12-18 Months: Baby Discoveries -- Observation Record

How does the baby explore things around him?

Babies' energy, curiosity, and expanding ability to move support their interest in the world. They are exploring their ability to move, as well as exploring the many new things now available to them.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Make toys move–pull his wagon or push his carriage all around in his play space.
• Play with clay–pat, push, mound, squish, and pound his play dough.
• See it go–pour water into the water wheel and squeal with joy as he watches what it does.
• Enjoy the string–use the string attached to a toy to pull it toward him, often becoming more interested in the string than the toy.
• Fill the holes–explore the pegboard holes with his finger and then look around for something to put in them.

What does this baby do to explore his world? (Include dates.)

How does the baby show his increased memory skills?

Mobile babies show increased memory skills. They're aware of outcomes of certain actions, and they depend on routines to learn about sequence and that things happen in a certain order.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Take a turn–push several large plastic pop beads together after he has seen you do it.
• Try it himself–turn the plastic screwdriver just the way he's seen other people do it.
• Be persistent–bang and pound at the puzzle piece as he tries to fit it into a hole in the puzzle board.
• Recognize himself–identify himself in a mirror or a photograph.
• Imitate adults–stir his spoon in his dish just the way he has seen adults stir their sugar and cream into their coffee or tea.

In what ways does this baby show his increasing memory skills? (Include dates.)

How does the baby use toys and other objects with a purpose?

Babies begin to understand that some things happen predictably as a result of their own actions. This awareness can make them appear quite inflexible and stubborn as they do things over and over again.

The baby might do one or more of the following:

• Play games–roll a ball toward someone else and wait for him or her to roll it back, becoming agitated if they don't play along in just the right way.
• Choose a book–pick out a favorite book from a pile on the shelf, and after turning a few pages, take it to someone to read to him.
• Put shapes in place–place large round shapes in a form board with increasing accuracy.
• Stack, kick, then stack–stack a set of cardboard boxes, knock them down with a giant kick or a forceful swing, and then stack them back up again.
• Use a key–work and work with a set of keys on a key ring, trying to insert the key into the lock.

In what ways does this baby use toys and objects with a purpose? (Include dates.)