Long before birth and for many years after, parents, family members, physicians and teachers closely monitor a child's physical development. The rapid pace at which a newborn evolves from helpless infant to ambitious toddler might awe even experienced caretakers. Physicians and other childcare professionals, however, have certain expectations when it comes to stages of development.
Development vs. Growth
Doctors follow physical growth or height and weight to judge the overall health of your child, but physical development actually refers to her ability to kick a ball, climb onto a couch or pinch a petal from your favorite hydrangea. Interestingly, the experts at National Institutes of Health note that an infant's physical development begins at the head and progresses to other muscle groups. For instance, sucking, one of the earliest physical skills your baby accomplishes comes long before she can control her neck muscles. Following the "head first" guidelines, health care professionals expect her to sit before she walks and run before she masters hopscotch.
Significance
Obviously, your child's ability to get up and sit down or grasp and hold objects helps when it comes to mobility and playing. Physical development, however, does not occur in isolation from other developmental skills like language and cognitive/intellectual abilities, according to the Child Development Institute. For instance, when your five to six-month-old picks up a block and then opens his hands to let it fall, he begins to exercise his intellect and starts processing the concept of cause and effect. Repeating the process helps him practice manual dexterity. CDI notes, in fact, that play actually reflects brain development.
Milestones
With regard to physical or "motor" development, health care professionals use developmental milestones to monitor your child's overall progress. Generally separated into gross and fine motor skills, the milestone list matches activities with the average age that children usually attempt or accomplish certain physical tasks. The website Healthy Children, for instance, notes pediatricians can check the list to predict when your child might start crawling; a gross motor skill or tell if your two-year-old might lag behind in her ability to hold and then pour her glass of milk onto the floor; a fine motor skill.
Delays
Milestones assess physical development in ranges and not as absolutes since all children develop at slightly different rates. However, children who fail to develop certain physical skills may not reach their full potential, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A significant delay might indicate underlying problems, including neurological disorders, but early intervention often means providing your child with the best possible outcome. If you have concerns regarding your child's development, the CDC recommends you talk with your physician.
Considerations
Play is work when it comes to children and physical development. Infants reaching for bright mobiles, shaking rattles and splashing in the bathtub are working to master gross and fine motor skills. Your toddler, with a brain twice as active as an adult's, according to the CDI, works on improving his hand-eye coordination, a fine motor skill, as he bangs that tambourine or stacks his blocks. Thus, providing your child with age-appropriate toys and some of your time as you help him stack those blocks for the millionth time might help him put in a full day at "the office."
