- Sits independently without support from a person聽
- Carries books or objects when walking聽
- Moves or dances to music聽
- Shows increased awareness of books, such as holding them, opening them or turning several pages at once聽
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 鈥渘o鈥澛
- Labels things consistently with the same sound and begins to say words 鈥 may not pronounce the word accurately, but makes a consistent and recognizable sound (e.g., 鈥渕uh鈥 for 鈥渕ilk鈥 or 鈥淒a鈥 for 鈥淒addy鈥)聽
- Understands familiar words even if he cannot say the words 鈥 will point to the correct object, toy, picture or person when asked聽
- Chooses books for adults to read to them 鈥 may want to switch books before a story is finished聽
- Holds book right-side up 鈥 from this early age, babies start to learn which way pictures in books should be oriented.聽
- Show interest when your child brings you a book to read.聽
- Name and describe pictures in a book.聽
- Make up your own words to the story and don鈥檛 worry about reading all the words on a page.聽
- Follow your child鈥檚 lead as you read together 鈥 your child may want to turn the page, change books before you are finished reading, or stop looking at books and do something else.聽
- Continue talking and singing during daily routines.聽
- Ask your child to point to, touch or show you pictures, toys or objects as you name them.聽
- Accept your child鈥檚 short attention span and movement during book time 鈥 a reading activity may be only a couple of minutes. Your child does not have to sit the whole time.聽
- Does not say any words聽
- Does not respond when his name is called 鈥 when you call your child鈥檚 name in a regular tone of voice (not shouting), he does not routinely turn toward you.聽
- Does not initiate shared interaction 鈥 does not bring you a toy or book to enjoy together聽
- Does not point out objects of interest for you聽
- Often seems to be 鈥渋n her own world鈥 鈥 beyond just shyness, seems less interested than usual in other people and does not make much eye contact聽
- Does not start walking聽