Parenting Your 1 Year Old

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Love to Give

“Am I able?”

This is the one major question your one-year-old is asking during this season of changing ability. This is a year filled with uncertainty, imperfection, and even failure as they struggle to keep up with all their newly developing skills.

The best way to answer that question is by embracing their physical needs.

When you embrace their physical needs, you…

…communicate that they are safe.

…establish that the world can be trusted.

…demonstrate that they are worth loving.

Schedule your day. Write down all you do for your one-year-old on a typical day, and include how much time each task takes. Now take a minute to celebrate what a good parent you really are. It will be especially helpful to revisit this list on a bad day.
Pay attention to what your one-year-old likes. What does your toddler seem to enjoy the most right now?
How are you taking time for yourself? It’s impossible to love anyone with the relentless effort a toddler demands unless you are refueling each week. What are some ways you can take care of yourself so you are able to give your one-year-old the love they need?
Who do you have around you supporting you this year? Family? Your Missional Community? Your DNA? Other friends?

Books to Read

Inside Out Upside Down
By Stan and Jan Berenstain

Blue Hat, Green Hat
By Sandra Boynton

Opposites
By Sandra Boynton

The Runaway Bunny
By Margaret Wise Brown

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
By Eileen Christelow

Freight Train
By Donald Crews

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type
By Doreen Cronin

Llama, Llama (Series)
By Anna Dewdney

Whistle for Willie
By Ezra Jack Keats

Are You My Mother?
By P.D. Eastman

Go, Dog, Go!
By P.D. Eastman

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
By Sheri Duskey Rinker

Little Blue Truck
By Alice Schertle

The Foot Book
By Dr. Seuss

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?
By Dr. Seuss

Duck on a Bike
By David Shannon

Sheep in a Jeep
By Nancy E. Shaw

Caps for Sale
By Esphyr Slobodkina

Milestones to Achieve

Every kid needs work over time to give them significance.

Walking

Pick up a toy and put it away

Hold a sip cup

Drink from a straw

Take the trash to the trash can

Follow one-step instructions
(like, “Hand it to me.”)

Help fill a pet’s food dish

Feed themselves

Help as you dress them
(by not running away)

Undress themselves

Clean up spills
(or spread the water around on the floor)

Fun to Have

Toys:

Trucks, trains, and dolls
(12 months+)

Shape sorters
(12-18 months)

Stacking rings
(12-18 months)

Push toys
(12-18 months)

Jumbo crayons
(15 months)

A soft ball for rolling and throwing
(16 months)

Peg puzzles
(18-24 months)

Pounding bench
(18-24 months)

Big blocks
(24 months)

Activities:

Go to the park

Sing “Itsy-Bitsy-Spider”

Blow bubbles

Push a swing

Roll a ball

Do a silly dance

Play “Peek-a-boo”

Words to Speak

Good morning!, I love you, you’re okay, you did it!, I will be back, please, thank you, excuse me, I’m sorry, you’re welcome, good night

Improving your child’s vocabulary will help them in the phases to come. Here are a few ways you can help.

Talk to your toddler—the more, the better.
Repeat what they say, and add words. (When they say “truck,” you say, “Would you like to play with your truck?”
Make eye contact.
Point at objects when you name them.

This year you will…

Introduce them to their body

So your child will discover their body and define privacy.

Your conversations with your child regarding sexual integrity will never be simpler than they are right now. But it’s never too early to start with some of the right words.

Say things like…

“Where’s your belly button?”

“There’s your nose!”

“That’s your vagina/penis.”

*Help your child learn the correct names of body parts—experts suggest that learning proper words can protect your kid from potential harm as well as create a positive view of their body.