Toddler Milestones: Your One-Year-Old's Biggest Achievements

Your child, like every child, is one of a kind — and in the same way his eyes are blue or his laugh is peppered with cute little hiccups, his physical and cognitive development will unfold at its own pace. That's why comparing two toddlers the same age isn't helpful. One may be zooming around the playground while the other is busy building up verbal skills — or one may be totally consistent in reaching milestones while the other develops in fits and starts. Unless your toddler seems to be really lagging in a particular area, and his doctor is concerned, rest assured that your little one will hit these 1-year-old milestones in his own good time. So what can you expect in months 12 to 24? Here are 10 toddler milestones your tot is likely to conquer and some fun ways to build on each of these new skills.

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 12 to 13 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: The ability to bring his two hands together means that your toddler is developing fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination — both of which will eventually allow your 1-year-old to do things like catch a ball and hold a crayon.

How to make the most of it: Clapping is contagious, so put your own hands together whenever your toddler does anything worth cheering for. (Don't forget to throw in a lot of "Yay!"s.) Now that he can clap, your tot will also enjoy patty-cake a lot more, since he'll be able to do at least some of the hand motions all by himself.

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 14 to 15 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: When it comes to 1-year-old milestones, your child's first steps are a biggie: Your baby's graduated into toddlerhood. And once your wee one is walking, he'll be on the road to all sorts of physical fun, from running to jumping to climbing stairs all by himself.

How to make the most of it: Give him every opportunity to stand (and move) on his own two legs. Push toys are terrific for fine-tuning locomotion, but find other opportunities to help him master mobility: Let him push a pint-sized stroller, or entice your toddler to toddle over by sitting a few steps away and holding a favorite toy.

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 16 to 17 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: The ability to drink from a real cup, versus a spouted one, means that your toddler is gaining mastery over his mouth muscles — and his fine-motor skills and coordination. Cheers to that!

How to make the most of it: Your sweetie doesn't have to swap a sippy for a spoutless cup for good, but he should start to switch off between the two. If he seems reluctant, make sipping from a regular cup fun. Purchase a special set of colorful plastic ones and then find ways to get him to want to use them. For example, be your tot's drinking buddy: Pour yourself a beverage and then propose a "toast" (or two or three) while you both enjoy a snack.

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 17 to 18 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: No doubt your child began laughing along with you months ago, but now that he understands the world a bit better, he's more likely to yuk it up at things he finds funny.

How to make the most of it: Most 1-year-olds find humor in the absurd and will giggle when they see something that's not quite as it should be. Play the clown: Put the bowl on your head (before you mix up the pancake batter), call Daddy by the dog's name, slip his socks onto his hands when you're dressing him. He'll be in stitches, and so will you!

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 17 to 18 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: One word was exciting (especially since the first one was probably "Mama" or "Dada"), a handful of words was nice, but 10 words? Now we're talking! Because children's vocabularies increase exponentially, once a child has a solid 10 or so words, he'll be stringing together sentences before you know it.

How to make the most of it: Give him something to talk about. Ask him simple questions about things you see, making sure the answer will include a word he knows: Point at the neighbor's pup and say, "What's that?" And pay attention to his sign language. He'll often point at things he doesn't yet know the word for, so tell him, "Yes! That's a flower."

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 18 to 20 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: When your 1-year-old picks up your cell phone and pretends to chat, or offers his stuffed bunny a spoonful of cereal, you know that his understanding of how things work and are used is developing by leaps and bounds.

How to make the most of it: Now you and your toddler can be full-fledged residents of the Land of Make Believe. Pull out the pretend toys (or safe versions of real objects) and enjoy playing pretend with your toddler: school, doctor, tea party. Be sure to invite that stuffed bunny and its friends: When it comes to a pretend tea party, the more the merrier!

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 18 to 20 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: For starters, a toddler who can boogie is one of the cutest things you'll ever see. But this particular 1-year-old milestone also marks a child's emerging sense of rhythm. His footwork will get fancier as the months go by — a sign that he's gaining control over his body, building physical strength, and fine-tuning his large motor skills.

How to make the most of it: Easy! Crank up the speakers and get your groove on. Try teaching your tot some funky old-fashioned dance moves, like the Twist and the Macarena, and you'll help hone his powers of observation and ability to imitate what he sees.

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 20 to 22 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: If your tot has a motto, chances are it's "Me do it!" The second (and third) year is all about growing independence, so when a little kid can do a task solo, it's a major accomplishment. Plus, your tot being able to undress himself takes one job off your plate.

How to make the most of it: Practice makes perfect, so let him strip. Set him up for success — avoid clothing with complicated closures (like snaps) until your toddler hones his dressing skills a bit more and opt for stretchy fabrics and elastic waistbands instead. Also, try to build in extra time for him to slip out of his shirt or pull off his own pants (it'll take a lot longer when "Me do it!").

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 20 to 22 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: No one has to tell you that your toddler has a mind of his own. But the ability to decide what he wants to do and how to do it, and then to carry out his plans, is a huge leap in a child's cognitive development. You may not always agree with your toddler's intentions (like when he decides that the dining-room wall would make a perfect canvas for a self-portrait), but there's no question such antics indicate a creative, resourceful mind in the making.

How to make the most of it: You can encourage this kind of thinking-ahead thinking by asking questions. For example, at the sandbox say, "Hey, the sand is all dry and hot. How could we make it cooler?" Your tot will probably fill his bucket with water (with your help, of course), and then empty it out on the sand.

When you can expect it: Most toddlers will probably be able to do this by 22 to 24 months.

Why it's worth celebrating: There are a few reasons you'll want to give this milestone a high-five. For starters, it shows that your toddler is beginning to develop empathy, tuning into how others feel. It's also a sign that he's ready and able to start living with some limits.

How to make the most of it: Start to set some simple house rules and teach easy childhood chores. A good one: Toys need to be cleaned up after playtime. Make sure tasks and limits are easy for him to understand and help him to follow through. When he's done, celebrate with a little hand-clapping — by this time he'll be a pro at it.