We’ve unpacked the foundations of child development and shared our tips for how you can manage and assist your child’s development.
As parents and caregivers, it’s natural to have questions about your child’s development:
“What age should my child start crawling at?”
“Should they be learning to walk by now?”
“How many words should they be able to say at this age?”
“If they’re finding it hard to write their name should I be worried?”
At our practice, these are common questions we receive from parents who are eager to support their child’s growth in a nurturing and understanding way. While every child develops at their own pace, understanding child development can help you feel more informed and empowered.
The first six years of a child’s life are critical for their development, as it is the most intensive period of sensory, motor, cognitive and emotional development. We hope this blog post will help you understand what child development is and why it’s important to keep an accurate record of milestones for your child.
What is Child Development?
Child development refers to the ongoing process of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth that occurs from birth through adolescence. Child development is primarily guided by genetics and events during prenatal life. It is also influenced by environmental factors and the child’s learning potential.
Why Is Child Development Important?
Early development is a dynamic process, and each child’s brain absorbs new information at their own pace. There are certain periods known as “sensitive windows” where a child may be more receptive to learning new skills. However, missing these windows does not mean a child won’t be able to learn the skill—it may just require different approaches or support.
Monitoring your child’s developmental milestones can help identify strengths, areas for support, and guide how best to offer that support.
It is important to remember that children vary in their development of motor skills, for example, some kids might begin walking at 9 months whereas others may not learn the skills to do so until 15 months; one child may begin stringing words together at 15 months, while others may do so until 2.5 years. However, there is a natural progression or timeline that acts as a useful guideline of ideal development. By checking your child’s developmental progress at particular age markers against these time frames, it allows a ‘check-in’ to determine that the child is roughly ‘on-track’ for their age. If not, checking developmental milestones can be useful in the early detection of any concerns about a child’s development.
Understanding delays in development
Delays in child development can arise due to a variety of influences including genetics, prenatal circumstances, the presence of a specific diagnosis or medical factors, and/or the lack of opportunity or exposure to helpful stimuli (e.g. being read to by an adult, being exposed to a variety of toys, playing with other children, and hearing different types of music).
Children develop in their own time, and variations are part of what makes each child unique. Some children may need additional support due to a variety of factors, including sensory preferences, genes and genetic conditions, medical circumstances, or environmental influences. These variations may affect areas like motor skills, communication, or emotional regulation
How to stay informed about your child’s development
While every child’s growth is individual, there are developmental charts used by healthcare providers to help monitor progress in areas such as motor skills, communication, and social interaction. These can provide a helpful guideline for what to look out for, but they are not rigid markers.
Image from CDC Milestone Moments Brochure
It’s important to stay engaged with regular check-ups at your Early Childhood Health Centre, GP, or Paediatrician. These visits help ensure that your child is developing according to their individual needs and can connect you with resources for additional support if needed.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, please contact us at 02 9913 3823 or hello@occupationaltherapy.com.au . Our team is here to support you and your child every step of the way.
