What developmental milestone should a child typically reach by 12 months?

By 12 months, many children typically reach the developmental milestone of walking independently. This milestone represents a significant advancement in a child's physical development and gross motor skills. Walking is a complex task that requires strength, coordination, and balance, and achieving it by this age indicates a readiness for greater exploration and interaction with their environment.

Children vary in when they hit developmental milestones, but walking independently by age 1 is widely regarded as a typical benchmark. Some children may begin walking a bit earlier or later, but by this age, many are on their feet and attempting to take their first steps without support, showcasing their growing independence.

While crawling on all fours and using utensils are important skills that children may develop around this time, they are not as universally expected by 12 months. Speaking simple words is also a milestone that some children reach by this age, but not all will be using verbal communication proficiently yet. Therefore, walking independently stands out as a key developmental milestone that many children achieve by their first birthday.