The Essential Guide to Development Goals for Preschoolers
How do I know if my child is developing normally? This is a question that often keeps parents up at night, wondering if their child will keep up with other kids. To answer this, experts researched to come up with a set of milestones for each age group. Making sure your child is reaching these milestones is important. If they aren’t, they may need help getting there.
But first, what is child development? Child development refers to the process through which humans usually grow and mature from infants to adults. The measurements include physical growth, cognitive growth and social skills. Child development is focused specifically on this process from birth to about age 17.
Relevance of Developmental Goals
- Gives a blueprint for your child’s expected development
- Helps you arrange your child’s daily life (eg. arranging play dates to ensure more social activity)
- Helps you understand what activities need to be done at home
- Helps you understand if learning difficulties are present
- Ensures early intervention in case milestones are not reached
Popular Approaches to Child Development
Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development maintained that children from all cultures proceed through a series of four stages in a predetermined order: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete, and Formal Operational. He suggested that each stage differs from the others in terms of the quantity of information obtained as well as the quality of knowledge/concepts developed.
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual stage theory proposes that innate sexual drives are the root of development. This theory ends at adulthood.
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson developed a similar theory of stages. But he believed that the main driving force in development is social relationships. This theory is much more comprehensive and covers the stages from birth to old age.
Lev Vygotsky
Lev Vygotsky similarly focused on social interactions in development. His theory put the parent in the role of mentor and the child in the role of apprentice in developmental tasks.
Developmental Goals by Age
6 months
This stage is often one of the most important stages to observe. Issues caught at this point might be resolved and help your child lead a normal life. The first key stage is at 6 months.
1 year
The next key stage in your child’s development takes place at 1 year old. They begin to walk, talk and become familiar with people.
2–3 years
At this stage, children begin to go to preschool and become more aware of the world around them. They learn to play more and understand some concepts like colors and shapes.
4–5 years
At this stage, children usually begin primary school. They begin to make friends, become independent, and learn letters and numbers.
If Your Child Isn’t Meeting Goals
When you feel concerned about your child’s development, it can be overwhelming. You may want to deny or ignore it. The best thing to do for your child is to keep an open mind and get them assessed as soon as possible.
- Speak to your child’s teachers or caregivers whether they have noticed any issues with development. They may raise concerns themselves. Take notes about what they say.
- Find a milestones checklist for your child’s age. Track your child’s development using it.
- When you have all your concerns in place, speak to your child’s doctor. Use the milestone checklist and notes to point out specific concerns.
- Ask the doctor about developmental screening. This is a formal questionnaire about how your child plays, learns, acts and moves. It gives the doctor more information so they can help your child.
- Take notes about what the doctor says. Make sure you ask all the questions you have in mind. If you don’t understand something, ask for an explanation again, or in a different manner.
- Ask your doctor if a specialist is required and ask for a referral, if needed. Make sure that specialist intervention is done as early as possible. Getting early help can make a difference.
Concluding Thoughts
It is important to remember that developmental goals are guidelines. Do not use them as means of competition! Every child will develop at different rates. Some may speak earlier and walk later, or vice versa. If there is worry about a certain goal, some support at home may help your child overcome it.
When selecting a preschool for your child, make sure their developmental goals align with yours. Some schools use different milestones to assess children. You need to make sure that the things you expect your child to learn will be taught at school as well as at home.
If you think there is definitely an issue with your child’s development, speak to their teachers and doctors. Take extensive notes and ask questions. Get help as soon as possible to ensure your child’s development continues.
There are two broad types of parents in the world. Those that believe that their child is special and those that don’t. If you are the first kind, then take the time to understand your child. Remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint. An earlier and deeper understanding of your child might be the best way to ensure that he/she succeeds in this marathon.
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