Child development encompasses not only physical changes, but also growth in intellectual abilities and a gradual development of a sense of self and society. Children go through distinct stages as they mature, but the pace at which they experience these changes differs. You can help your child grow into a healthy adult by providing a structured and secure environment, hands-on learning activities and emotional support through the difficult times.
First Year of Life
Your child will experience significant growth and change in his first year. He will develop gross motor skills, such as sitting up and crawling, and he should begin to respond to sensory input. For example, he should react to sounds, such as your voice; visual changes, such as the movement of a toy; and perhaps even smells, like a favorite food. Later, he will develop fine motor skills and should be able to pick up small objects between his finger and thumb. The beginning of language ability also should appear in cooing and babbling sounds and perhaps a few words.
Toddler Stage
Between the ages of 1 and 2, your child should develop the ability to walk and navigate steps without assistance. She should be able to eat with a fork or spoon. As her language skills improve, she should be able to understand simple directions and say words, phrases and short sentences. A child at this age typically is self-centered and has a short attention span. Your child may refer to herself by her first name because she is starting to develop a sense of self.
Preschool Age
In the 3 to 5 age range, your child should become adept at running, hopping and skipping. He should be able to feed himself by age 3, wash his face by age 4 and dress without help by age 5. During this time, his personal identity will grow and he should begin to form relationships with other children. He also should demonstrate understanding of right and wrong. He may go through a defiant phase around age 4 as he learns about boundaries, but by age 5 he should be generally content to live by your rules.
Elementary School Age
During elementary school years, also called middle childhood, your child will develop at a more measured pace--physically, intellectually and emotionally. Nonetheless, this is an important time when she will build interpersonal relationships and integrate herself into groups. On the cognitive side, she will learn to form hypotheses, but will still need hands-on activities to learn. Physical growth will be slow until she enters into puberty, which can be as early as age 8. During this time, it is normal for her to question parental rules and she may have difficulty dealing with correction if she perceives it as criticism. This also is the age when teasing and peer criticism enter into the picture.
Teenage Years
Your child's body will undergo dramatic changes in his teen years. He will experience a dramatic growth spurt and the hormonal changes associated with the onset of puberty will cause physical changes that may be difficult to cope with, especially if they occur at a difference pace than his peers. Teens are often upset by weight gain or acne that may develop during this phase. Moreover, children's brains continue to develop late into adolescence, so your child may have difficulty controlling emotions or impulses. Intellectually, your child will develop advanced reasoning skills, which will allow him to examine complex issues. Your child is likely to become more socially aware and cause-oriented as he develops the ability to examine societal issues from an intellectual viewpoint. This is the period when your child will establish his self-image, largely based on feedback from others, most importantly his parents.
References
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Adolescent Growth and Development
- Child Development Institute: General Developmental Sequence Toddler Through Preschool
- State University: Stages of Growth Child Development
- University of Florida IFAS Extension: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Crash Course in Child Development
- National Institutes of Health: Infant and Newborn Development
