There are several models used to determine the various stages of child development by correlating physical progress to age. Psychiatrist Simon G. Gowers, however, advises development is more complex and encompasses "physical, cognitive, social, moral, emotional, and spiritual domains." He states that child development is a matter of "two steps forward, one step back" as children will often appear to have reached a milestone, such as urinary continence, only to experience bouts of bed wetting later in life due to stress or other issues. Gowers and the American Academy of Pediatrics have compiled their observations of expected development at various stages of children's llives.
Birth to One Month
Children in this stage will sleep up to 20 hours a day and will start to make basic distinctions in hearing, taste, vision, touch, pain perception, and temperature.
Two to Three Months
Children in this stage develop color perception as well as visual and oral exploration. They will also start to lift their head when placed on their stomach.
Four to Six Months
At ages 4 to 6 months, children will feed three to five times per day and will gain more control of arm and head movements. The child will also begin to roll over and be able to vocalize most vowels.
Seven to Nine Months
Children in this stage will be able to sit without support and crawl. They will also exhibit a strong emotional attachment to the mother.
Ten to 12 Months
At 10 to 12 months, children may say one or two words and should be able to respond to simple commands. They will eat three meals per day with additional snacking periods. Sleep reduces to 12 hours, and the emotion of anger becomes more pronounced.
One Year to 18 months
Children in this stage will be able to use a crayon to make lines on paper as well as climb up stairs and begin walking. They will be able to feed themselves. Some may develop a fear of baths.
Eighteen to 24 months
Children between 18 months and 2 years old will have a vocabulary of more than 200 words and will have the capability of bladder and bowel control. They will sleep 12 hours at night and have a daytime nap lasting anywhere from one to two hours.
Two to Three Years
Between ages 2 and 3, children can ride a tricycle, will use short sentences and start exploring with language. They will also exhibit a sense of humor as well as temper tantrums. Some children may develop a rigid sense of routine such as demanding to watch the same movie every day before bed.
Three to Four Years
Children ages 3 to 4 will be self-sufficient in home routines and will display a great amount of affection toward the parents. They will begin to identify with the same-sex parent and practice sex-role activities.
Four to Five Years
Children 4 to 5 years old will speak clearly, can relate a story and should know more than 2,000 words. Motor control will allow them to dress themselves, skip, and draw shapes such as squares and rectangles.
References
- "Seminars in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry"; Simon G. Gowers; 2005
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Developmental Stages
