Page 6 - Parenting Pamphlets

Exercise: How Kids Grow - Kids are all different. The stages listed in the chart show what a lot of children do at certain ages. Your child may be different, showing a behavior earlier than expected,
or much later, depending on who they are, and their experiences growing up. As you read this chart, put your child’s initials next to the activities your children are doing.

Age Physical Development Mental Development Emotional/Social Development
Infants: (Birth to 2 years) „ Motor ability - Great changes from control of muscles, to rolling, „ Making sounds, babbling, imitates sounds „ Smiles, recognizes mother, can tell difference between familiar persons and
crawling, walking, running in the first two years „ Responds to simple commands strangers, expects feeding, dressing, bathing
Babies develop rapidly from „ Sleep changes from 20 hours a day at birth, to 12 hours at 10-12 „ Interested in own image „ Doesn’t like to be separated from mother, responds to name, waves bye-bye,
sleeping and feeding to crawling months, with 1-2 hour naps „ Growing vocabulary from 1 ½ - 2 years – of more than 200 understands “No”
and walking in the first two years. „ Capable of controlling bowel and bladder by 1 ½- 2 years words „ Can show anger, affection, fear of strangers, curiosity
You can find much more detailed „ Temper tantrums from 1-3 years
breakdowns of development for „ Obeys limited commands
every 2-3 months during this time. „ Feeds himself
©2022 Learnovation®, LLC „ Can’t make decisions, fear of separation „ Feels pride in accomplishments
Toddlers/ Preschool: (2-5) „ Jump up and down „ Starts to use short sentences- uses I, Me, and You „ Violent emotions, anger - Shows emotion through facial expressions – anger,
„ Copies parents’ actions
joy, has a sense of humor, dependent, clinging,
„ Ride tricycle
„ Enjoys playing with others, but possessive about toys, likes to share
„ Rigid insistence on keeping a routine
„ Use crayons
„ Resists parents demands, gives orders
„ Likes to pretend, open play
„ Build with blocks
„ Draw a circle and a cross (4 years)
„ Rules – follows simple do’s and don’ts
„ By 3-4 is self-sufficient in many routines
„ 4-5 – skips
„ Knows over 2,000 words by 5 years
„ Starts to identify with same sex parent, imitates same-sex parent when
„ Dresses self
playing
Elementary School: (6-11) For Evaluation Only „ Able to read and write „ Intense curiosity and interest in other children’s bodies
„ Affectionate with parents
„ Ride bikes
„ Very selective in friends
„ Skating
„ Curious about how things work
„ Like to build things
„ Friendships are usually same sex
„ Is eager to learn
„ Begin to show organized, logical thought
„ Privacy becomes more important
„ Improved coordination
„ Start becoming more independent (9-10)
Pre-Teens-Young Teens: (12-15) „ Girls begin to develop faster than boys (9-10) „ Able to memorize „ Involved in groups and clubs
„ Beginning of puberty
„ Question parents and think they know everything, want more
„ Sudden growth spurts, gaining height and weight, body hair and „ Abstract thought, see principles behind rules independence
acne „ Knows right from wrong „ Begin to rebel towards rules, often angry
„ Body changes with puberty „ Try to make decisions on their own „ Likes to participate in competitive sports and clubs
„ Girls begin menstruation „ Usually has a group of friends, start dating, annoyed by younger brothers
„ Begin to have sexual desires and sisters
„ Worries about grades, appearance, popularity
„ Can become withdrawn and moody
High School Age Teens: (15-18) „ Approaching adulthood „ Developing own belief system „ May have conflict with parents over rules and restrictions
„ Girls are mostly mature „ Concerned about body image „ Values privacy
„ Boys have growth spurts „ Abstract thinking and logic „ Usually has many friends, more peer pressure
„ More likely to act on sexual desires from a physical need vs. „ Concerned about the future „ Actively dates, may want to be in a single, romantic relationship
a mature relationship „ Starting to make their own decisions „ May be moody, angry, impulsive, self-centered
„ Wants to be independent