CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Starting from birth, a baby is considered a newborn. According to most medical professionals, this refers to a baby from the first to the 28^th day of life. However it can be noted, that ‘infant’ does apply to a child from birth until the first year, so it can be used synonymously with ‘baby’, the word ‘infant’ is derived from a Latin term ‘infans’, which means unable to speak. At this stage of a baby’s development they are completely dependent on adults for all needs and care. After the baby reaches a year of age, with normal development, this changes.

The word ‘toddler’ comes from the word ‘toddle’.’ Toddle’ means to walk with short uncertain steps. Anyone that has been around a baby that’s learning to walk understands how this applies to the tottering or wobbly first steps they take. Although each child develops differently, a year is set as a guideline for when a helpless infant transitions into a more independent toddler. The toddler stage last for about two years until the child matures into being able to walk, talk, feed and do simple tasks for themselves.

DEVELOPMENTAL DOMAINS

There are five developmental domains of children which all relate to each other. They are easily referred to as the SPICE of life.

Social – Refers mostly to the ability to form attachments, play with others, co-operation and sharing and being able to create lasting relationships with others.

Physical- Development of fine (small) and gross (large) motor skills.

Intellectual- The process of making sense to the world around them.

Creative- The development of special abilities creates noteworthy talents, music, art, writing, reading and singing are some ways for creative development to take place.

Emotional- Development of self -awareness, self- confidence and coping with feelings as well as understanding them.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS

Physical development involves the control of the physical aspects of the body: gross motor skills such as crawling, walking, hopping, skipping and fine motor skills, such as holding, writing, painting, cutting and so on. In this way physical development involves a link between the brain and the body and the problems in the communication between brain and muscles affecting physical development.

During infancy, muscle and bone tissue grow rapidly, explaining the remarkable increase in strength, coordination and stamina that occur during this period. A brain growth also takes place, causing babies to gain physical competence by leaps and bounds.

The rapid changes invariably cause unexpected mishaps. A six months old may suddenly roll off a changing table or a 9 month old may stand for the first time and without pulling a plate off the table.

Before parent can adjust to one new stage of motor development babies may have acquired even more sophisticated modes of locomotive that pose additional challenges. Keeping up with infant motor development requires vigilance and great energy.

Infancy Motor Abilities

Motor abilities emerge in a relatively predictable order in infancy. Babies creep before they walk. When they begin to walk, they hold on to a hand or a piece of furniture until they can manage alone. They swipe at objects before they can accurately reach out and grab them. They grasp objects by trapping them between their fingers and palm before using the thumb and index finger in a more sophisticated pincer grasp ( an advanced form of grasping, acquired at around age 1, in which the thumb and forefingers are used to hold small objects).

Early child development researchers have the emergence of those infant motor behaviors and have created developmental profiles, sometimes called normative charts (Graphic representations of the stages of milestones children pass through as they develop). These charts are still used by pediatricians and parents to judge developmental advancement.

MOTOR MILESTONE IN INFANCY	AVERAGE AGE
Raises head, can lift chin up from floor or bed	1 month
Raises chest up off the floor or bed	2months
Sits up with adult support	2.5 months
Bats at objects, cannot accurately grasps objects	3 months
Reaches for and grasps objects	6 months
Sits alone steadily	6.5 months
Stands with adult support	8 months
Stands up holding onto furniture	9 months
Creeps	10 months
Walks when led by an adult	11 months
Stands alone	11.5 months
Walks alone	12 months
Climbs stairs	13 months
Walks down with both feet on each step	26 months