- Its not a competition: If you find yourself in conversations with other parents who are keen to compare their child’s achievements with your child, and you feel uncomfortable, try saying nothing or very little. As parents, we are all very proud of our children and willing to talk about them so if someone wants to talk about their child, let them. If they ask about your child in comparison, you can make a general comment such as “”We are just so amazed at how much he is changing every day!”
- Developmental Delays: Children progress in their development at their own rate but some children will take longer due to premature birth, illness, disability, or even problems within their environment. These delays can be temporary or more long term.
- Concerns? If you are concerned about your child’s growth or development, speak to people you know will be supportive – a close friend, your partner, family. If possible, seek professional assistance – community nurse, GP, psychologist or other allied health professionals. Many chemists now have professionals on site to answer any concerns or help you weight baby so pop in and have a chat.
Developmental Milestone charts are designed to give a general guideline as to when we might expect to see certain skills and abilities emerge in our children. They should provide an age range, e.g. 6 to 9 months, rather than a specific age. Children progress in their growth and development at their own rate and, in most cases, will catch up to their peers at some point. Our children grow up so quickly, let’s try and enjoy their achievements as they happen and marvel at the amazing things they are learning to do each and every day.
If you are concerned about your child’s development, seek professional support as early intervention can help identify any challenges and assist your child with their natural developmental progress. Changes Psychology has several psychologists passionate about helping parents and their young children
Reference:
1 http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-truth-about-developmental-milestones/
