What is it like to be 1 year old? A Glimpse into an often overlooked age.
- Frédérique and the Wooden Fellows
Mme Rigolotte and I launched a series this year, inviting everyone to step into the shoes of a young child at various ages, from birth to five. Our purpose is to raise curiosity about early childhood, whether or not you spend time with little ones every day.
So far, we’ve explored what it’s like to be an infant, a 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old. Today, we are highlighting being 1, before wrapping up our series next month with age 5.
Quick note. While we base this series on milestones from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), the wooden Fellows and I would like to remind everyone that every child develops at their own pace. We hope you know we aim to celebrate here each child’s uniqueness, whether or not they meet traditional milestones, as well as their neurodivergence, physical or cognitive disabilities, or health conditions. And actually, this is another reason why raising curiosity is so critical to us – when you become curious about young children, you naturally start appreciating the individuality of every child, and find joy in celebrating those differences.
Just like 3-year-olds, 1-year-olds can sometimes be unnoticed, squeezed between the innocence of infancy and the popular name of “Terrible Twos.” But being 1 is an age to treasure, with moving moments of interactions with loved ones, and endless exploration of surroundings.
Let’s take a closer look at the world of a one-year-old—with guidance from Mme Rigolotte, as always.
Moving moments of interactions
At 1, young children are more and more engaged in interacting with others, especially loved ones. Social and emotional development begins to bloom, as they show preferences for certain people, offer hugs, and seek comfort from familiar faces.
They delight in simple interactive games like pat-a-cake and peekaboo, where rhythm, repetition, and connection go hand in hand. Those games often bring hilarious moments where the young child, still processing the concept of “if I cannot see you, you cannot see me”, may simply hide behind their hands.
Language begins to emerge, with first words like “mama,” “dada,” carrying deep meaning. They also start to grasp basic social cues, saying “bye-bye” again and again, waving at everyone, especially from the safe arms of a loved one. They start apprehending the powerful word “no” and begin to test how others respond to some of their actions. For instance, they may drop a spoon from their high chair for you to pick it up, over and over again.
Exploring surroundings, one drawer at a time
At the same time, one-year-olds become more and more curious about exploring their environment. The world is filled with objects to examine and mechanisms to discover, such as drawers to open. A cabinet full of empty containers is more attractive than any colorful toys, and so is emptying the laundry basket.
When able, their physical mobility begins to take off, as they pull up to stand, cruise along furniture, and may even take their first wobbly steps.
There is no need to rush; each child develops at their own pace, provided they receive nurturing and safe opportunities.
It is also the age to try new foods, bringing them pride and independence as they begin feeding themselves, practicing pincer grasp to pick up tiny bites between thumb and forefinger. Everything is worth touching, tasting, and testing. A critical stage requiring our full attention!
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Being 1 is a year of bold beginnings, growing independence, and joyful surprises. Who doesn’t melt at the sight of a 1-year-old we have never met, waving bye-bye at us?
What is your favorite part of being 1 or of spending time with a one-year-old?
As always, we would love to hear from you!
The post is based CDC’s Developmental Milestones, as well as stories from my experiences as an early childhood educator, researcher, and parent.
