The sleepless nights might be long, but the years disappear faster than you can say, ‘Please slow down.’ One minute, you’re holding your squishy newborns in your arms and then, suddenly, you’re waving them off on their first day of high school.
As your children develop, they will gain exciting new skills, learn more about the world and figure out how to push your buttons (hey, it’s not all good). Understanding your child’s development is essential because it means you can spot any missed milestones or delays. Each ages and stages of child development includes a complex series of physical, behavioral, emotional, and developmental changes as your child grows.
All children develop at their own pace, but it’s always worth speaking to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns about aspects of development. Parental concerns vary over the years. You might worry about milk intake and percentile charts in the early days, and language development and academic performance later on.
Ages and stages of child development
Child development is often broken down into stages that feature various developmental milestones. Learning about the stages of development and the milestones associated with each one will help your parenting and allow you to support your child’s healthy development. Human development is complex, and each stage focuses on different skills, so you’ll need to adapt the way you parent during each stage.
Stage 1: Newborn/Baby
Newborn: birth to one month
Generally, the newborn period is thought to last for the first month of life. During this phase, your baby will spend much time sleeping, feeding and creating dirty diapers for you to change. Many new parents find this stage challenging; the lack of sleep combined with learning on the job can leave you feeling depleted. The newborn phase doesn’t last long, so breathe in that gorgeous new baby smell while you can.
The newborn phase is often referred to as ‘the newborn bubble’. This is a special time for you to get to know your baby. Try to resist unwanted visitors, unsolicited advice and anything you don’t really want to do. Put your effort into resting, recovering from the birth and getting to know your baby.
Read more in BellyBelly’s articles:
8 Secrets Every Mama Of A Newborn Needs To Know
15 Must-Read Parenting Hacks For The Newborn Days.
Infant: one to 12 months
The infant period is a time of change. Over the course of these 11 months, your baby will grow big, start laughing and figure out how to go places. There are many developmental milestones in early childhood – from first babbles to first foods – so you’ll be kept on your toes during this period. There are also a few sleep regressions and growth spurts thrown into the mix.
Your child’s brain is busy developing during this phase, and the changes you’ll see in your child from one month to the next are nothing short of amazing. During this stage, your child’s healthcare provider will monitor your child’s growth and developmental milestones using milestone checklists. Early intervention can aid child development, so always reach out to your healthcare provider if you have concerns.
More to read:
4 Month Monsters! 6 Ways Babies Change + Survival Tips
10 First Foods To Try When Baby Led Weaning.
Stage 2: Toddler
Toddler: one to three years
Generally speaking, children are considered toddlers once they start toddling. All children develop at their own pace, though, so don’t panic if you have a late walker. If you have concerns about your child’s development, speak to your healthcare provider, who can reassure you and offer advice.
The toddler years are fun, chaotic and, at times, intense. Potty training and tantrums are perhaps the most infamous parts of the toddler stage of early childhood. Your beautiful baby is now a strong-willed force of nature who doesn’t like to hear the word ‘no’. Toddlers are also the sweetest, funniest, most loving kids ever, so it’s not all bad.
Toddlers are like sponges. They soak up everything they hear and see throughout the day. They are gaining independence but still want to know you’re close by. They’re also making new friends, learning to share and gaining confidence in their abilities.
Further reading:
Potty Training | 5 Steps For Potty Training Success
Toddler Games | 10 Fun Ideas For Your Toddler.
Stage 3: Child
Preschool: three to five years
After the mammoth growth of the early years, your child’s physical growth will slow down. Instead, during these years, preschoolers focus on their social, emotional and behavioral development. This is a great age; you’ll love spending time with your children as they tell you about their world. Thanks to language development at this age, most children are chatterboxes during the preschool years.
During this phase, your children will develop fine motor skills, perfect gross motor skills and learn to get along with other children. They will develop all these skills through play, so provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor play, crafting and socializing.
For more information, see:
Kindergarten – What’s It All About?
Start Childcare | What Is The Best Age?
School: five to 12 years
The school stage of development covers a whopping seven years. As you can imagine, much change occurs during this life stage. Between the ages of five and 12, your child will gain independence, develop confidence and develop better social skills. School age children need plenty of opportunity to develop their fine motor skills, as these are important for things like learning to write and dressing themselves.
Of course, being school age children, they’ll spend many of these years in a classroom, where they will gain knowledge, develop skills and learn to work alongside others. Kids this age are often curious about the world and enjoy learning. As your children encounter the frustrations of life, you can help them stay regulated and model emotional intelligence.
Extra reading:
10 Reasons My Kids Were Late To School, Again.
Stage 4: Teens
Teens: 12 to 18 years
Teens are an easy target for bad jokes and society’s moaning but, in fact, this is a great age. Teenagers are passionate, creative and hilarious. Sure, they’re also strong-minded, independent and rebellious, but that’s all par for the course. Don’t dread the teen years; look forward to them and enjoy them. The newborn smell might be long gone but your teen will most likely still let you have the occasional cuddle.
Pick your battles and remember that adolescence is a stage your child will eventually pass through. Parents should offer children of this age support, love and increasing freedom as they head towards adulthood. Many lament the lack of support and resources for parents of teenagers, so don’t be afraid to reach out to other parents for support and advice.
Adolescence can be challenging; you probably remember what it’s like to be a teenager. Parenting teens can be tricky, too; you have to guide them through these tricky years and find the balance between encouraging their independence and protecting them. Get stuck into their interests, whether it’s a night spent gaming or an hour spent chatting about Taylor Swift. Connect with your teens in whatever way they’ll let you.
You might like to read:
At What Age Should I Let My Child Get Social Media?
10 Tips To Stop Cyberbullying.
Stage 5: Young adults
Young adults: 18 to 21 years
If your children go to college, they probably won’t spend much time at home during this period. Young adults are independent – although they will still call on you for emotional and practical support from time to time. They will also be managing their own finances for the first time, taking control of their education and joining the world of paid employment. They’ll form strong bonds with their friends, spend less time with their family, and join the adult world.
Parents often describe themselves as ’empty nesters’ during this period, as they adapt to life without children living at home. However, with housing costs increasing, many children live at home longer, so even those who go to college return to the nest while they save for a deposit.
Stage 6: Adults
Adults: 21 years +
The adult years are varied, as you know from personal experience. Although we class 21-year-olds as adults, the prefrontal cortex of the brain isn’t fully developed until around age 25, as this 2013 article explains. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for impulse control and risk assessment, meaning young adults often lack these skills and are, therefore, more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
You won’t do much hands-on parenting during these years but you will worry about your now-grown children as much as you did when they were young.
What is the most important stage of child development?
It is widely accepted that the first 1,000 days set the stage for a child’s development. The first 1,000 days cover the prenatal period and infancy and go through to the child’s second birthday (approximately). Unicef states it is a unique period of opportunity when the foundations of optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment across the lifespan are established.
This crucial time period has a huge impact on the child’s physical and emotional development for years to come. For that reason, many governments focus on providing nutritional support and interventions to families during this period.
