The Children's Clinic
Helping children attain their developmental and educational potential
Child Development and Developmental Disabilities
This page is being updated on a regular basisThe development of a child begins with the union of two cells, one from the father and one from the mother, and continues for several years. By the time a child is two years old, (s)he has learned to walk, talk, eat, laugh, cry, make his or her parents laugh and cry, and refuse to do what parents want. This is a miracle.
Usually, development goes according to plan, and children reach certain developmental milestones at about the same age as other children.
Distinct periods of development
- Pregnancy, birth and the first few days of life,
- Infancy and the toddler years
- The preschool years
- Middle childhood
- Adolescence
Development of the various systems of the body
- Growth, specialisation, and maturation of the brain and nervous system
- Growth and maturation of the rest of the body
- The development of intellectual skills or intelligence
- The development of communication and language skills
- The development of social skills
- Gross motor development
- Fine motor development
- The development of adaptive skills
Misc
Developmental Milestones
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Pregnancy, birth and the first few days of life
Coming Soon
Infancy and the toddler years
Coming Soon
The preschool years
Coming Soon
Middle childhood
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Adolescence
Coming Soon
Growth, specialisation, and maturation of the brain and nervous system
Coming Soon
Growth and maturation of the rest of the body
Coming Soon
The development of intellectual skills or intelligence
Coming Soon
The development of communication and language skills
Coming Soon
The development of social skills
Coming Soon
Gross motor development
Coming Soon
Fine motor development
Coming Soon
The development of adaptive skills
Coming Soon
Red Flags and warning signs
It is sometimes difficult for parents to know if they should be concerned about a child's development, if they should seek help, or if they should just wait another month or so. There is no simple answer to this problem. This list of "warning signs" may make it easier for parents to decide what to do. If your child has any of the problems below, then you should seek an evaluation.
- Your 2 month old child does not smile when he sees a familiar face or hears a familiar voice
- Your 3 month old does not smile at other people
- Your 4 month old is not trying to imitate sounds
- Your 8 month old
- is not babbling
- shows no interest in games such as "peek-a-boo"
- Your 12 month old
- does not say any single words
- is not using any gestures, such as waving "bye-bye" or shaking head
- is not pointing to any object or picture
- Your 18 month old
- is not using 15 words
- prefers to use gestures rather than vocalise wants or needs
- struggles when attempting to imitate sounds
- Your 2 year old
- is not putting 2 words together
- is not imitating your words or actions
- does not follow simple instructions
- talks but you cannot understand him
- Your 3 year old
- is not combining words into short phrases or sentences
- does not imitate actions with others
- is no using the sounds /p, h, m, n, t, d, k, g/ correctly
- has restricted or repetitive play with toys
- frequently expresses frustration when trying to communicate
- has alimited vocabulary. For example, regers to objects as "this" or "that one" rather than by name.
- does not interact or play with other children
- is unable to understand and answer simple questions
- When your 4 year old talks
- he cannot be understood by people outside the family
- he cannot retell a simple story or recall recent events clearly
- his sentences are poorly organised and contain many errors
- he misses words or substitutes another word
Useful Books about development in children
- Kurcinka, Mary Sheedy. Raising Your Spirited Child.
- Greenspan, Stanley I. The Child with Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth.
- Greenspan, Stanley I. The Challenging Child. This book identifies five types of "difficult" children (highly sensitive, self-absorbed, defiant, inattentive, and active/aggressive), and outlines strategies for dealing with each one.
- Turecki, Stanley. The Difficult Child.
- Carey, William B. Understanding Your Child's Temperament.