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“The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out”

–Bill Gates

Children go through different periods of development as they move from infants to young children.  During each of these stages, their brain and skills are developing on a fast pace when used regularly.

According to RaisingChildren.net.au, we give you an understanding of the development of the child, and the things that could help the child developed..

About Early Child Development

According to RaisingChildren.net.au, development is the term used to describe the changes in the child’s physical, social and emotional growth, as well as their ability to think and communicate. Children’s development is affected by psychosocial and biological factors.

The First 5 Years

Relationships

Children’s relationships affect all areas and stages of their development.

This is because relationships are experiences. In fact, relationships are the most important experiences in your child’s environment because they teach him the most about the world around him. They also shape the way he sees the world.

Through relationships, your child learns whether the world is safe and secure, whether she’s loved, who loves her, what happens when she cries, laughs or makes a face – and much more. Your child also learns by seeing relationships between other people – for example, how you behave towards your partner, and how your partner behaves towards you. This learning is the basis for the development of your child’s communication, behaviour, social and other skills.

Your child’s most important relationships are with you, other family members and carers, including early childhood educators.

Playing

In the early years, your child’s main way of learning and developing is through play.

Play is fun for your child and gives her an opportunity to explore, observe, experiment, solve problems and learn from her mistakes. She’ll need your support and encouragement to do this. But it’s important to try to find a balance between helping her and letting her make mistakes, because finding out for herself about how the world works is a big part of learning.

Lots of time spent playing, talking, listening and interacting with you helps your child learn the skills he needs for life. These skills include communicating, thinking, solving problems, moving and being with other people and children.

Other Things That Help in Child Development

Things like healthy eating, physical activity, health and the neighborhood you live in also have a big impact on your child’s well being and development.

You have some control over some of these things – for example, what your child eats and how much activity he does. But you might have less control over things like health.

Healthy Eating

Healthy food gives your child the energy and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. It helps develop her sense of taste. And healthy family food and eating patterns in the early years can set up healthy eating habits for life.

Your child learns about food choices from you, so the best way to help your child develop healthy eating habits is to let him see you preparing, eating and enjoying healthy food yourself.

Physical Activity

Being physically active gets your child moving. It develops her motor skills, helps her think and gives her an opportunity to explore her world. So your child needs plenty of opportunities for active play, both inside and outside. And if you’re active yourself, your child is likely to follow your lead.

Health

Your child’s health can influence his development. All children get sick at some point – for example, with coughs and colds, earaches or gastroenteritis. These minor childhood illnesses generally won’t cause any long-term problems with development.

But chronic or long-term health conditions like diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis or cancer can affect your child’s development. If your child has a chronic health condition, it’s a good idea to talk with your GP, child and family health nurse or other medical specialist (for example, a pediatrician) about how this might affect her development.

Neighborhood and Local Community

Your neighborhood and local community influence your child’s development. For example, your child’s development is supported by positive relationships with friends and neighbors, and access to things like playgrounds, parks, shops and local services like child care, schools, health centers and libraries.

Role of Parents

As a parent, you’re always learning. Every parent makes mistakes and learns through experience. It’s OK to feel confident about what you know. And it’s also OK to admit you don’t know and ask questions.

Your own physical and mental health is an important part of being a parent. But with all the focus on looking after a child or baby, lots of parents forget or run out of time to look after themselves. Looking after yourself will help you with the understanding, patience, imagination and energy you need to be a parent.