- Sits independently without support from a person
- Carries books or objects when walking
- Moves or dances to music
- Shows increased awareness of books, such as holding them, opening them or turning several pages at once
Pre-Reading Milestones for 12 Months to 17 Months
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- Uses motions or gestures to communicate, such as waving goodbye or shaking head no
- Labels things consistently with the same sound and begins to say words may not pronounce the word accurately, but makes a consistent and recognizable sound (e.g., muh for milk or Da for Daddy)
- Understands familiar words even if he cannot say the words will point to the correct object, toy, picture or person when asked
- Chooses books for adults to read to them may want to switch books before a story is finished
- Holds book right-side up from this early age, babies start to learn which way pictures in books should be oriented.
- Show interest when your child brings you a book to read.
- Name and describe pictures in a book.
- Make up your own words to the story and dont worry about reading all the words on a page.
- Follow your childs lead as you read together your child may want to turn the page, change books before you are finished reading, or stop looking at books and do something else.
- Continue talking and singing during daily routines.
- Ask your child to point to, touch or show you pictures, toys or objects as you name them.
- Accept your childs short attention span and movement during book time a reading activity may be only a couple of minutes. Your child does not have to sit the whole time.
- Does not say any words
- Does not respond when his name is called when you call your childs name in a regular tone of voice (not shouting), he does not routinely turn toward you.
- Does not initiate shared interaction does not bring you a toy or book to enjoy together
- Does not point out objects of interest for you
- Often seems to be in her own world beyond just shyness, seems less interested than usual in other people and does not make much eye contact
- Does not start walking