Early childhood developmental milestones - all you need to know
From the moment your child is born, your world begins to revolve around them. That first smile, the first time they roll over, the first time they crawl, the first they sit up, the first time they stand, their first steps, their first words - so many firsts to look forward to.
Therefore, understanding early childhood developmental
milestones is absolutely essential for all parents and caregivers.
Developmental milestones in the first five years
How
often have you wondered - “Is my child developing normally?”
As
parents, we often compare our child’s progress with another child. And this is
where we become more conscious of our child’s developmental milestones. The
first five years of life are the most important as this is when the maximum
amount of growth takes place. Babies and toddlers learn to balance their heads,
crawl, walk and learn simple responses like smiling and greeting in these early
years.
The
thing to remember is that every child is different. Just because your cousin’s
daughter took her first steps before her first birthday, does not mean your
child has to too. And this certainly does not indicate a developmental
delay. In fact, the window for taking that first step extends all the way
to 18 months.
Remember,
it is always best to check with your developmental pediatrician.
Here
are some highlights of your child’s growth journey.
0 – 3 Months
● Begins
to develop a social smile
● Raises
head and chest during tummy time
● Notices
and recognizes faces
● Smiles
at the sound of your voice
● Starts
holding head steady
● Reaches
for an object
3 – 6 Months
● Enjoys
social play (games like peek-a-boo)
● Transfers
objects from hand to hand
● Responds
to name
● Rolls
over
● Rolls
back
● Finds
partially hidden objects
● Picks
up toys and objects
6-12 Months
● Responds
to simple verbal requests
● Sits
without any assistance
● Stands
with assistance
● Crawls
up stairs
● Feeds
self with spoon
● Enjoys
imitating people/things in his play
13-18 Months
● Takes
first steps
● Walks
without assistance
● Points
to interesting objects
● Points
at familiar objects and pictures
● Can
drink from open cup
● Uses
5-10 word phrases to communicate
● Repeats
words/phrases overhead in conversations
● Shows
interest in other children
● Turns
pages of a book
18 Months - 3 Years
● Indulges
in pretend play
● Sorts
objects by shape and color
● Climbs
stairs and jump with two feet
● Can
run
● Kicks
ball without losing balance
● Wiggles
thumbs
● Counts
up to 10 or more
● Can
pull toys behind them while walking
● Draws/marks
on paper with crayon, markers, pens
● Identifies
4-5 body parts
● Imitates
new words
● Comprehends
new words faster
● Language
acquisition: can speak full meaningful sentences by 3 years
● Understands
concepts of today, tomorrow, and yesterday
● Can
focus on stories (gradually moved away from picture books)
● Can
follow two-step directions
3-4 Years
● Walks
on tiptoes
● Hops
on one foot
● Knows
his name and gender
● Feeds
himself without spilling much
● Brushes
teeth and dresses without help
● Unscrews
jars, turns door knobs and scribbles
4-5 Years
● Cooperates
with other children
● Plays
on the swing without assistance
● Balances
on one foot for at least five seconds
● Draws
circles, triangles and squares
● Likes
to sing or dance
Developmental delays
For
children who don’t meet their cognitive and motor milestones on time, it’s
advisable to wait for a few months and watch for progress before raising an
alarm. At the same time, consulting a developmental pediatrician can also put
your mind at ease.
In
case of delays longer than 2-4 months, for example any motor developmental
delay is a warning sign. Often, early intervention in developmental delays or
developmental disabilities can go a long way in reducing the extent or nature
of the problem.
Symptoms
of developmental delays:
●
Any motor development delays (as per age-specific milestones),
for example, a 6-month-old child with little head control
●
Little to no interest in playing with other children or
caregivers
●
Difficulty making eye contact to get someone’s attention or
communicating needs
●
Overactive and displays impulsive and inattentive behavior
●
Poor memory, difficulty remembering names, letters and numbers
●
Hard time reading and recognizing letters and words
●
Problems with fine motor skills, such as coloring and writing
●
Reluctance to use one side of the body, such as reaching with
only one hand
●
Involuntary movements, spasms or tremors
Causes of developmental
delays:
● Trauma to the brain (eg.
shaken baby syndrome)
● Hereditary conditions like
Down Syndrome
● Developmental disorders like
autism
● Metabolic disorders
● Exposure to toxic substances
like alcohol, lead, etc. (prenatal exposure)
● Malnutrition
● Lack of environmental
stimuli
● Psychological and
psychosocial traumas
Treatment
Depending
on the extent of developmental delays, Plexus offers a range of therapies for
your little one. These include -
● Cognitive behavioral therapy
As a
parent, watching your children grow up is a uniquely fulfilling experience. To
ensure their development is holistic and normal, we encourage you to
periodically monitor their behavior for any anomalies.
If
you have reason to believe that their growth could be hindered at any stage,
reach out to Dr Na’eem Sadiq, founder of Plexus Neuro and India’s no. 1
developmental specialist.
You
can write to Dr Sadiq at drnaeem@plexusnc.com or
call on +91 89048 42087 | 080-2546 0886 | 080-2547 0886 | 080-2549 0886
Together,
we can create a child-friendly environment and help bring their development
back on track.
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