Social / Emotional

Children 12-18 months generally are able to do the following:

• May show strong preference for primary caregiver(s) and experience separation anxiety 
• Offers caregiver/peer a toy when asked for it 
• Snuggles dolls or stuffed animals 
• Recognizes self and others in mirror (e.g., dancing, making faces at or naming peers)
• Uses calming strategies towards peers such as patting them on back
• Responds appropriate to caregivers emotions 
• Greets other children as they arrive 
• Seeks out trusted caregiver when upset 
• Shows sadness or frustration when children take things away, may use physical aggression 
• Explores humor by acting silly to get attention 
• Takes comfort in familiar objects (e.g., teddy bear, blanket) or routines (e.g., story before bed) 
• Plays with a wide variety of materials in varied ways, not always insisting on favorites 
• Repeats activities when they receive a favorable response from another person (e.g., handing items to an adult, making funny faces)
• Asserts ownership of items by saying “mine”