To learn to trust others and be secure in the world through
the performance of the following tasks: learning special
concepts, e.g., up, down, near, far; developing the nervous
system and muscle coordination; learning mobility and
manipulation of the environment through control of hands, legs,
head, fingers, etc.; distinguishing pleasure from pain; adjusting
to short periods of separation from primary caregiver.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:
Six Months to One Year |
Normal
Characteristics |
Suggested
Behaviors for Effective Parenting |
From 8 months, begins to
crawl.
From 9 months, may begin to walk. |
Be sure dangerous objects
are out of reach. Provide experiences that involve arm
and leg exercise. |
Learns to let go with hands.
|
Let child play
"dropping things" since this helps in
understanding the world. |
Puts everything in mouth. |
Provide child with
opportunity to use hands and fingers, e.g., finger foods,
water play, toys. |
Begins teething. |
Be especially patient with
child's crankiness; provide things to chew on. |
Is physically unable to
control bowels. |
Do not try to potty-train. |
INTELLECTUAL
DEVELOPMENT: Six Months to One Year |
Normal
Characteristics |
Suggested
Behaviors for Effective Parenting |
Learns through the senses,
especially the mouth. |
Provide toys and games that
involve all five senses. |
Likes to put things in and
take things out of mouth, cupboards, boxes, etc. |
Keep toys with small or
loose parts away from child. |
Likes to repeat the same
behavior, but also likes to see novel things. |
Repeat words and activities
and introduce child to new activities, e.g., take the
child grocery shopping. |
Likes to hear objects named.
Begins to understand such familiar words as eat,
Mama, bye-bye, doggie. |
Say the names of objects as
the child sees or uses them. Begin to look at very simple
picture books with the child. |
May not speak until age 1 or
later. |
Don't be concerned about
child who isn't talking as soon as others. |
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Six
Months to One Year |
Normal
Characteristics |
Suggested
Behaviors for Effective Parenting |
Finds mother or mother
substitute extremely important. |
Provide consistent care by
one person. |
Will talk to you, using
babbling sounds. |
Talk to the child. |
Will start to imitate
behaviors of others. |
Do the things you want the
child to do. |
Eating is a major source of
interaction. |
Vary diet in color and
texture. |
Will not "play
nicely" with other infants; will poke, pull, push,
instead. This is because the child doesn't distinguish
others as equal beings. |
Don't expect the child to
play well with others, because other children appear as
play objects, like toys. |
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Six
Months to One Year |
Normal
Characteristics |
Suggested
Behaviors for Effective Parenting |
Needs to feel sure that
someone will take care of him/her. |
Always meet the child's
needs related to hunger, cleanliness, warmth, holding,
sensory stimulation, and interaction with an adult. Don't
listen to those who claim you will spoil him/her. |
Becomes unhappy when mother
or primary caregiver leaves. |
Expect fussiness during
mother's absence; caregiver should provide comfort. |
Draws away from strangers. |
Proceed slowly in
introducing child to strangers. (They don't need this
skill yet.) |
Needs to be held and cuddled
with warmth and love. |
Provide the child with
physical comfort. (No baby was ever spoiled by too much
physical contact.) If you don't agree, watch puppies or
kittens nestle near their mothers; they quickly become
independent in caring for themselves. |