Development process of unfolding, expanding,

becoming fuller, more complex and more complete.

Global impression of the child, and of fast growth,
increase in understanding, acquisition of skills, and more
sophisticated responses and behavior. It refers to
refinement and specialization of a childs function with
acquisition of increasingly complex abilities in various
functional domains.
- Determined by genetic endowment. It is
modified by biochemical influences and environmental
events. For the primary care provider, child development
serves as a window to the genes, brain and environment.
Requirements for optimal development:
- well formed and functioning CNS
- appropriate and stimulating environment, and
providing of proper nutrition at all ages
- opportunities to learn and act, as well as
challenges and rewards
Principles:
- continuous process from conception to maturity
(begins intra-utero)
- sequence is the same in all children, but rate of
development is variable
- development in intimately related to the
maturation of the CNS
- development proceeds from head to feet
(cephalocaudal direction)
- generalized mass activity but specific individual
responses
- certain primitive reflexes lost before
corresponding voluntary movements are
acquired. (ex. Grasp reflex disappears at 3-4
months)
Areas of development:
- gross motor involves large muscles of the
body, concerned with posture and balance.
- fine motor smaller muscles, involves eye-hand
coordination and problem solving skills.
- Language art of communication, best
predictor of ones future iq.
Understanding/comprehension, verbal and
expressive language.
- Personal/social personal (ability to do things
for yourself) and social (ability to relate and
interact with other people)
Gross motor development very much dependent on
brain maturity. Weakest correlation to iq.
Essential milestones:
- 3 months head control of around 90 degrees
- 4-5 months roll over
- 6-7 months sit with support
- 8-9 months sit alone
- 9-10 months stand holding on
- 11-12 months stand alone

- 9-17 months walking

- 3 years write and pedal bike
Fine motor development most are related to self help
skills
Essential milestones:
- 3 months hands should be open and unfisted
- 4 months grasp
- 5 months reach
- 6 months hold a bottle
- 11-12 months mature pincer grasp
- 1 year drink from trainers cup
- 15-18 months scribbling
- 3 years copy a circle
- 4 years cross
- 5 years square
Language from simple to complex.
Essential milestones: (receptive)
- birth receptive/ comprehensive language
(auditory)
- 4 months localization of sound (turning
towards sound)
- 6-7 months respond to name when called
- 9 months respond to No
- 1 year follow one-step gesture
- 15-18 months point to body parts
- 2 years follow two-step commands
Essential milestones: (expressive)
- 3 months cooing
- 6 months babbling
- 8 months utter non specific mama or dada
- 1 year more words other than mama or dada
and with meaning
- 2 years combining two words to form phrases
- 3 years talking in simple sentences, tell name,
gender and age, and tell little stories
Personal/social
Essential milestones: (personal)
- 6 months hold bottle or finger feed
- 1 year drink from trainers cup and attempt to use
spoon
- 2 years toilet trained by day time
- 3 years toilet trained by night time
- 4 years dressing without supervision
- 5 years tie own shoe laces
Essential milestones: (social)
- 2 months social smile
- 9 months play peek-a-boo or patty-cake
- 2 years parallel playing
- 3 years make believe playing
Gauge of cognitive functioning:
- 15 months build tower of 3 cubes
- 2 years build tower of 7 cubes and shoot shapes in
puzzles
Denver II method to monitor of areas of development of a
child; helps in early detection of developmental disabilities.