Understanding physical development is important to anyone who is a caregiver, as well as for those who want to understand more about themselves and their own development. There are many ways to learn about physical development. Talking to your health care provider is always a good place to start, but there also are other places you can turn to for help in understanding physical development. For example, there are many helpful books, magazines and websites devoted to this subject.
Growth and Development Milestones
Step 1
Talk to a doctor about your own or your child's physical development. If you are concerned about the physical growth and development of your child, his doctor should be able to let you know whether he is within normal parameters. Pediatricians have growth charts for height and weight in children and can tell you where your child falls on the spectrum.
Step 2
Go online and find websites that detail growth and development for different ages. Websites such as KidsHealth or Family Doctor can tell you at what stage of development different things occur, such as the typical age range for first menstrual periods or the development of facial hair in boys.
Step 3
Check out books from your local library on physical development. These are usually aimed at parents to help them understand the physical development of their child, or at kids and adolescents to explain the changes going on in their bodies.
Step 4
Talk to other people about your concerns. For example, if you're a parent, talking to other parents can answer your questions and set your mind at ease about your child's physical development. However, remember that every child is different; don't get too caught up in comparisons.
