Ages 1 to 5 in a child is the most important period for a parent to focus and impart the right foundation. The article below speaks about the different stages of development in a child.
Age One:
Physical changes and communication
Age one children go through some dramatic physical changes. They learn to slowly stand, walk and run. Their muscle strengthens and they develop balance. They also learn to pick up small objects. They start to scribble with crayons or pencils and build towers of blocks
By the time they are 18 months old, children will have a vocabulary of some single words. They also start to put two words together, such as ‘Mama come’. Children are able to follow simple commands from the age of 12 to 18.
Emotional development and social Skills
Your child needs to feel loved. They build close attachments – to their parents, grandparents, and siblings. However, they always need to be assured that you as a parent are close to them. Give all the attention to your child needs at this age.
Now the child is quite active with his or her parents but can be shy with other relatives or people they do not know. Even more outgoing and confident children will look to you for comfort and reassurance, particularly in new or unfamiliar situations.
Reach age two the child will show interest in other kids. It could take some time for your child to get used to other children which depends on the child itself and the encouragement from the parents.
Parental help
Physical & emotional changes need to be watched during this age. Parents need to make them feel secure. Spend time sing songs, tell your child a story and do not force them into many rules.
Age Two:
Physical changes and communication
While age two is called the “terrible twos”. Parents need not be too worried but need to be watchful. Children in their twos are more steady and can really run around. You will see them improving their coordination, better grip on things and very exploring.
Children in their twos will begin with a few words. It is advisable to check with your pediatrician if there are concerns about your child’s speech.
Emotional development and social skills
Mood swings, getting a little stubborn on what they want becomes a challenge to parents. Parents battle on how to handle the feelings of the children. Listen to what the child is trying to say or convey. Catering to the feelings of the child help decrease his or her tantrums.
Your two-year-old will become increasingly interested in playing with other children, perhaps copying other children. It is important that you as a parent should stay close and supervise. Child ego may end up with small fights, tears, give it space and time and the child will adjust.
Parental help
Year two and growing, your child will crave for your attention and time. Take some time off to spend undivided attention with your child. Find what the child wants, follow what they are doing and be their guide and teach them the rights and the wrongs through motivation and positive advise.
Time to look for the right play school and nursery. Best is to refer online www.uaenurseries.ae which gives you a very good choice of nurseries close to your home or workplace whichever suits you well. If you are living in Mirdiff in Dubai, UAE you can just write nurseries in Midriff and the curriculum of your choice. The UAE Nurseries site will give you the right results. Nurseries are available in Deira, Al Qusais, Al Nahda, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Bur Dubai. You name it and the www.uaenurseries.ae website has it.
Age Three
Physical changes and communication
Children usually after their 3rd birthday shows a clear preference for what hand they would be using. They would begin to get on their tricycle. Physical activities will help improve their muscles. The child can mark a straight line, scribble, and even draw.
Now your child’s communication skills will be improving very fast. Improvement in speaking like sentences and words. A good time for you to spend time teaching letters, recognize objects. Playschools and Nurseries like the ones you can find in UAE’s best nursery or playschool site www.uaenurseries.ae The right time to communicate house rules, find out if the child is telling a lie deal with the child immediately with utmost care and love. Teach them to speak the truth. Nurseries are available in all areas in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Emotional development and social skills
At age 3 the child begins to understand its surrounding, people, social being and feelings of people. They learn to play with toys and consider other children to play with them. They become more giving and this can be attributed to the example the parents set for their children. Children watch and copy their elders more than do what is told. A nursery is one such place where the child connects with other children.
As a parent, you will see your child playing independently. This is not of a concern as they usually try to copy what they see special if the mother is taking care of another sibling. With your child’s imagination developing the kind of games, friends he or she will make will keep changing.
Parental help
Give some independence to your child. Let him or her free to make the small mistakes and then guide them positively. Be a guide and not a dominating parent.
Let your child explore and experiment under your guidance. This is the time they need guidance and encouragement.
Age Four
Physical changes and communication
This is the time you will see children growing taller at a faster pace. Good to keep an eye on the growth of the child. Find out what food is the child interested in. Ensure processed food is not part of the diet. If you are concerned about the physical developments of the child which includes sight & speech. It is good to see the pediatrician
At age 4 children are able to communicate clearly to their parents, teachers, and others. While they could have some challenges in pronouncing some words or letters. This is natural and parents or nursery teachers can handle this.
Emotional development and social Skills
Children at age four can understand their surroundings well, they see the difference at home, at schools with friends and are able to differentiate and adapt well. They can well understand others feelings. They will want their personal space. They will want to spend time on their own. You as a parent have given them that space and let them do so.
This is when you can ask your child who is your best friend as they will start to make personal friends and spend time with them. They will be ready to share with their friends. They can even get affected by how their friends take care of them. This could lead to complaints and tantrums which needs to be managed well.
Parental help
Create a habit of reading in your children, especially with technology capturing every home, it is good to ensure your child reads and spend time offline in outdoor activities than on a screen device. The playschools play a very important role in this. Uaenuseries.ae helps you find nurseries which will help prepare your child to kindergarten or school. They will make reading and learning enjoyable.
Age five
Physical changes and communication
It is said that age 1 to 5 is very important in the child’s growth. How a child is taken care in these years will have an effect in the life of the child. These are fundamental years of learning in a child. The year five is when the child is growing stronger physically, jump and balance. A time when they will lose their milk teeth and new teeth will begin to grow.
Children now are not only interested in listening to stories but start telling stories, enacting action songs, sing, describe events. They are keen to tell you a parent what they have learned. Don’t be surprised when they say their teacher is right and you are not. Children are able to speak complete sentences and very inquisitive and ready to learn.
Emotional development social skills
While some Asian schools children are in school at the age of three and a half, however, the European or American will usually admit their children to school at age four or five. With school, you will see you child’s behavior changing. Their wants will increase. They will want all they see with their friends in schools or might pick up tantrums or crying till they get what they want. They will be more interested in fairy books, dolls if it is a girl and fearful of monsters, scary stories, however, the parents need to spend time with their children and handle their fears, concerns and wants. Children at this age need a lot of motivation, encouragement, and praise for what they have done. Appreciation helps them do more
You don’t have to worry about your child having fun with other children as they would love to play with others. The concern would be if your child does not. There is a spirit of competition and wanting to be first or to be noticed. It is for you as a parent to make your child understand that it is not all about being first but about taking part, about sharing etc.
Parental help
Give your child a lot of opportunities to do things on his or her own and learn from mistakes. Ensure your communication with your child is always positive. Get them into music, drawing, dancing or other activities that will help in the physical, mental growth of the child.
