Monitoring and Encouraging Physical Development in Early Childhood

Every parent wants to make sure that their child is growing properly and hitting all their milestones, especially when it comes to physical development and mental development. You're excited to see them progress from walking to skipping and even running! Read on to learn the behaviours and motor skills development to look out for during early childhood, and what to expect from each age range.

Remember, while it's good to keep track of the milestones, watching a checklist too closely can result in unnecessary stress if your child isn't hitting them "on time". You should also talk to your child's healthcare provider if you have any concerns about their progress.

What are the Developmental Milestones?

These are physical, mental and motor skill development markers that can be seen in your child as they grow older. Motor skills can be divided into two categories: gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements such as sitting, walking and jumping. Fine motor skills refer to the use of smaller muscles, such as grasping, opening containers and drawing. They are different for each age range, so take a look at the general list below of some of the cognitive and physical development activities your child might be doing at different ages throughout their childhood.

1-2 Years Old

At this age, your child would start developing their gross motor skills and simple cognitive skills. They should be able to:

2-3 Years Old

At this age, your child’s clumsy “toddling” will turn into a smoother, more balanced walk. With it comes a whole lot more abilities that they're able to explore, such as the following:

3-4 Years

At this age, your child should have better balance and coordination. For example, they should be able to climb up the stairs without much assistance (but always with you watching). Here are other milestones to keep an eye out for:

4-6 Years

This stage marks one of the most active times of your kid’s childhood. At this age, your boisterous child will continue to refine their earlier skills. They're running faster, jumping higher, and they can even skip and start learning how to ride bicycles. They should also be able to do many of the following.

Supplementing Mental, Motor and Cognitive Development with Nutrition

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Reference:

1. https://www.gracepointwellness.org/462-child-development-parenting-early-3-7/article/12755-early-childhood-physical-development-gross-and-fine-motor-development
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002002.htm
3. Fanaro S, Boehm G, Garssen J, Knol J, Mosca F, Stahl B, Vigi V. Galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides as prebiotics in infant formulas: a review. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2005 Oct;94(449):22-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb02150.x. PMID: 16214761.