PROE™ — A holistic approach to child development.

In the first few years of life, more than 1 million neural connections are formed every second. The quality and variety of a child's early experiences make a huge difference as their brains develop, providing either a strong or weak foundation for learning, behavior, and overall health.

 

Early childhood offers a critical window of opportunity to shape young children's development trajectory and build a foundation for their future and lifelong health.

 

When little ones miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they may go through life with poor physical and mental health; struggle to learn, and, later, earn a living.

​

Therefore, it's important to help young children learn and grow by providing them with a safe environment filled with lots of love and developmental activities.

By understanding the stages of child development, caregivers can better support their kids through each age and stage. Fostering healthy early child development can help ensure that they grow into well-rounded, successful adults.

​

There are five stages of child development: 

​

1. Newborn (0-3 Months). During the newborn stage, babies learn about the world around them. They are able to recognize their parents' faces, voices, and smells, hear and respond to loud sounds. Babies can move their arms and legs, focus on objects nearby, and even make facial expressions like smiling or frowning. At this stage, babies learn best through repetition, such as playing a game or singing a song over and over again.

​

2. Infant (3-12 Months). This stage is characterized by the rapid development of physical skills as infants learn to control their head and body movements and begin achieving many developmental milestones, such as rolling over, crawling, bringing their hands together, sitting without support, babbling, and even standing. They also begin to understand simple words and can show their feelings with facial expressions and gestures like pointing or waving goodbye. As they grow older, they become more independent and explore new things with curiosity.

​

3. Toddler (1-3 Years). During this stage, toddlers continue to develop motor skills while also beginning to explore their environment through play. They often engage in pretend play which helps them learn how to express themselves emotionally and creatively. Cognitively they are building memory skills while recognizing symbols like words, numbers, or letters. Socially they learn how to interact with familiar people but can be very shy around strangers, other children, or new environments.

​

4. Preschool (3-5 Years). During this age range, a developing child continue to refine their motor skills while becoming more independent in solving daily tasks. They become increasingly creative through various activities, such as painting and drawing, which help them express themselves confidently and imaginatively. Language skills also become more advanced during this time period as children use words for more complex thinking processes. Emotionally preschoolers strengthen their sense of identity by understanding who they are in relation to other people around them and developing meaningful relationships with peers at a daycare center.

​

5. School Age (6-17 Years). During this particular age range, children learn to understand their place in the world and how to interact with others. They learn academic skills such as reading, writing, and math. They also develop social-emotional skills that help them form relationships with family members and friends. As they mature, school-age children gain more independence and responsibility for their actions, allowing them to make decisions on their own. Additionally, they become more involved in extracurricular activities that can further enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well being.

​

In conclusion, early childhood is an incredibly important phase in a child's life where physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development all combine, allowing the child to reach its highest academic and personal potential.

Discoveries in scientific publications have unveiled ways parents can foster their children's early childhood development. By responding to children with predictability, showing sensitivity and warmth, creating household rules and routines, reading and engaging with children, promoting safety and health, and using gentle discipline, caregivers can aid their child in achieving healthy emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social success.

​

With your responsive caregiving and guidance, they will have the opportunity to discover and reach their potential. Encouraging them every step of the way can help ensure that your child is confident in their abilities and has the tools necessary for success. 

Gifted children often need additional guidance and educational opportunities in order to reach their full potential. Providing enrichment activities such as music lessons, chess clubs, or art classes and staying involved in their education are great ways to nurture their abilities.

 

You can help your child realize their true potential with the right resources and encouragement! If you're ever unsure how best to support your child's needs, speaking with their teacher or a specialist can be very helpful.

 

It's important to remember that no matter what level of giftedness your child may have, they are still a growing individual who needs love and emotional support just like anyone else.

If you think your child may be gifted, there are a few things you can look for. They may learn new skills quickly, have an active imagination, and enjoy problem-solving. You might also notice they have a good memory and ask many questions. Your child may also excel at certain activities or show an interest in topics beyond their age level.

 

If you think your child is gifted, it's best to talk to their teacher or a specialist who can help determine if this is the case. They may suggest intelligence tests, creativity assessments, or other resources to help confirm your suspicions.

 

It's also important to remember that giftedness is not always easy, and there can be both advantages and disadvantages to being above average in certain areas. Therefore, it is important to seek support and advice if you think your child may be gifted.

When it comes to worrying about your child's health, it is important to understand the developmental milestones they should reach at different ages. It is normal for children to develop at their own pace, and there can be slight variations in what is considered "normal."

 

However, if your child is significantly behind the expected developmental milestones for their age or if you notice a sudden regression in their development, you should consider taking clinical screenings such as SWYC or MCHAT and provide screening results to your pediatrician or self-refer to your local EIS (Early Intervention Services).

​

Learn more: When Should You Be Concerned About Your Child's Development? 

Developmental delays can range from mild to severe and can be caused by various factors such as genetic disorders, environmental risks, or even lack of stimulation. Common developmental delays include language delays, motor skill delays, cognitive, social, and emotional delays.

​

Language delay may include delayed babbling or not saying any words by 18 months or fewer than 50 words by two years of age. To help overcome this delay, parents should actively engage with their children through reading books, telling stories, imitating sounds, and using objects to build on their child's language skills.

​

Motor skill delays occur when a child has difficulty with fine and gross motor tasks such as sitting up, crawling, or walking. Usually, these problems stem from muscle tone issues caused by medical conditions like cerebral palsy. Muscle control can be improved through occupational and physical therapy, which helps improve coordination, strength, and balance. 

​

Cognitive delays involve problems with memory, problem-solving abilities, ability to learn abstract concepts, and executive functioning, such as self-regulation. This type of delay is often linked to medical conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or intellectual disability (ID). Occupational and speech therapies help strengthen a child's cognitive skills while providing behavioral strategies for managing challenging behaviors associated with ID and ASD. Additionally, special education services may be recommended for children with severe cognitive impairments that interfere with learning activities required for academic success.

Families dealing with early childhood development issues have a range of resources available to them. Through the Pathfinder Health app, you can access reliable information on a wide variety of topics related to their baby's growth and behavior.

​

In addition, numerous nonprofit organizations are dedicated to helping families with special needs or challenging circumstances. These organizations often provide support groups for parents as well as services such as counseling and therapy for children who might be having difficulty with matters related to child development.

​

Finally, it is important for parents to stay connected with their pediatrician or family doctor throughout their children's early childhood development. This professional can provide advice regarding age-appropriate activities and behaviors as well as referrals to other specialists if needed.

Developmental delays occur when typical physical, cognitive, language, social, and/or emotional development slows or stops. While this can be due to various medical conditions or genetic factors, some of the most common causes are inadequate nutrition and health care during pregnancy; premature birth; poverty; parenting stress; and exposure to environmental toxins or infections.

 

Additionally, developmental delays may be caused by specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).