Your 1-Year-Old

English / Language Arts

Conversation is an art, and your toddler is eager to engage! One-year-old verbal skills grow each day. When you speak to her, she does her best to respond. More and more, she’s interested in communicating with those around her — both with words (or sounds) and her body language. Ask her a question and see what kind of response you get. Her vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds, and she learns new words every day. Cat, mat? Pig, jig? She hears and understands the differences.

Watch how often she brings you her favorite book. Then, enjoy her antics as she pretends to “read” along. And when you’re not reading to her, you may just find her flipping through the pages all on her own! When she’s done “reading,” give her some finger paints to communicate through art. It may look like a colorful, random mess today. Still, it’s the start of her early writing skills.

Kids: Help your favorite book win a prize!

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I Have So Much to Say!

He communicates in every way possible — with his hands, his legs, his arms, his facial expressions! His vocabulary is growing non-stop. Beyond that, he’s moving from single words like “ball” and “go” to phrases like “throw ball” and “we go!” Your toddler loves his busy world, and he wants to tell you all about it — in any way he can. Encourage his chatty growth by asking questions and making requests. He’s ready to respond!

Look for signs of learning at your child's care.

Listen to how teachers and children communicate with each other. Are children listened to? Are teacher responses patient and respectful? Does open communication go both ways?

Ideas to learn and play together!

Read to Me, Please!

Books, books, books…she simply can’t get enough! She’s moving from pictures to words. When she’s not reading with you, she’s often happy to sit by herself and flip through her favorites. When you ask her about the story she’s absorbed in, she’ll answer with the phrases she’s adding daily. She’s beginning to understand the subtle differences between words such as cat and mat, dog and jog. And this is just the beginning of her early reading skills!

Look for signs of learning at your child's care.

Look for writing everywhere…on shelves, in cubbies, across the walls. Objects in the classroom should be labeled and described. And the schedule should include lots of chances for children to explore books on their own and with their teachers.

Ideas to learn and play together!

I’m Ready to Write.

Give him a pencil, and watch him scribble. Hand him some crayons, and he’ll create a colorful masterpiece. And finger paints might just be his favorite! Your toddler is learning to express himself through his early writing skills. And when he wants to tell you a story? He’ll communicate in a lot of ways — using his scribbles, his words, his phrases and his body. He’s got a lot to say…and a lot of different ways to say it!

Look for signs of learning at your child's care.

Are there both art and writing experiences available for children? They should be able to engage in and explore with crayons, paints, chalk and more. And do the teachers use those opportunities to talk about how art and writing helps them communicate?

Ideas to learn and play together!

All children learn and grow at their own pace and in their own way. For more information about the skills and milestones for your child's age check out our developmental milestones resource page. If you continue to have concerns or questions please give us a call at 1-800-299-1627.