The pattern of development in the first 3 years
The pattern of development in the first 3 years of life
Early childhood is a time of massive growth in all areas of development. A needy newborn grows into a little person who can take care of their own body and interact with others. Because of this, the primary developmental task of this stage is ‘skill development’.
Between birth and age three, physically, a child typically quadruples in weight and doubles in height. Bodily proportions also shift, so that the infant, whose head accounts for almost one-fourth of total body length, becomes a toddler with a more balanced, adult-like appearance. Despite these rapid physical changes, the average three-year-old has mastered many skills, including walking, sitting, toilet training, using utensils, scribbling, and enough hand-eye coordination to catch and throw a ball.
Skills typically aquired at each stage
At Birth
Babies are born with some gross motor & fine motor skills, they are;
When on their backs, they lay with their head turned to one side
When placed on their front, again with their head to one side, the buttocks is humped and the knees are tucked under the abdomen
When pulled to a sitting position, the head lags
When held up by a hand under the chest, the head drops below the plane of the body, and the arms and legs are partly bent
Babies usually hold their hands tightly closed, but the hands may open spontaneously during feeding or when the back of the hand is being stroked
They often hold their thumbs tucked in under their fingers
1 – 3 months
Keep their head to one side when lying on their back, with arm and the leg on the face side outstretched, the knees apart, and the soles of the feet turned inwards
Can turn from their side to their back
Will lift their head briefly from the prone position
When held in ‘ventral suspension’, will keep the head in line with the body and the hips semi-extended
Make jerky and uncontrolled arm & leg movements
If pulled to a sitting position, will show head lag
Early childhood is a time of massive growth in all areas of development. A needy newborn grows into a little person who can take care of their own body and interact with others. Because of this, the primary developmental task of this stage is ‘skill development’.
Between birth and age three, physically, a child typically quadruples in weight and doubles in height. Bodily proportions also shift, so that the infant, whose head accounts for almost one-fourth of total body length, becomes a toddler with a more balanced, adult-like appearance. Despite these rapid physical changes, the average three-year-old has mastered many skills, including walking, sitting, toilet training, using utensils, scribbling, and enough hand-eye coordination to catch and throw a ball.
Skills typically aquired at each stage
At Birth
Babies are born with some gross motor & fine motor skills, they are;
When on their backs, they lay with their head turned to one side
When placed on their front, again with their head to one side, the buttocks is humped and the knees are tucked under the abdomen
When pulled to a sitting position, the head lags
When held up by a hand under the chest, the head drops below the plane of the body, and the arms and legs are partly bent
Babies usually hold their hands tightly closed, but the hands may open spontaneously during feeding or when the back of the hand is being stroked
They often hold their thumbs tucked in under their fingers
1 – 3 months
Keep their head to one side when lying on their back, with arm and the leg on the face side outstretched, the knees apart, and the soles of the feet turned inwards
Can turn from their side to their back
Will lift their head briefly from the prone position
When held in ‘ventral suspension’, will keep the head in line with the body and the hips semi-extended
Make jerky and uncontrolled arm & leg movements
If pulled to a sitting position, will show head lag