Throughout a child's development, there are certain milestones that parents and doctors can monitor to determine if a child is developing on course or if she needs help getting there. These milestones are grouped into stages that encompass different areas of development. If a parent feels their child may be delayed in any area of their growth, they should discuss a treatment plan with their child's pediatrician. These stages of development are a guideline and all children will move at their own pace.
Physical
Physical development refers to a child's growth in terms of movement and even includes sleep, according to The Child Development Institute. Infants need many hours of sleep, up to twenty per day, and will need less and less as they grow. The amount of sleep goes down to about eleven hours per day at age five. Other skills that are mastered in this stage are increased mobility near the first birthday and standing and walking around one and a half years of age. Near three years old, children will be able to stand on one leg and jump up and down. A child will be able to make broad jumps and dress himself near five years of age.
Emotional/Social
This stage involves a child's development of appropriate emotions and social interaction. In infancy, children show distress by crying, but as they near six months old, they become more affectionate and better at making requests known. Close to one year of age, children begin to form solid attachments to their mother and develop stranger anxiety. As children move towards two years old, they learn to wave, respond to their name and begin to have rudimentary conversations with others. At two and three, children begin to display anger through tantrums. As they approach five years of age, children learn humor, feel guilt and have a sense of responsibility.
Language
Language development is the stage in which children acquire the skills needed to understand and reproduce words. Before age one, communication consists mostly of crying, cooing and pointing. Around one year of age, children can use a couple words, imitate sounds and respond to simple commands. By three, children can use short sentences and by five years of age have clear speech, can tell and understand stories and have good grammar skills.
