From the time a child is born, he is constantly changing both physically and psychologically. Recognizing the major developmental stages in a child's life can help you as a parent keep your child on the right track. Though there are many different stages of a child's development, it can all be summarized in eight major developmental stages.
Responding/Beginning Socialization
At as early as 2 months old, a baby already has the ability to respond to your voice and touch you with big smiles and cooing sounds, according to KidsGrowth.com. As a baby reaches 4 to 6 months old, she can become much more social and responsive to her environment, reacting to sounds, voices and lights.
Becoming Mobile
Babies may start crawling, scooting or finding other ways to move about around 9 months old, according to KidsGrowth.com. During this major developmental stage, the child begins to explore the environment that surrounds him. He may also begin to open cupboards, find the stairs or get into things he shouldn't, so it's important to take the proper precautions in baby-proofing your residence.
Walking
Some babies learn to walk at around the age of 1 year, while others may continue to crawl until they're approximately 1 1/2 years old. No matter what age they begin moving around on two limbs instead of four, this major stage of childhood development is an important time for your child to learn how to balance properly and run, sit, climb and even get up and down stairs.
Speech
Some children may begin saying several words by the age of one, and others may take slightly longer. As a general gauge to see if your child is on the right track in terms of speech, she should be able to say 20 or more words by the time she's 2 years old, according to advice from pediatrician Dr. Laura Bouch of Advantage Health of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
First Years of School
Socialization is put into overdrive by the time a child reaches 4 or 5 years old and begins preschool or kindergarten. This is often the first time a child will be away from the parent---other than daycare---and is a time for the child to make new friends and improve his social skills. This is also the time when speech and cognitive ability is refined, according to the Child Development Institute website.
Preteen
By the time a child reaches 12 years old, she tends to become much more independent from her parents. Changes in the body also start to become evident, especially in girls who on average begin puberty two years earlier than boys, according to KidsGrowth.com. This age is sort of a bridge between adolescence and adulthood. It's important to concentrate on promoting self-confidence, exercise habits and healthy eating and to be open for conversation with your child.
Puberty
The teenage years may be the toughest in the eyes of many kids. This stage of life includes physical and mental changes, which play a major role in the child's development. Children may become even more independent during this stage, and spending more time with friends instead of parents often becomes the norm, according to KidsGrowth.com. Girls often begin a menstrual cycle during this stage and complete puberty by around age 16, while boys may remain in this stage through their teen years.
Independence
By the time a child reaches 18 years old, it's often time to leave the nest and either find a place of his own, go to college or to enter the workforce. By this age, a child will often be over his "rebellion stage" and may even consider his parents to be his best friends, according to KidsGrowth.com. This stage of childhood development is the last stage before reaching adulthood.
References
- KidsGrowth.com: Growth Milestones
- Child Development Institute: Stages of Intellectual Development in Children and Teenagers
- Dr. Laura Bouch; Pediatrician; Grand Rapids, Michigan
