Children benefit developmentally from indoor and outdoor free play, as well as activities using art materials, sorting toys, puzzles, blocks and balls. Give your baby time to play on her tummy and back each day, and introduce colorful toys and books to encourage movement and curiosity. Ensure that older children enjoy a variety of toys, books and activities, and get at least an hour of free play before and after lunch daily.
Types
Child development encompasses several categories, including cognitive, language, social, emotional and physical development. Cognitive development refers to learning, problem-solving, reasoning and memory, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Language development includes body language, gestures, sounds and the ability to understand others. Features of social and emotional development include experiencing and recognizing feelings, developing family and peer relationships, sharing, cooperating and responding to others. Physical development refers to using and strengthening small and large muscles.
Significance
Milestone checklists provide a tool for parents to understand typical development based on age across each category. Reaching developmental milestones a little early or late is considered normal. Although children reach milestones at different times, the sequence of development should follow uniform patterns. Children develop from top to bottom and from the middle out. Your baby gains control of his neck and facial muscles before he does of his arms and legs. The larger muscles of the upper and lower body get stronger before the smaller muscles in the hands and feet.
Physical Development
Physical developmental milestones for your 3-month-old include grasping hand toys, raising her head and chest when placed on her stomach, and kicking her legs during play time, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). By 7 months, children roll over both ways, sit independently, move toys from hand to hand and support their full body weight with their legs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the toddler years, children learn to walk alone, run, kick a ball and stand on tiptoe, according to the AAP.
Cognitive and Language Development
Cognitive milestones for your 7-month-old include finding partially hidden objects, exploring with his hands and mouth, and attempting to get out-of-reach objects, according to the CDC. From age 1 to 3, children learn to play pretend, find well-hidden objects and sort toys by shape and color, according to the AAP.
Language milestones for your 7-month-old include responding to his own name, expressing happiness or frustration and babbling, per the CDC. By 12 months, toddlers use the words "mama" and "dada," respond to simple commands and use strings of sounds to try to communicate, according to the AAP. Children recognize around 50 words, have a vocabulary of five to ten words and imitate less familiar words by age 15 months, according to the AAP.
Social and Emotional Development
Babies smile, respond to play and mimic expressions by 3 months of age. By 7 months, babies enjoy interactive play, demonstrate interest in mirror reflections and respond to the emotional expressions of others, according to the CDC. During the toddler years, children imitate behaviors and enjoy the company of other children, per the AAP. With positive adult intervention, children learn to share, express their feelings using words, cooperate and resolve playtime conflicts during the preschool years.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Milestones
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Baby 0 to 12 Months
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Important Milestones: By the End of Seven Months
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Toddler Growth and Development
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Assure the Best for Your Baby's Physical Development
