Introduction
Mumma, Dada, did you know that by the end of my tenth month, I’m learning and doing so many new things? Here’s what I’ve been up to:
The Benefits of My Early Development
Gross Motor Skills: I’m trying to cruise by standing, supported by furniture, and placing one foot in front of the other to move. I can move from standing up to sitting on the floor. I try to stand up in different ways, using various types of support. My first attempts at standing up involved moving onto all fours and pushing up with my arms. I’ve perfected crawling with improved speed and form. I can climb onto and off of chairs and other furniture.
Fine Motor Skills: I use a pincer grasp to hold small objects using the tips of my index finger and thumb. I place objects into and remove them from a cup, box, or other type of container. I can remove a loose top from a container. I deliberately place objects in specific locations. I try to turn the pages in a cardboard children's book, often turning more than one page at a time. I can use my hands sequentially to perform an activity (e.g., grabbing food and feeding myself; performing a simple game like putting rings on a cone, alternating hands).
Cognitive Development: I reach behind myself to seek and grab an object without needing to see it. My awareness of myself as a separate entity increases, and I act and think accordingly. I continue to learn about objects and their properties, like crinkling paper, making noise with boxes, and listening to the tick-tock of the clock.
Speech Development: I understand object names and can associate words with the things they refer to. I understand some simple instructions (e.g., pick up a ball or crawl to Mumma). I can imitate inflections, the rhythm of a conversation, and facial expressions more accurately than the words themselves.
Social-Emotional Development: I imitate the movements and games of other children and adults. I begin to show guilt after doing something wrong. I seek approval and try to avoid disapproval. I search for images of nearby objects in the mirror. I enjoy peek-a-boo-style games.
Types of my developmental milestones
Other Development Highlights: My conversations are still mainly babbling, with few intelligible sounds. I get excited about being able to pull myself to stand using the crib rail, which might disrupt my sleep as I do it in the middle of the night. I’m increasingly interested in playing and exploring the world, making mealtime more challenging because I’m often not interested in eating. My dependence on you, Mumma, increases, and my separation anxiety might be high in the next 4–8 months. I might deliberately decide not to cooperate sometimes.
Additional Physical Development: I can walk steadily by holding your fingers in both hands across the house. I can climb up and down single-stair steps with my hands and legs without help. I can balance my body with an object in hand while standing without support. I can throw and release a small ball downward while sitting on a higher surface. I can balance in a standing position without holding an object for a long time. I have more control over using a ‘pinch’ to pick up tiny objects. I can take out rings from a ring-stacking toy and attempt to place them back. I start to bend from a standing position by holding a supporting object to pick up an item from the ground. I start to walk a few steps by holding objects like a sofa or a table. I can stand up by holding objects without your help, Mumma. I can climb a stair without any help, using my own hand support. I can pick up tiny objects using my index finger and thumb with good accuracy.
Additional Cognitive Development: I search for objects dropped or placed in the last-seen places. I start to use one hand more frequently than the other, although there is still time for me to become left-handed or right-handed. I can remember the details of an activity done sometime before. I start to point or show excitement when I see familiar objects in a book. I can find hidden objects by observing where you are hiding them.
Additional Communication Development: I try to pull my clothes to communicate discomfort, like taking off socks or pulling sleeves. I raise my hands and ask to be picked up, expressing myself through body actions and sounds. I point with my hand in the direction I want to be taken while on your lap. I follow simple instructions like sit down, stand up, sleep or lie down, come, go, etc. I respond by babbling or crying when told “no” for an action. I try to express myself using body expressions or sounds when asked simple, short questions, showing my understanding of language.
Additional Social and Emotional Development: I show more interest in activities done by adults than toys. I like to feed myself by using my hands to pick up food items from a bowl. I enjoy my independence. I clap on my own when I am excited to see you again after a few hours. I enjoy repeating actions that get positive approval from you. I have become increasingly fond of playing with water in the sink, tub, glass, etc. I begin to show guilt after doing something wrong.
Conclusion
Research shows that these early developmental milestones are crucial for my growth and learning. According to studies in Pediatrics and Infant Behavior & Development, engaging with me through talking, playing, and responding to my needs helps enhance my cognitive, motor, and social-emotional development.
Maa and Daddy, your love and interaction play a significant role in my development. Keep talking, playing, and cuddling with me, and watch how I grow and learn every day!