Child 1–2 years
17 Month Old
Hands and body are being used for more deliberate jobs, and pointing becomes a reliable way to bring you into what has been noticed.
Movement and daily skills
- Climbing onto a low, stable surface may be attempted with someone close by. Where it happens, supervision matters more than practice.
- A chunky crayon may be held and moved across paper, usually with the whole arm rather than the fingers.
Language and thinking
- Pointing to ask for something, or to share something interesting, may become more consistent.
- A familiar one-step instruction may be understood inside a routine where the situation already suggests the answer.
Social and emotional development
- Simple pretend actions with a toy — offering a cup, putting a doll to bed — may start to appear.
- Checking your face in an unfamiliar situation is how a lot of information gets gathered at this age.
Try together
Offer a chunky crayon and a large sheet of paper, and scribble alongside them without steering the hand.
What can we do today?
36 activity ideas suit this age — most take about five minutes and need nothing you do not already have.
- The Same Song Each Time
- Water Falling
- Your Turn
What can we prepare?
ParentSide has 60 recipes for 12–18 months, each with its texture, portion and preparation notes.
Professional support
Services ParentSide defines for this stage. Each page explains what the service covers and which professionals are approved to provide it.
Sources and updates
This provides general developmental information and is not a developmental assessment. Speak with a healthcare professional if you have concerns about your child's development, or if your child has lost a skill they once had — and you can ask about developmental screening.