Milestones of physical development from 0 to 5 years

From the moment of birth, babies are inundated with sensory experiences that they are eager to explore.  Babies look at their parents with their eyes, try to move toward the warm touch of their caregivers, and move their mouths to touch and taste just about anything they can have nearby. As children grow, their abilities to control balance, movement, and fine motor skills become more and more advanced.

Developmental milestones are skills that most children can accomplish by a certain age. During the first year of a child’s life, physical milestones focus on the child’s learning to master self-movement, holding objects, and hand-mouth coordination.

FROM 0 TO 3 MONTHS

Babies at this age begin to:

• • Using rooting, sucking, and grasping reflexes

• • Raise your head slightly when lying on your stomach

• • Hold your head up for a few seconds with support

• • Clench hands and clench fists

• Repeat body movements

3-6 MONTHS

At this age, babies begin to develop greater agility and strength. They also begin to:

• • Turn around

• • Move the body forward

• • Pick up objects

• • I will bring objects to my mouth

• Shake and play with objects

6 TO 9 MONTHS

During this time, children become increasingly mobile. They usually start to:

• • Gatear

• • Picking up and throwing the object towards your own body

• Transfer toys and objects from one hand to another

9 TO 12 MONTHS

In addition to major milestones, such as getting up and walking, children also begin to develop more advanced fine motor skills. In this window of development, most babies are able to:

• • Sitting without help

• • Stand up unaided

• • Pick up and throw objects

• • Roll a ball

• Pick up objects with your hands

1 TO 2 YEARS

Children become more and more independent and this age and tasks that require balance and hand-eye coordination begin to emerge. During this stage of development, most children are able to:

• • Picking things up off the floor while standing

• • Walk backwards

• • Up and down stairs

• • Move to music (dance)

• • Coloring and painting by moving the arm

• • Doodle with colors

• Open and close doors

2 TO 3 YEARS

Building on previous skills, children become increasingly adept at activities that require coordination and speed. At one to three years of age, most children begin to:

• • Follow a little instruction

• • Jump in the same place

• • Kick a ball

• • Stand up to the limp

• • Turn the pages of a book

• • Draw circles

• Holding a color with the movement of the clamp in your hand

3-4 YEARS

Physical skills become more advanced as children develop better balance and movement skills. At the age of three to four, most children begin to:

• • Riding a tricycle

• • Going down a slide without help

• • Throw and collect toys

• • Walk straight

• • Build tall blocks with toy blocks

• Handling play dough and clay

4-5 YEARS

During this developmental period, children become increasingly confident in their abilities. Most children begin to:

• • Hop

• • Walk backwards

• • Do cartwheels

• • Cut paper with safety scissors

• • Write some letters

• Copy shapes with pencil

During early childhood it is amazing how children can reach these milestones. One of the best ways parents can ensure that their children reach key milestones in physical development is to create an environment that encourages children to explore the world safely. For babies, this means giving your baby enough room to move, crawl, and play. Parents should also make sure that the baby has plenty of safe objects nearby to practice picking up, pulling, shaking, and putting in the mouth.

To encourage the development of gross motor skills, it is essential to give children plenty of opportunities to practice their new emerging skills. Giving children the time, space, and resources they need to play with balls, run, jump, and balance. Offer children the opportunity to participate in the game, but do not pressure them to be experts in everything.  Remember, children need to be able to explore their abilities and develop confidence in their abilities .

Parents can help their children develop fine motor skills in the same way. Offer children play experiences that involve drawing, doing puzzles, or stringing pieces to help them develop better fine motor movements and improve hand-eye coordination. Remember that security is essential. As babies and children become increasingly mobile and physically active, it is important to have some basic safety precautions in place. Stair doors, outlet covers, and parental observation are ways to minimize risks while giving children the freedom they need to explore and play.

Great care

Sometimes parents trust each other and think that nothing will happen because they believe that their child controls the space better than he / she actually does. A child less than 5 years old will always need the constant supervision of his parents at all times. You should never leave a child of these ages who is alone playing in a bedroom, in the living room, in the park or in the field.

Accidents happen in just seconds and the consequences can be fatal. In this sense, parents must be aware of the safety of their children all the time, since all the measures that are used to keep them safe are few! It is important to offer them freedom but always under the physical closeness and supervision of the adult.

Children need to grow up safe and confident in their abilities, but also knowing that their parents or caregivers will be by their side to guide them at all times.