Child Development Guide: Six Months to One Year

Developmental Tasks

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.

Indicators Related to Developmental Lag

Passivity; withdrawal; lack of initiative, e.g., lack of response to stimulating people, toys, pets; crying frequently and easily; learning slowly; poor muscle coordination; injured easily.
All of these problems interrelate; e.g., the child who is passive is less likely to develop the skills needed to explore the world, such as climbing and crawling. The resulting limited experience can manifest itself in slow learning and inability to take risks.

Note: Although these tasks and indicators may be present from birth to one year, each may be more observable at specific times.

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.

Physical Development for Birth to Six Months	Physical Development for One to Two Years
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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.

Intellectual Development for Birth to Six Months	Intellectual Development for One to Two Years
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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.

Social Development for Birth to Six Months	Social Development for One to Two Years
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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.

Emotional Development for Birth to Six Months	Emotional Development for One to Two Years
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