- Sits independently without support from a person
- Carries books or objects when walking
- Moves or dances to music
- Shows increased awareness of books, such as holding them, opening them or turning several pages at once
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 “no”
- Labels things consistently with the same sound and begins to say words — may not pronounce the word accurately, but makes a consistent and recognizable sound (e.g., “muh” for “milk” or “Da” for “Daddy”)
- Understands familiar words even if he cannot say the words — will point to the correct object, toy, picture or person when asked
- Chooses books for adults to read to them — may want to switch books before a story is finished
- Holds book right-side up — from this early age, babies start to learn which way pictures in books should be oriented.
- Show interest when your child brings you a book to read.
- Name and describe pictures in a book.
- Make up your own words to the story and don’t worry about reading all the words on a page.
- Follow your child’s lead as you read together — your child may want to turn the page, change books before you are finished reading, or stop looking at books and do something else.
- Continue talking and singing during daily routines.
- Ask your child to point to, touch or show you pictures, toys or objects as you name them.
- Accept your child’s short attention span and movement during book time — a reading activity may be only a couple of minutes. Your child does not have to sit the whole time.
- Does not say any words
- Does not respond when his name is called — when you call your child’s name in a regular tone of voice (not shouting), he does not routinely turn toward you.
- Does not initiate shared interaction — does not bring you a toy or book to enjoy together
- Does not point out objects of interest for you
- Often seems to be “in her own world” — beyond just shyness, seems less interested than usual in other people and does not make much eye contact
- Does not start walking