Learn the Child Development stages and the signs of Healthy Growth

As a parent, you may sometimes feel overwhelmed with the amount of information out there and what to do. You are not alone! It’s normal to feel this way. During some of the tougher days we have as a parent, I know it can seem like your little ones will never grow up but they will and before you know it they’ll be teenagers.

One of the best ways to get a better understanding of your child is by understanding the stages of child development as an important part of parenting. A child’s growth and development progress in a predictable sequence, from infancy through adolescence and into adulthood. Doing so will help you understand your child’s behaviour and be sensitive towards some common problems children face as they grow up.

Now, while every child grows and develops at an individual pace but as a parent, you will want to make sure that your child is meeting their developmental milestones on schedule. So, here are some of the different stages of child development for you to keep in mind.

Babies (0 to 1 year)

During the first few months of life, your child will develop a sense of who they are and what they can do. They will try to reach for objects or respond to noises around them. Your baby’s brain is still growing and forming connections between cells that eventually lead to complex thought processes. Your baby will also start smiling at you in response to your voice by 6 weeks old. Enjoy this time when your infant smiles at you because it won’t last long!

At this stage, they have a need for closeness and comfort from their parents which can be seen as they constantly reach out looking for it. They also like repetition, so singing songs or playing games with your baby will help them learn new things faster. As your baby develops, you’ll also notice he starts to experience his first emotions and feelings. He will cry when things are unfamiliar as they should be which could have something to do with the fact that their brains are growing faster than any other time in their life!

During infancy (2 months to one year), they develop physically (learning how to crawl or walk), emotionally (becoming more sensitive to the ways others respond) as well as socially (learning to interact with others). You’ll also notice that your little one is becoming more aware of their surroundings with each passing day as new sounds, sensations, sights, smells and tastes stimulate his senses constantly.

Child Development Stages in this age range

• Smiling
• Waving, pointing, reaching and making other gestures with their hands
• Rolling over, crawling, or sitting up unassisted
• Babbling or otherwise attempting to communicate vocally
• Knowing and responding to their name

Toddlers (2 to 4 years) 

The toddler stage is one of the most exciting times in a child’s life because they are learning so many new things and developing so quickly. This intense growth can manifest itself physically (walking, running), mentally (learning to talk) as well as socially (getting along with other children). Toddlers also have an increased sense of independence which leads them to explore everything they can access (so make sure you baby proof your house!).

At this stage, they’re learning to talk, identify and imitate people around them, and to follow simple instructions. As they get older, they learn to express more emotions, speak in phrases and sentences and can help get themselves dressed and ready for the day. They enjoy simple games, songs, and rhymes, and they can start learning their colours, shapes, and alphabet. They still need a lot of sleep and may take a nap or two during the day, as well as sleep 10 to 12 hours a night.

Every child develops at a different rate, and some children reach certain milestones much earlier than others. For instance, many toddlers can say two or three words by the time they’re one year old and it’s not unusual for a toddler to start speaking in sentences around age of 18 months. But below, you can see some guidelines for kids within the Toddler range.

Child Development Stages in this age range

• Walking
• Holding lightweight objects
• Chewing and swallowing food
• Adding new words to their vocabulary regularly
• Showing interest in you and other familiar people
• Using two-word phrases (by age two)

Preschool (4 to 5 years)

As your child continues to grow, you will notice new and exciting abilities that your child develops. You may be noticing more words, and the ability to put sentences together. You could see an increase in your child’s creativity too as they explore their environment with art activities. As part of getting along with others, you might hear your child saying sorry, agreeing to rules and being pleased when good things happen to other people.

When it comes to cooperating, your child is likely to be more helpful, but sometimes they might still be demanding. By the time your child is five years old, they’ll probably have more control over their behaviour and fewer temper tantrums. In this year, your child might hide the truth about things sometimes, or even start telling lies. For example, they might say ‘I didn’t do it’ even when they did. This is a normal part of preschooler development.

Child Development Stages in this age range

• Can work on a task alone or with help
• Increasing use of pronouns (I, me, mine)
• Learning to cooperate
• Needing less help from adults for tasks that are easy or routine
• Fewer temper tantrums and increased ability to control their behaviour.
• List of Behavioral Concerns: Sometimes your child might tell you things they’ve done, while other times it might be hard for them to bring the truth

Children grow and develop at different speeds. If you’re worried about whether your child’s development is ‘normal’, it might help to know that ‘normal’ varies a lot. While the above steps can act as broad guidelines to ensure your child is developing well, it is fine to seek help from experts in areas that may be of concern.

Conclusion

Children grow and develop at different speeds. If you’re worried about whether your child’s development is ‘normal’, it might help to know that ‘normal’ varies a lot. While the above steps can act as broad guidelines to ensure your child is developing well, it is fine to seek help from experts in areas that may be of concern.