Developmental Assessment: 12-Month Level
Based on the described motor, fine motor, and language skills, this child is functioning at a 12-month developmental level. 1
Motor Development Analysis
The child's gross motor abilities align precisely with 12-month milestones:
- Crawling - Expected at 9 months 1
- Pulling to stand - Expected at 9 months 1
- Walking while holding on (cruising) - Transitional skill between 9-12 months, with independent walking typically achieved by 12 months 1, 2
The progression from pulling to stand through cruising represents the expected developmental trajectory toward independent walking at 12 months. 2
Fine Motor Development Analysis
The fine motor skills described are characteristic of 12-month development:
- Pincer grasp (picking up small objects with thumb and finger) - Specifically listed as a 12-month milestone 1
- Banging two blocks together - Explicitly a 12-month skill 1
- Placing a block in a cup - Specifically documented as a 12-month milestone 1
These three fine motor skills together form the classic triad of 12-month fine motor abilities. 1
Language and Social Development Analysis
The language and social skills support a 12-month assessment:
- Four words including "Mum" and "Dad" - While expressive language shows individual variation, having 4 words at 12 months falls within normal range, as vocabulary typically expands more dramatically between 15-18 months (10-15 words) 3
- Waving, playing ball, drinking from cup - These social and adaptive skills are consistent with 12-month development 1
Why Not Other Ages?
Not 9 months: While the child has mastered 9-month skills (crawling, pulling to stand), the presence of 12-month-specific fine motor skills (pincer grasp, banging blocks, block in cup) indicates progression beyond this level. 1
Not 18 months: An 18-month-old should walk backward, run, walk up steps with hand held, scribble, build a tower of 2 cubes, and have significantly more expressive language. 1 This child lacks these advanced skills.
Not 2 years: A 2-year-old should jump, ride toys without pedals, and build towers and trains with 3 blocks. 1 These abilities are clearly absent.
Clinical Significance
The constellation of skills—particularly the three specific 12-month fine motor milestones combined with transitional gross motor abilities and early language—creates a developmental profile most consistent with 12 months of age. 1 The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that developmental assessment should consider the full pattern of skills across domains rather than isolated achievements. 1
Answer: c. 12 month level