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Child development

A child's development includes both physical and emotional stages, yet one often has little insight or understanding of emotional development. Understanding the stages of your child's emotional development will help you to make sense of your child's behaviour.

Guidelines on development

Babies

• Newborn: crying is a normal, needs to feel calm, safe and have a routine.
• 2 to 3 months: shows feelings and recognises familiar people.
• 4 to 6 months: shows fear around unknown people, calmed by familiar people.
• 6 to 12 months: strong reaction to strangers and clings to parent, shows resistance when not happy to do something, emotional expressions are increased to include fear and sadness.
  

One year

• Beginning to show negative emotions and may resist naps.
• Refuse some foods and may have tantrums.
• Begins to understand turn taking games.
• Needs comfort and reassurance.
• Afraid of being apart from familiar people.
  

Two years

• Shows extreme behaviour - dependent/interdependent.
• Very aggressive/calm and helpful/stubborn.
• Needs to be told what is right and wrong.
• Short attention span.
  
• Little concept of sharing.
• Likes routine.
• Beginning to show feelings of sympathy.
• Pity and pride and aware of praise and smile.
• Becoming more independent.
• Fear of strangers decreasing.
  

Three years

• Play is the main activity of this stage and is important in the development of identity and confidence.
• Demonstrates a balance of happiness and contentment.
• Continues to be self-centered and may feel responsible for everything that happens.
• Vivid imagination and can have imaginary friends.
• Ability to bargain but not to reason.
• Less frustrated and angry.

Four years

• Enjoys jokes and silly games and loves showing off.
• Play still very important.
• Still demonstrates stubbornness.
• Aggression.
• Kicking.
• Biting and blaming others for their naughtiness.
• Sense of past/future developing.
  

Contact Careway Childcare on 01 660 1000 for more information about how our childcare staff (nannies, au pairs, babysitters and mother's helpers) can facilitate your child's development.