Child development refers to the way children develop skills at different stages of their lives. The University of Michigan Health System lists various broad areas in child development, including gross and fine motor skills, language, cognitive and social maturity. Each child is unique; therefore it is very important to understand that child development guidelines are not set in stone and variations exist in every child’s growth. If you are concerned about any of these areas in regard to your child, please consult your child’s pediatrician or a behavioral therapist.
Baby
According to Healthy Children by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this stage starts at birth and extends to 12 months of age. Dramatic changes occur, as your child will go from barely being able to raise his head to standing and taking a few steps by 1 year old. He will begin to smile, follow objects around and start developing hand-eye coordination. Between 4 and 7 months of age, he should be able to roll both ways, sit and transfer objects from one hand to the other. He will be able to pull himself up to stand and walk by holding furniture by his first birthday. He will be shy around strangers and prefer some people’s company more than others—like mom. He is starting to be more independent and can finger-feed himself.
Toddler
This stage extends from her first birthday to her third. Development will slow down a bit, but you can still see rapid changes. She can walk alone and pull her toys while walking. She may start running and start mimicking what she sees others doing around her. She likes to play with other children and can start playing make-believe games. She may begin having temper tantrums and exploring her behavioral boundaries while learning to control her environment.
Preschooler
Healthy Children considers this stage as going from 3 to 5 years old. A new and wonderful world of imagination opens up. He is going to mature and be able to draw basic shapes like squares, name the basic colors correctly, repeat parts of stories you read to him and recognize differences and similarities. His sentences will become longer and his vocabulary will increase. He will use words such as “me” and “you” correctly, and will display affection for playmates he recognizes.
Gradeschooler
The grade school phase is the last stage before adolescence and the beginning of puberty, generally running from age 5 to 12. Karen DeBord, Ph.D., Child Development Specialist, says that this is when your child’s world expands and she starts making friends. She is definitely more independent. Emotionally, she may experience fear of the unknown and death. She is concerned about what others may think of her and recognizes the differences between boys and girls. Permanent teeth start coming in. She starts to read and write well and thinks about her behavior and consequences. Little by little, her ability to focus improves and she can complete more complex projects.
