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Brief Overview of Child Development Milestones

A child's development of their cognitive, emotional, language, physical, and social skills in an age-specific, sequential pattern is usually referred to as child development milestones. They explain each new achievement the child has made as a progression from previous milestones. Parents and pediatricians find them extremely useful as they act as a guide to the normal progression of the child's skills through each ensuing stage of their development such as infancy, toddler, preschool, and school age.

The charts used for development milestones are usually displayed to depict the varying ages and paces at which the child reaches specific milestones. Therefore, there may be instances where these specific developmental skills don't always follow the prescribed sequence. Additionally, these development milestones are typically classified into four separate categories namely cognitive, emotional and social, language, and physical.

Cognitive development milestones - these are skills that are typically associated with learning, inclusive of concept understanding (e.g. numbers and time), creative thinking skills, and memory. One of the most important skills in this area is the recognition of the mother's voice. Cognitive skills are closely associated with language skills. Usually somewhere between the ages of 9 months to a year, the child will begin pointing at objects with their index fingers.

Emotional and social development milestones - this involves success with specific skills such as cooperation and interaction with others, emotional security, independence, self-control, and self-esteem. These milestones range from a baby's first smile as early as 6 weeks to their first hand wave at approximately 10 months. The emotional attachment along with the special relationship a child shares with their mother will have a considerable influence on the later developmental and social milestones later on in their lives.

Language development milestones - these milestones include expressive and receptive language skills as well as the ability to understand them and vocalize them. As the infant starts to listen to the voices around them, their language development begins. They typically start to communicate their feelings with coos and cries as their speech development milestone takes place between the ages of 3 to 6 months. Usually, they will begin to make squealing noises and explore sounds of a high-pitched nature. The milestone of uttering their first words occurs at around the age of 12 months.

Physical child development milestones - the attainment of both fine and gross motor skills is characteristic of physical child development milestones. Fine motor skills includes the ability to control the fingers and hands, which enables the child to do things like pick up objects and make other precise movements. The proper usage of muscles comprises functioning of gross motor skill. This would include muscle groups in the arms, back, legs, and neck. For example, somewhere between the ages of 6 to 9 months, the child is usually able to sit up on their own without support.
If you are interested in learning more about child development and the stages, there are numerous websites and books that can offer you a lot of information about it.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism [http://www.earlysignsofautism.com/] please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.


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