CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Child Development

Child Development

Supporting Child Development

Each child is an individual and may meet developmental milestones a little earlier or later than his peers. You may have heard people say things like, "he was walking before he turned 10 months, much earlier than his older brother" or "she didn't say much until she was about 2 years old and then she talked a blue streak!" This is because each child is unique and will develop at his or her own pace (Aragon 2008).

However, there are definitely blocks of time when most children will meet a milestone. For example, children learn to walk anytime between 9 and 15 months of age. So, if your child is 13 months of age and not yet walking, there is no need to worry if he is crawling and pulling to a stand (Chae 2009). He has acquired the skills he needs to learn to walk and may begin walking soon. However, if you have a child 15 months of age who is not yet walking, it would be a good idea to talk with your child's pediatrician to make sure there aren't any medical or developmental problems since age 15 months is outside of the normal "window" or time frame in which children learn to walk.

Health & Safety Issues in Child Development Program

The Health & Safety section provides guidelines on how to keep your child fit and healthy as well as how to handle issues such as sleep, weight management and common childhood illnesses (Buschgens 2009). Safety tips for parents of kids and teens are available including updates on product recalls.

The first years are an amazing period of time. Between birth and age three, babies learn to roll, crawl, stand, walk, and run. They learn to talk, rhyme, and sing. It is important to remember that infants and toddlers develop on their own timetable. Some children will develop certain skills (like walking or talking) faster or slower than others. These differences are normal and it is important to support each child's development based on their unique strengths, challenges, and needs (Burns 2008).

The care that infants and toddlers receive and their experiences during the first three years of life have a tremendous influence on the way that they grow and develop. Loving and nurturing relationships are important for young children as they begin to develop trust in their parents and caregivers that gives them the confidence to explore the world around them (Bennett 2008).

In addition to establishing trusting relationships with infants and toddlers, other major elements in caring for them include (but are not limited to):

Understanding areas of infant/toddler development—social/emotional, language, cognitive, and physical

Ensuring the health and safety of children

Providing responsive, caring environments

Understanding the importance of developmentally appropriate curricula and assessment for infants and toddlers

Understanding how culture, family, and individual differences influence children's development

Understanding the important role of social/emotional development for infants/toddlers

Understanding the importance of supporting infants and toddlers with disabilities or special needs

For caregivers/teachers—understanding the importance of building relationships with families

Understanding ...