It’s possible that as a result of lockdowns and learning from home, we may have spent the past couple years being more sedentary than we would like—especially as families. It’s the perfect time to get moving and to encourage healthy physical development in your children. Show
When children grow, it’s a process, a gradual move from one developmental stage to the next. For example, you must walk before you can run. Physical development refers to a child’s ability to move, coordinate, and control their body in two categories: gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills means controlling large parts of the body, such as arms and legs. Fine motor skills means the coordination of small body parts, such as hands and fingers. Parents can foster healthy growth by providing opportunities to practice new skills as well as promoting healthy eating habits during these important childhood years. We know today’s families are busy and schedules are usually full. That’s why these activities listed below are simple, inexpensive, and very kid-friendly.
Another big part of your child’s development is nutrition. Parents are the best resource here, according to the Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board, and Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Here are their suggestions: Introduce New Foods: Parents serve as role models by introducing new foods in a persistent but non-coercive fashion. Studies show that repeated exposure is most critical during the early years of life and that it can take five to 10 exposures to a new food for a child to accept it. Prepare Smaller Portions: In addition, parents should also consider serving smaller portion sizes, encouraging children to stop eating when they feel full, and avoid using food as a reward. Stock Healthy Food: Parents also should stock their homes with healthy products, particularly fruits and vegetables, to encourage their children to choose them as snacks. Remember when introducing physical activities or healthy foods, it’s essential that parents present them in a positive, cheerful way. Of course, you’re never too young (or too old) to commit to health and nutrition. It all starts with one small step. What will be your first step toward a healthier lifestyle? Between birth and age three, children rapidly achieve many important milestones that create the foundation for later growth and development. Early in life, babies depend on others to meet their needs for safety and security. When infants receive warm, consistent care and attention from adults, they are able to establish a sense of trust in the world. They learn that important caregivers will feed them, change them, bathe them, and play with them. This trust serves as an important first step for children's development during the toddler years, a time when children establish independence by exploring their environment. If toddlers trust their caregivers and use them as a secure base from which to explore, they are more confident in their efforts to learn about the world. Furthermore, when children become afraid or encounter danger, they have the confidence to turn away and return to their secure base for reassurance and protection. Toddlers also experience a new sense of self-awareness that grows from their increasing desire to do things for themselves. In other words, toddlers become more independent each and every day. For toddlers, learning to feed themselves and becoming toilet trained are important and exciting accomplishments. These markers provide the necessary starting point for growth and learning during the preschool years. Helping children feel safe and secure during infancy and later encouraging toddlers' exploration are important responsibilities for adults. Children who trust their caregivers are more likely to confidently explore their surroundings and establish a sense of healthy independence. And, as children begin to establish their independence, a positive sense of self-control and self-esteem emerges. Caring adults have a wonderful opportunity to foster children's independence and, in turn, their positive sense of self. The following information provides general knowledge about children's development during infancy and toddlerhood, including physical development, thinking and learning, expressing feelings, awareness of self and others, and communication. Specific suggestions for how adults can positively influence children's development are offered. Special attention is also paid to several issues that are particularly important during infancy and toddlerhood, particularly:Development between birth and 30 monthsEach child grows and develops at his or her own rate. Children display developmental landmarks at different times. The tableb elow lists characteristics that children between the ages of birth and 2-1/2 typically display as they grow and develop. For each type of development (e.g., physical, communication), characteristics for younger children are listed first, followed by the characteristics that children display as they get older (i.e., younger children's characteristics are at the top of each list, older children's are at the bottom). Development table: PhysicalBirth to 8 monthCharacteristics
What can adults do?
8 to 18 monthsCharacteristics
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18 to 36 monthsCharacteristics
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Development table: Thinking and learningBirth to 8 monthCharacteristics
What can adults do?
8 to 18 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
18 to 36 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
Development table: Expressing feelingBirth to 8 monthCharacteristics
What can adults do?
8 to 18 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
18 to 36 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
Development table: Awareness of self and othersBirth to 8 monthCharacteristics
What can adults do?
8 to 18 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
18 to 36 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
Development table: CommunicationBirth to 8 monthCharacteristics
What can adults do?
8 to 18 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
18 to 36 monthsCharacteristics
What can adults do?
Toilet trainingMost children successfully master toilet training by the age of 3. This is an important marker of independence for toddlers, as they gain more control of their own bodies. Parents and other important caregivers play a critical role in facilitating this transition in their children's lives. Children need extra attention and affection during this time. With support from teachers and child care providers, parents can make toilet training a successful learning experience. Listed below are tips for toilet training your child.
BitingWhenever a child bites another person, it is upsetting for everyone. Biting is common among very young children, particularly in group settings such as child care. It is very important for adults to understand why children bite so that they can help children find more appropriate ways to express themselves. The chart on page 6 lists reasons children bite, strategies to help prevent biting, and strategies for responding to biting. Reasons children bite and strategies to prevent bitingBiting satisfies their strong need for independence and control.
Teething makes babies mouths hurt.
They are trying to approach or initiate interaction with another child.
They are seeking attention.
They are angry or frustrated.
They are experimenting and want to know what will happen if they bite.
They are feeling threatened.
Strategies for responding to bitingSometimes prevention efforts do not stop children from biting. When a child bites another person, the adults in charge should consistently respond to each biting episode; specific strategies and ideas are listed below:
ConclusionChildren grow rapidly during infancy and toddlerhood. They accomplish many milestones, including establishing a sense of trust in the world during infancy and finding their independence in toddlerhood. Adults have the important task of providing children varied opportunities to promote their development during infancy and toddlerhood. Using the suggestions that have been offered will help adults to foster a positive, creative environment wherein children can thrive. References
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