Attention Caregivers of Children 6-18 Months Old

The following is a exerpt adapted from Clarke and Dawson, Growing Up Again


Job description for babies/toddlers 6-18 months old:
"The Doing Stage"

Child's Job:

• To explore and experience the environment
• To develop sensory awareness by using all senses
• To signal needs and to trust others and self
• To continue forming secure attachments with parents
• To get help in times of stress
• To start to learn that there are options and not all problems are easily solved
• To develop initiative
• To continue to call for and accept help

Child Will:

• Test all of their senses by exploring the environment- "What goes in the mouth goes in the brain"
• Be curious
• Be easily distracted
• Begin to explore on their own yet need to know that they can retrieve caregiver at will
• Start to play patty-cake and peek-a-boo
• Start using words during middle or latter part of stage

Child Needs to Hear/See/Feel These Messages:

• You can explore and experiment and I will support and protect you
• You can use all of your senses when you explore
• You can do things as many times as you need to
• You can know what you know
• You can be interested in everything
• I like to watch you initiate, grow and learn
• I love you when you are active and when you are quiet