30Jul
The Different Stages of Child Development
It’s fairly obvious that there are different stages of development when it comes to growing children. Depending on the source you reference, the amount of different stages a child goes through varies from source to source. Some sources mention 3 stages while others will list 5, 6 or 7 stages of childhood development.
Let’s take a look at the most common child development stages, so we gain a better understanding of what to expect and when. You can also look for or even download a child development stages chart online to illustrate the stages. These charts also vary in their information and layout.
#1 – Newborn Baby
A baby is generally considered to be a newborn from the moment of birth and generally up to the age of around 3 months. This is an age where a child is very responsive to various stimuli that trigger the senses. They don’t yet understand much about the world around them, but newborn babies are likely learning more than most people realise.
A newborn can’t yet do much physically, so they rely heavily on their senses and start to develop quite rapidly mentally.
#2 – Infant Baby
Generally, a baby is considered to be an infant from the age of around 3 months to 1 year old, although some sources put the figure at 6 months to 1 year. During the infant stage, a lot of a baby’s physical abilities are improved. They gain control of their head movements, can start putting their hands together to clap and, toward the end of the infant stage, they may take their very first steps. Even if they don’t, one thing you can be certain of is they will crawl around a lot. Infants also start to try to formulate words that often come out as incoherent babble.
#3 – Toddler
Toddlers fall in the age range of 1 to 3 years. This is a period of life where a lot of advances are made and toddlers start to develop some form of independence. Toddlers learnt to walk unassisted and can even climb stairs when they get a little older.
Toddlers can understand and follow simple instructions, can draw and paint, they start to speak and develop some rudimentary language skills and love to play with just about anything they can get their hands on.
Physically and mentally, a lot of development takes place during the toddler phase.
#4 – Preschool Age
Preschoolers are aged from 3 to 5 years. It’s a period of life where young children keenly develop things like fine motor skills, social skills, improve their communication skills immensely and experience some rapid physical development that leads to greater strength, coordination, flexibility, better balance and more.
Artistically and creatively, children of this age can handle more detailed and complex projects. Problem solving abilities are enhanced, kids can dress themselves, do household chores and become even more physically active. By age 5, their language skills are quite advanced.
#5 – School Age
This stage of life spans the ages of 6 to 12 years old (although these days many people refer to 10 to 12 years olds as “tweens”). The primary school years have started and children during this period begin to develop some friendships that could last all the way into adulthood.
School age kids tend to learn quite rapidly, both academically and in other areas of life. They begin to master various school subjects and speak fluently, enlarging their vocabularies and increasing their reading and spelling abilities.
While still considered to be children, major advances both physically and mentally take place during these years.
#6 – Adolescence
The age range of adolescents varies from source to source, but as a general rule, it could be bracketed as being between the ages of 13 to 19. Essentially, the teenage years.
So many life changes take place during this period and it’s a time where boys and girls become increasingly aware of their sexuality.
By the time adolescents reach the end of this period, they have become young adults.
Endeavour Early Education Centres for Positive Child Development
From toddlers to preschool-aged children, if you want to give your child the best start in life and experience positive childhood development, enrol them in an Endeavour Early Education Centre. Give us a call and talk to us today.
