Early childhood is generally considered to be the time period from birth to age six. It encompasses two shorter developmental periods: infancy and toddlerhood. The latter period officially begins when a child starts walking. Early childhood can be both exciting and challenging for parents. One of the reasons for this is children undergo tremendous changes as they grow and mature. A child's physical growth allows him to exhibit more and more movement and freedom to roam his environment.
Early Childhood growth
In their book, "Human Motor Development," V. Payne and Larry Isaacs provide detailed information on early childhood growth. Boys' median birth weight is 7.5 lbs. and girls' is 7 lbs. Over the first year both boys' and girls' weights increase substantially. By the time they are one year old, the median weight for boys is 22.5 lbs. and 21 lbs for girls.
Body Control Movements During Infancy
Body control begins during infancy. Payne and Isaacs state that body control begins with the head and then progresses downward to the rest of the body. At two months of age, infants are able to lift their heads while placed on their stomachs. By the time they reach five months an infant has enough strength to lift her head while on her back. Infants continue to progress in their body control as they develop the ability to roll, sit on their own, pull themselves to a standing position and, finally, stand on their own.
Prewalking Movement During Infancy
Walking, which marks the end of infancy and the beginning of toddlerhood, is preceded by two other forms of locomotion, according to Payne and Isaacs. These are crawling and creeping. Crawling begins around seven or eight months when children have the strength to pull themselves across the floor. What makes creeping different is that the child is supported on his hands and knees. This makes it easier for her to move quickly along the ground.
Walking
In "Human Motor Development," the two things necessary for an infant to begin walking are leg strength and balance. Once the infant has enough leg strength to stand he needs to be able to maintain balance while taking steps. He will take short, quick steps with his feet landing flat and arms up high with no swinging. These all increase the child's balance and make walking easier. As the child continues to grow and develop he will begin to walk with greater ease.
Early Childhood Benchmarks
The Center for Disease Control lists developmental benchmarks children should reach by certain points in their childhood. By the age of five the CDC says children should be able to stand on one foot for 10 seconds, hop, somersault and climb.
References
- Human Motor Development. Payne, V. & Issacs, D; 2008
- Center for Diseases Control and Prevention: Important Milestones by the End of Age 5
