Stages of Child Development: Understanding Your Child’s Growth

The child development process is natural and rapid. In a blink of an eye, we see our children growing from one stage to another.

However, what are the stages?

Well, Jean Piaget, a Swiss developmental psychologist, 1936 worked on a theory to understand the developmental stages of a child. Every child grows over periods, which is natural to all of us. 

However, natural growth is related to some of our personal knowledge that helps children grow faster. For instance, if you know the particular growth stage, you will understand how these are working and how you can help them grow in their natural ways. 

  • Newborn.
  • Infant. 
  • Toddler.
  • Preschool.
  • School-age stages.

In between these stages, the children grow both physically and mentally. If you do not understand the stages properly, you will not be able to acknowledge cognitive development in a child. So, child development is a continuous process that we must acknowledge at any cost. It is our responsibility to take care of our children. 

If you can relate the stages with their physical and cognitive changes, it’s safer for them in many ways.

So, it’s time to learn about the child’s growth stages and evolve your knowledge in that particular way to help it not get blocked.

Five Stages Of Child Development

Keeping track of these child development stages may help you understand if your child is on the right track of development. 

In many cases, we see children do not get p[proper development. In such cases, your first instance will be to understand the stages and then go to the doctor. Your personal knowledge may help you treat the child in particular and healthier ways.

To reach the adolescence part, your child needs to cover all these five steps. 

Let’s check out and get a proper idea. 

Newborn

The first two months of a child also come under the developmental stage, which is called the newborn stage. Well, in between these months, they will only be able to react to some external stimuli automatically. 

For instance, if you place your hand on their cheek, they will see your hand. Apart from that, if you place your finger on their hands, they will also be able to sense it and to at you or your hands. 

This is an automation development process that goes not for two months, and by the third month of their life, they start smiling at people and things they like. However, it’s not appropriate for every child. 

There are some developmental disabilities that will lack the signs of development in newborn children. For instance, genetic disorders, spina bifida, and fetal alcohol syndrome can be significant causes of natural developmental obstacles.

Infant

This is another stage of development that acknowledges many specific developments of children when they turn one year.

A sense of recognition comes in children at the age of 3-6 months. During that particular period, they can recognize the following:

  • Familiar faces.
  • Begin to babble.
  • Bring their hands together.
  • Control their head movements.

Here comes the 6-9 months stage, when infants learn to start sitting on their own without any support. 

Well, it is a big parameter for every parent, and they become happy with the fact that their children are growing prominently.

Well, this is also the stage when the children start standing with support and respond to the people according to their sense of urgency.

So, if you call them by their name, they will start recognizing the sound and also respond to your call. 

However, children between 9-12 months old can also pick up objects and, point at things and crawl or stand with support. One of the fun facts or developments you can acknowledge from them at this age is the imitation of sounds and gestures. 

Well, things might go wrong with slow developments, and that can be a sign of Down’s syndrome.

Toddler

Things will get difficult if you do not understand the particular stages and especially the toddler stage. If you fail to recognize their development over age, you will also not be able to admit the fact that they are approaching the age of getting into a play school center.

However, at this age, a child learns various things. 

  • They can stand alone.
  • Learn to walk without help.
  • Begin to climb stairs and run as well.

Well, with the help of preschool center,, they can also hold a pencil or pick up objects. At this stage, they also start to learn new words, and thus it is crucial to allow them to be in the play school center to enhance their skills smoothly. 

Preschool

Between 3-5 years of age, the motor skills of the children get a redefined approach. Well, this is a crucial child development stage. You cannot underestimate this age because it is the age of preschool learning for them. At this age, they start to develop a few skills:

  • Skip and hop
  • Throw and catch a ball.
  • learn to dress themselves
  • Learn to draw structures as well. 

However, if you do not allow them to go to a play school, then it will become hard for you to recognize their development. Preschool learning may help them to streamline their development at the perfect age.

What are the benefits?

Well, they will get toilet training, understand different games and activities and also engage themselves, and start to speak with long sentences.

You can teach them at home, but do you have enough time and resources to entertain them in various ways?

Ask yourself and make decisions accordingly.  

School-Age

When the students become 6-17 years old, they get rid of the child phrase and get the status of adolescent. 

From developing various emotions to learning about new subjects, speaking prominently, and also writing accordingly, all come at this stage. It’s difficult for anyone to come up with an idea of development without any prior knowledge. 

Allow your child to express their senses and emotions properly. Do not let them hesitate at an early age. They will remain unexpressed in their whole life. 

After reading this, if you see any developmental disorder, you can directly contact a pediatrician and discuss the matter closely.