
Social and Emotional
· Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing
· Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”
· Shows existential dread
· Reads you a book when he wants to hear a story
· Can solve some multivariate algebraic expressions
Language/Communication
· Responds to iambic pentameter
· Basic grasp of American Sign Language
· Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.”
· Tries to say words you say
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
· Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing
· Able to replace a manifold gasket and/or ignition coils on most late model cars.
Okay, I get it. I’m obsessing about something that I probably have nothing to worry about. At least I hope not.