Child Development

Child Development

Babies grow and develop at a very rapid rate during the first year of life. They grow physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. To begin with, development refers to the baby's increased skill in using various body parts. When dealing with the development of a child there are three basic developmental rules.

First babies develop in the head region first, then the trunk, and lastly in the legs and feet. Therefore, it is said that babies develop in a head-to-toe direction or cephalocaudally. For example, a baby can hold up their head before they can grasp an object with their hand. Also, they can feed themself before they can walk.

Then children develop from the midline, or centre of the body, outward toward the fingers and toes. This stage or rule is the one which affects the development of motor skills. Motor skills are the