Learn How to Support Your Child’s Developmental Stages for a Happier, Healthier Family
It’s been said that parenting is half natural and half learned. For many families, that may be true. But for most of us, even though we know our child’s specific interests and abilities better than others do, we are not experts on every stage of a child’s development. So, while we all have natural parenting instincts, much of our parenting is learned from the way we were parented, from watching friends and family with their children, books, television and social media and information provided from child health and development experts.
Parents, thankfully, do not have to rely just on their instincts when making decisions about their children’s development. “Learned” parenting is extremely valuable to helping parents support their child’s mental, physical and social development. For instance, parenting advice, such as not laying infants on their stomachs for sleeping, changes over the years based on new research, which means that parents and caregivers sometimes have to adapt to the more relevant and updated information. These guidelines have been changed and created to increase child safety but may go against your natural instinct or even the way you were raised.
Parents who better understand their children’s developmental stages, milestones, and how children grow and learn are more equipped at responding effectively and positively to their child’s behavior instead of with frustration or anger. And, as children grow and mature, parents need to adjust accordingly with how they respond to their children’s needs. What might have been effective and appropriate expectations or disciplinary measures when a child was three will be different when they are 13. It’s important to realize as well that what works for one child’s personality and temperament isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution that will work for all of your children.
All parents have questions about raising their children. Luckily, many answers can be found from trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and HealthyChildren.org, or in conversations with your child’s caregivers and doctors.
To get you started, see some age-appropriate tips for positive parenting below:
Infants
Talk to your baby. She will find your voice calming.
Answer when your baby makes sounds by repeating the sounds and adding words. This will help him learn to use language.
Read to your baby. This will help her develop and understand language and sounds.
Toddlers (1-2 years of age)
Encourage your child's growing independence by letting them help with dressing and feeding themselves.
Respond to wanted behaviors more than you punish unwanted behaviors (use only very brief time outs). Always tell or show your child what she should do instead.
Play matching games with your toddler, like shape sorting and simple puzzles.
Toddlers (2-3 years of age)
Encourage your child to take part in pretend play.
Play parade or follow the leader with your toddler.
Teach your child simple songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, or other cultural childhood rhymes.
Preschoolers (3-5 years of age)
Continue to read to your child. Nurture their love for books by taking them to the library or bookstore.
Let your child help with simple chores.
Encourage your child to play with other children. This helps them to learn the value of sharing and friendship.
(Content Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Positive Parenting Tips. Also available in Spanish.)
Be sure to check Quality Care for Children’s Strengthening Families webpage for more information, tips and resources about child development. Other resources to bookmark are:
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Developmental Milestones and Monitoring (Get a FREE training and start kit there)
Strengthening Families Georgia Knowledge of Child Development
