[Stages of Child Development]

     "How do I know whether or not my child is undergoing normal physical and mental development?" ; "How do I detect any mental disability in my child?"

     In reality, the child's growth does not start after birth, but soon after the egg or ovum is fertilized and a foetus is born. From then on, the foetus grows and develops in specific stages for 9 months. This period is the pre-natal development phase. The chid's birth - whether premature, forcep, caeserian or normal - is also very crucial. After the child is born, it again undergoes a series of physical, mental and social development stages. These stages are called milestones. Although children vary in the age when they acquire different skills, it is possible to classify the normal range of age when the child acquires various motor and verbal skills. These developmental changes can occur only with maturation and not through learning. You cannot make a child stand in 6 months, inspite of all the training.

If the child exhibits uneven development or delayed milestones, it can be an indication of future mental or physical disability. Not all children with delayed milestones end up having mental disabilities. But it is surely a cause for parents' attention and help. Hence, as a parent, you must keep a note of your child's development from birth onwards. If your find that your child is unable to move on to the next stage of development, consult a pediatrician. The child may need help to make an advancement. Remember, early intervention can help the child gain a normal pace by the time schooling begins. Here are the Stages of Development which you have to look out in your child....

3 months old

1. turns towards bright colours and lights


2. follows moving toys or faces with his/her eyes


3. reaches for and grasps toys or hair


4. wiggles and kicks with legs and arms


5. lifts head and shoulders up while on stomach


6. smiles back at parents or other family members


7. makes sounds, like gurgling, cooing or babbling

6 months old

1. turns towards voices


2. reaches for toys and picks them up


3. rolls over front-to-back and back-to-front


4. babbles, squeals, and repeats vowel sounds, ooh, ae, e


5. plays with his/her toes

9 months old

1. moves toys from one hand to the other hand


2. copies sounds or gestures


3. reaches for crumbs or other small things with his/her thumb and fingers


4. straightens arms when he/she is on his/her stomach and supports himself/herself with his/her arms
5. understands the word "No"

12 months old

1. pulls himself/herself to a standing position


2. walks by holding onto your hand


3. crawls on his/her hands and knees


4. responds to his/her name


5. looks for an object if you hide it from him/her, even if he/she can't see it
6. enjoys playing games, like peek-a-boo
7. says 1 to 2 words

15 months old

1. can hold a crayon in his/her fist


2. hands toys to you when you ask him/her


3. likes to look at pictures in a book


4. can point to pictures you name, if the things in the picture are familiar to him/her
5. uses gestures
6. walks alone without help

18 months old

1. likes to pull and push things


2. follows simple directions


3. pulls off shoes and socks


4. steps off low objects and keeps balance


5. can point to one body part
6. feeds himself/herself sometimes
7. likes to copy your words or actions

21 months old

1. can name 2 objects


2. likes to pretend-play


3. can put together a simple picture puzzle if it has only 2 or 3 large pieces


4. likes to throw balls


5. likes to play alone with toys for a short time
6. says "No" a lot

24 months old

1. points to hair, eyes and nose when someone asks him/her


2. uses 2 to 3 words together, like "No, Mummy",etc.


3. feeds himself/herself with a spoon


4. says names of toys & people


5. runs short distances without falling

3 years old

1. answers simple questions


2. puts his/her clothes on by himself/herself


3. opens simple containers


4. uses 3 to 5 word sentences


5. names atleast 1 colour correctly
6. climbs up and down the stairs holding a large toy

Source: SETU (For Early Intervention)
            www.setuindia.org
To find out more about Setu, click on "Organizations/Special Schools"