ironment. They can sit unassisted, crawl, pull to a stand and sidestep along furniture. They can use their fingers to point, poke, and grasp small objects. They feed themselves finger foods. Babies know their names and respond to simple commands. She babbles a pattern as if she were speaking a foreign language. At twelve months a baby is striving for independence. They stand and may walk by themselves. They climb up and down stairs and out of the crib or playpen. They prefer using one hand over the other and can drop and throw toys. They fear strange people and places. They remember events, expresses affection, shows emotion, uses trial and error to solve a problem. Babies that aren't so healthy do not develop as fast or as much as normal babies. For example, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a problem that is increasing all across America. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the effect of pregnant women drinking alcohol. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading cause of retardation. It affects more than 8,000 babies in the U.S.A. every year. FAS is 100% preventable; however, because of their mother's decision to drink alcohol during pregnancy, none of the thousands of affected babies had the chance to be born normal. FAS birth effects include facial abnormalities, growth deficiency, or brain damage. FAS children need guidance because they are easily distracted and forgetful. FAS does not go away because brain damage and birth defects are permanent. Mental retardation's permanent and irreversible, behavioral problems are permanent. All of these problems associated with FAS and drug abuse are permanent. Moving on past the infant stage and into the adolescence and puberty stages, this is where children start becoming young adults and many new developments begin to occur. This is also a time when youth start wanting their independence and begin to challenge societal values in the form of rebellion, act, and dress radically and form groups. These actions ...
