In the tender years between infancy and preschool, a child develops significant skills that will allow him to become more independent. While he learns to communicate more effectively, think about his surroundings and move around in new ways, he continues to grow in both weight and height as well.
Weight
Children grow rapidly during their first year of life, reaching a weight of about 17.5 to 22 lb. by their first birthday according to Healthy Children, a website operated by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Note a girl's weight, on average, is about a half-pound less at this age than her male counterparts, so her weight should be in the range of 17 to 21.5 lb. By the age of three, this rate of weight gain slows down to an average of 5 lb. gained each year.
Height
Like a child's weight, height also develops quickly during the first year. Healthy Children reports that at the age of one most children are 28 to 32 inches tall. After that, a child grows more slowly, gaining an average of 2.5 inches annually.
Major Movements
Children gain new skills and independence as their muscles develop. Some of the movement milestones during early childhood are crawling and standing up without assistance, which typically occurs by the age of one, according to Healthy Children. Many children can also walk by this age or soon after. Medline Plus explains that pedaling and tricycle and climbing up and downstairs are two more skills a child takes on during early childhood.
Fine Motor Skills
While walking and other major movements are critical to development, a child must also gain fine motor skills during these years. Healthy Children reports that a one-year-old can typically poke, point, bang two objects together and use the pincer grasp. According to Ladies' Home Journal, additional fine motor skills like drawing recognizable objects, dressing himself and using scissors develop by the age of three.
Language
By the time she is a year old, a baby can communicate with limited language. Skills at this age include, according to Healthy Children, saying "mama" or "dada," nodding for yes and no, babbling with inflection and imitating specific words. Over the next few years, she'll also learn to say her first and last name, as well as the names of common objects she sees in pictures, says Medline Plus.
Cognitive
During early childhood, a toddler begins to recognize colors, imitate speech and understand basic commands and phrases, according to Medline Plus. Ladies' Home Journal also asserts that by the time a child is three years old, she also understand social interactions as far as taking turns, playing games and following directions.
Considerations
If you suspect your child may have missed one or more developmental milestones, be sure to see a pediatrician as soon as possible. While some skills develop at different rates for different children, such as the ability to walk, any concerns should be addressed immediately so that a doctor can determine whether a more detailed assessment is necessary.
