What are toddlers doing at 12-15 months?

Playing, exploring and learning

Your toddler spends a lot of time working out what different things do and what they can do with them. For example, your toddler might build small towers of blocks and knock them down, scribble with a pencil or crayon, and drop pegs into a basket.

They might also copy others and start to do pretend play, like pretending to drink from a cup.

It’s important for play to be safe, but some risk in play helps your toddler develop new skills.

Feeling and connecting

This is an important time for your toddler socially and emotionally. You might notice your toddler playing alongside other children now.

Your toddler might hug you and will be affectionate towards other familiar people. They might also show signs of separation anxiety.

Your toddler will need you close by to give them reassurance, particularly in unfamiliar situations. And when they learn or experience something new, they’ll want to share their excitement with you. This can help your toddler feel safe and confident to try new things.

Your toddler also starts to show empathy. For example, they might look sad or get upset when they see someone else crying. Empathy is about understanding how others are feeling, and it’s an important part of forming relationships with people.

Communicating, talking and understanding

At this age, your toddler’s language development matures. Their babbling starts to include real words. And your toddler might name familiar objects, like a ball.

Your toddler will show you what they’re interested in by pointing at something and looking at you, or by looking at what you point to.

Also, your toddler will usually respond to their name and look for objects or people that you name or point to. They can point to body parts, favourite toys or familiar people when you name them. And they can follow simple instructions – for example, ‘Please give me the block’.

Moving

Your toddler might stand up without needing help from you or the furniture in these months and might start to walk on their own. As your toddler gets better at walking, they might climb stairs or even the furniture.

But if your toddler isn’t walking on their own yet, it helps to know that some children don’t walk without help until 15-18 months.

Fine motor skills are developing too. For example, your toddler might hold a crayon and scribble with it after you show them how. And they can probably drink from a cup – with some spills! – and use a spoon.

Fun fact

You can look forward to your toddler helping when you’re putting on their clothes, often by holding out their arms for sleeves or putting up their feet for shoes.

Your child’s brain develops connections faster in the first 5 years than at any other time in their life. Stimulating and caring environments with plenty of different activities help to build these connections and lay the foundations for learning, health and behaviour throughout life.

How can you help your toddler grow and develop at 12-15 months?

Enjoy cuddles and kisses with your toddler

Positive attention and affection are good for your toddler’s emotional development. But remember that your toddler is still learning how emotions work and how to get along with others.

Play together

Play helps your toddler develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. Toys that encourage imagination, creativity, experimentation and problem-solving are great for play – try blocks, pegs, balls, ice-cream containers, cardboard boxes and simple puzzles. Your toddler will also love playing games with you, like pat-a-cake or peekaboo.

Outdoor play lets your toddler explore the world and test out their growing physical skills. When you’re outside, remember to be safe in the sun and safe around water.

Have a chat

Talking about everyday things with your toddler develops their language skills. For example, you can name body parts, toys and spoons, chairs or other household items. And you can help your toddler learn that a ‘chair’ can be a ‘big chair’, ‘red chair’ or even a ‘big red chair’.

You can also build your toddler’s talking and communication skills by listening and responding. For example, if your toddler says ‘mama’, you say ‘Yes, I’m your mama’. This encourages conversation and makes your toddler feel valued and loved.

Read together

You can encourage your toddler’s talking and imagination by reading together and telling stories. Singing songs and reciting nursery rhymes are good early literacy activities too. All these activities help your toddler to understand language and learn to read as they get older.

Build everyday skills

Everyday skills – like feeding themselves, drinking from a cup and taking off a hat – involve both small and big muscle movements. To build these skills, your toddler has to think about what they’re doing.

Get moving

Being active is good for your toddler’s overall physical and mental health. Moving also builds your toddler’s muscle strength, which is important for more complex movements like standing, walking and running.

If you make your home safe, your active toddler can move around without getting hurt.

When toddlers behave in positive ways, it’s good for their learning, development, health and wellbeing. Behaviour tips and strategies can help.

How to parent a toddler and look after yourself

As a parent, you’re always learning. It’s OK to feel confident about what you know. And it’s OK to admit you don’t know something and ask questions or get help.

It’s also important to look after yourself. Looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally is good for you, and it’s good for your toddler. When you’re well, you can give your toddler the loving attention they need to grow and thrive.

Part of looking after yourself is asking for help, especially if you’re feeling stressed, anxious or angry. There are many people who can support you and your toddler, including your partner, friends, relatives, child and family health nurse and GP. It’s a good idea to have a list of these people with their contact details. Put the list on your fridge, so it’s easy to find if you need it.

Never shake, hit or verbally abuse a toddler. If you feel like you can’t cope or you might hurt your child, gently put them somewhere safe. Take deep breaths to calm down. Get support by talking to a family member or friend or by calling a parenting helpline or Lifeline on 131 114.

When to be concerned about development at 12-15 months

You know your toddler best. So it’s a good idea to see your child and family health nurse or GP if you have any concerns or notice that at 12-15 months your toddler has any of the following issues.

Seeing, hearing and communicating

Your toddler:

  • isn’t making eye contact with you
  • isn’t following moving objects with their eyes
  • has an eye that’s turned in or out most of the time
  • isn’t interested in sounds
  • doesn’t respond to their name when called
  • isn’t babbling or using single words
  • isn’t trying to let you know what they want
  • isn’t using gestures like waving or pointing.

Behaviour, play and feelings

Your toddler:

  • doesn’t seem to understand simple words, gestures or instructions
  • isn’t showing emotions and feelings.

Movement

Your toddler:

  • can’t hold a spoon or block
  • can’t stand even when holding on to you or the furniture
  • uses one hand much more than the other.

See a child health professional if you notice that your toddler has lost skills they once had.

Also see your nurse or GP if you have signs of postnatal anxiety, postnatal depression in birthing mothers or postnatal depression in non-birthing parents. With help and support, you can manage symptoms, feel better sooner, and give your child what they need to develop well.

Development happens in a similar order in most children, but skills might develop at different ages or times. If you’re wondering whether your toddler’s development is on track, or if you feel that something isn’t quite right, it’s best to get help early. See your child and family health nurse or GP.

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