Grasping your children’s developmental milestones and the ways they transform in each stage is crucial for parents.

The article, therefore, will dig into more details about key milestones in child development so that you can get a deep understanding of your child's development as well as approach the best parenting strategies for each stage.  

1. Infant

During the first years of life, babies have dramatic changes every single day, but they can’t indicate their conditions clearly for you to understand what they want or what’s wrong with them because they cannot speak in the first months. 

This is also a big milestone for parents to define whether their child develops normally or has any abnormal signs like genetic disorders, syndromes, and so on. 

Infants can recognize and differentiate people around them at the age of 6 to 9 months. At this stage, they also start babbling and want to explore their surroundings. They learn to sit, crawl, stand, concentrate on listening as well as responding to others. They start mimicking the sound and body language. 

Parenting tips:

• Spending more time communicating with your child

• Supporting your child to learn the language

• Always stimulate your baby and give her or him more attention

• Let your baby listen to music and sing to help her or his brain development

• Make sure that your baby always plays in a safe place

2. Toddler

By the age of three, your baby can do many things on his or her own like walking, running, and start learning to use the toilet, and so on. 

They can also speak many words clearly, short sentences as well as learn to draw, use crayons, and more. 

Parenting tips:

During this stage, your child is always curious to explore many things around them because he can do many things by himself. That’s why you give him safety alerts, instructions, and rules to avoid possible dangers. 

This is also a developmental milestone for your child to learn healthy habits and help him to set a daily routine to follow. As a parent, you should take care of your child’s healthy diet and make sure that your baby has quality sleep. This results in good physical and mental development for him. To do these things, you should support and encourage your child a lot. 

3. Preschool

Preschool is the stage between three and five years old. Children will develop many motor skills like playing games requiring certain techniques like catching a ball. They can speak fluently and express their thoughts or feelings without any difficulties.   

Besides, they can take a shower and go to the toilet on their own. 

Parenting tips

In this child development stage, Children should get used to following a healthy daily routine. They love doing anything without any help and feel flattered about what they do by themselves. So you should stimulate and praise your child’s independence.

This is also a developmental milestone because your child will start going to school and start a new education environment as a kindergartner. Parents should equip themselves with the essential knowledge to support children as well as keep them healthy and happy to start a new environment. 

4. School-age

When your child becomes more independent, it is crucial to teach them how to care for their health and body to be in wellness. Children can learn many things from their peers, teachers but parents also should keep teaching them the necessary skills. 

When your child turns to the age of six to 17 years old, they start expressing their own opinions and show more of their feelings through words and body language. They begin to perceive gender differences and start developing relationships like dating. 

Parenting tips: 

In every stage of children's development, parents should miss staying connected with their children, and in each stage, parents should learn how to communicate with their children in an appropriate way. 

In addition to encouraging your child’s independence, you also teach them valuable soft skills like problem-solving, communication skills, and more. It is important that children should be encouraged to join many healthy activities instead of spending time on digital devices. Because this will lead to a sedentary life and unhealthy habits.

5. Teens

As a teenager, your child will have considerable changes in physical and mental health, especially in their emotional maturity. The good thing is they learn how to control their feelings better, but they are also vulnerable to negative things and like to express their identity.

They will have memorable events in their lives such as a romantic relationship, a first part-time job, graduation, and start choosing their major in colleges. They will take more responsibility for their own decisions.

Parenting tips

This is a development milestone that parents should focus on listening to their children’s thoughts and feelings rather than teaching them new things. Both parents and their children should learn to listen to personal opinions and respect each other. 

Because at that age teens will make their own big decision in their lives, so parents should be the person to guide and support them to overcome adversities as well as their big moments. They will feel supported and not lonely in their life journey. 

Sex education is crucial for teens to have essential knowledge and learn to protect themselves from any toxic relationships.

Wrapping up

Each stage of a child's development is equally important and needs attention and education from parents. However, parents need to understand the changes and differences in each stage of their child's development, then learn and take appropriate approaches in accompanying and educating their children to educate them for healthy development.