At what age do children typically understand and obey simple commands?

Children typically start to understand and obey simple commands between the ages of 12 to 18 months. During this developmental period, toddlers begin to enhance their language skills and cognitive abilities. They are able to grasp the meaning of words and phrases, which allows them to respond to basic instructions such as "come here" or "give me the ball."

This stage is crucial for fostering communication skills, as children learn the association between verbal commands and their actions. By 12 to 18 months, many children also begin to follow simple commands without needing significant cues or gestures, indicating their growing comprehension of language.

The other age ranges do not align with the typical developmental milestones related to understanding and following commands. For instance, in the first six months, infants are more focused on sensory experiences and developing motor skills than processing language. Meanwhile, children aged 19 months to 2 years and 2 to 2½ years are more advanced in their understanding; they build upon the skills learned in the earlier months and can follow more complex instructions. However, the foundational understanding typically emerges between 12 and 18 months.