By the time a child is 12 months old, the following organizational behaviors are typically in place:

• Child can control inner state
  The child moves between states of drowsiness, sleep, alertness, and distress, easing between these states with relatively little difficulty.
• Child has control over responses to stimuli that is repeated.
  The child can "block out" disturbing sounds and go back to sleep, or loses interest in repeated stimuli.
• Child can control response to a new or novel situation.
  The child will approach something new with withdrawal, favor, or ignoring accordingly.
• Control over body movements
  The child can attend to an activity while controlling the startle reflex, tremors, or agitated motion in order to maintain attention.
• Control over goal orientated behavior
  The child can control hand movement to grasp an object within sight.
• Control over temperament
  The child can bring self back to the usual temperament (e.g., cheery, irritable, etc.).
• Explores environment
  The child spends about 90% of waking hours exploring the environment.
• Experiments with social interaction
  The child will deliberately sulk, cry for attention, or use other means to maintain the attention of an adult.
• Expression of feelings
  The child begins to express hunger, pain, pleasure, and the desire for attention through distinctive cries and vocalizations.

Attention:

The 12-18 month old now shows non-selective attention to the environment, The child may wander around the perimeters of the room, giving minimal attention to specific items, or will visually scan an entire room without selection of a specific object to attend to.

When encouraged to play with a favorite toy or activity, the child can attend to the toy or activity for as much as 15 minutes without losing attention.

Adapted from: Vulpe, S. G.(1982). Vulpe Assessment Battery, National Institute of Mental Retardation.

 About the Author: Dr. Catherine Swanson Cain, PhD, LMFT provides counseling and therapy to families of young children with behavior problems or mental health disabilities. She also provides consultation and training to educators, child care providers, and professionals on a variety of behavioral health issues.