Early childhood, which is from birth until age 5, is the time when "children develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives," according to the National Library of Medicine. It is important to watch for developmental milestones but also remember that your child may be on target or even ahead in some areas while being behind in others and still fall within normal development.
Physical Development
Your baby should roll over by 6 months, crawl by 9 months and be standing around the end of the first year. From 1 to 2 years, she should be walking, running and using a spoon. Between 2 to 3, she will learn toileting, stand on one foot, ride a tricycle and feed herself. At age 4, she will dress on her own, cut with scissors and throw a ball. When she is five years old, she will have mature motor control in all areas, including the ability to copy simple shapes, print letters and tie shoes.
Emotional Development
Your baby's first smile appears around 2 to 3 months. By 9 months, she's attached to mom, and between 10 and 12 months, stranger anxiety appears. After age 1, exploring increases and temper tantrums may begin as the second birthday approaches. The "terrible two's" represent your child's growing sense of self. During this time, she may be possessive, dislike change and display strong emotions as she attempts to exert control. You'll see more even temper at ages 3 and 4, although this is when it's natural for first fears to arise and children often become attached to the parent of the opposite gender. Once they're 5, children have a sense of responsibility and more self-confidence.
Social Development
Newborns are not social but will play peek-a-boo at 9 months and enjoy other simple games as she reaches 1 year of age. She may obey simple commands at 1 ½, but by the end of the first year, she will start to become defiant. She will be interested in playing with other children, take turns and separate from parents at ages 2 to 3. Four-year-olds become more independent and play cooperatively, and your five-year-old likes doing things alone.
Cognitive Development
Your child should speak a few words by the time he is 1 and will have a vocabulary of 50 to 200 words when he is 2. Also around 2, she should be using simple word phrases and identifying pictures. Between 3 and 4, he begins to use pronouns. Four-year-olds use verbs, tell simple stories and speak clearly enough to be understood. Reaching the age of 5, she can count to 10, read her name and is beginning to learn the difference between fact and fiction. By the end of early childhood, she has good basic grammar and a vocabulary of more than 2,000 words.
Considerations
The experts at Children's Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh remind us that "play is a very important part of development for your growing child." Play increases skills, is an outlet for energy, encourages exploration and allows your child to express needs.
