It is important however, to remember that every child is an individual and therefore should be treated as one. They should not be categorised by these patterns of development that are outlined and at what age this stage of development should be reached. Every child develops at different rates and so as a childcare practitioner, it is our responsibility to help the children to develop further by recognising the individuals areas of development that may need assistance to progress too and using the age and stages of development as a guideline. By recognising areas of development and at what age this should be roughly reached, it allows any areas of development that may need to be assisted to be reached to be observed and any concerns in a child’s development to be highlighted.
Physical development 0-3 years
Babies are born with a range of reflexes. As the child develops, its movements become more controlled as their body grows stronger and their muscle tome increases. Usually, by the time the child is one year old, they are able to sit up and are mobile, can reach objects and handle them well and with ease. Children usually start walking around the age 0f 12 to 15 months. As the child’s development progresses, larger gross movements