month 12:

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Here are a couple of activities that you may want to try on your baby’s first birthday.

1. Stacking blocks

If your baby doesn’t already have a set of simple building blocks or shape-sorting blocks, this is a great time to introduce them. Playing with blocks helps to develop your baby’s fine motor control of the hands and wrists.   

2. Wooden puzzles

This is also a good age to introduce wooden puzzles with large pieces, if your baby doesn’t have any yet. Puzzles also help to develop fine motor control, together with working memory. You'll need to show your baby how to do the puzzle first, so they see and understand that the puzzle makes a picture. Next, do the puzzle together with your baby, helping to guide their hands as they make the puzzle. After these two rounds of play, your baby will likely be ready to try making the puzzle themselves.  

3. Plastic bag finger painting

This is a simple way to have your baby begin to experience the colour and touch of paint. Buy three or four tubes of washable finger paints. Squeeze some of each colour into a large Ziploc bag, then seal the bag, making sure there's no air left inside. Add duct tape to ensure the bag can’t open accidentally. Lay the bag flat on the floor or on your baby’s high chair tray. Show your baby how to draw in the paint by dragging and guiding their fingers on the outside of the plastic bag. (If there are older children who are guests at the party, they can finger paint on paper the traditional way.) 

Remember: If your baby begins to fuss or cry during any of these activities, it might be a sign that they're hungry or need a rest.

As parents, we can be pretty hard on ourselves. If you find yourself dwelling on your mistakes and struggles, try this: sit down and make a list of all the things you do right. Need help to get started? Try reading this list of 10 things new parents do that are more important than you think.

These are some of the things that your baby might be doing this month: