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The Experts Say -
Parenting & Child Health |
Developing Your Child’s
Full Potential
Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Developmental
Milestones
Your baby is growing
every day. Other than
the physical growth, he
is developing
emotionally and socially
as well. The
following milestones
mark your child’s
growing years.
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In
the first six
weeks, your baby
will:
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Enjoy seeing bright
colours or large
black and white
pictures and toys
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Move his arms and
legs to show
interest in the
action around him
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Cry to communicate
his needs
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Make eye contact to
show his interest
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At
6 weeks to 3
months, your
baby will:
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Look in the
direction of sounds
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Respond to your
smiles with his own
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Enjoy listening to
music and your voice
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Start exploring the
use of his hands
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At 3 to 6 months,
your baby will:
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Able to
differentiate
between objects that
are near and far
away from him
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Hold his head up on
his own, roll over
and sit up with
support
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Reach for and grab
things with his
hands, including
reaching for his
toes
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Make sounds when
playing by himself
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At 6 to 9 months,
your baby will: |
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Learn to sit without
support and crawl on
his tummy using his
forearms and elbows
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Start babbling and
making “b” sounds
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Enjoy repeating an
action over and over
again
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Be less affectionate
towards unfamiliar
people and even get
upset with strangers
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At 9 to 12 months,
your baby will:
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Use his hands to
pick up small
objects, drop and
even throw objects
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Crawl all over and
stand with some
support. He
will walk with
support
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Recognise a few
familiar words
including his name
and “no”
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Like simple
children’s songs and
rhymes
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Become more hesitant
around strangers
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At 1 to 2 years
old, your child
will:
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Enjoy making marks
using paper and
crayons
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Learn to walk and
point. Soon,
he will roll and
kick a ball
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Know at least 50
words by 24 months
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Make simple
sentences by
stringing two to
three words together
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Start imitating
actions like feeding
his doll with a cup
or spoon
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Recognise his self
in the mirror
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Play next to other
children and may
compete with them
for toys. As
your child grows
older, he should
start playing
together with other
children
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At 2 to 3 years,
your child will: |
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Start scribbling and
would learn to cut
using safety
scissors
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Be able to run, jump
on both feet and
climb stairs
independently
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Talk in short
sentences and about
events he remembers
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Have an avid
imagination, and may
have imaginary
friends. He
enjoys play pretend
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Learn to count 1-2-3
and name objects
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Show more interest
in other children
and like playing
with them
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Know the difference
between boys and
girls
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Return
to Top
Spot The Difference
(and delays)
Every child is unique
and the developmental
process may differ from
child to child.
Dr June Lou,
Specialist in Paediatric
Medicine at Raffles
Children’s Centre, often
hears comments such as
“he started to crawl two
months later than his
sister!” According
to Dr Lou, as long as
the development is
within the “window’
period, it is perfectly
okay for a child to be a
little slower or faster
than others.
However, for some
children, developmental
delays may hinder them
from growing to be all
they could be.
Here are some signs that
may signal a need to
seek professional help.
Behavioural Warning
Signs
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Does not pay
attention or stay
focused on an
activity for as long
a time as others of
the same age
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Focuses on unusual
objects for long
periods of time;
enjoys this more
than interacting
with others
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Avoids or rarely
makes eye contact
with others
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Gets unusually
frustrated when
trying to do simple
tasks that most
children of the same
age can do
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Shows aggressive
behaviours, acting
out and appears to
be very stubborn,
compared with other
children
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Displays violent
behaviors on a daily
basis
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Stares into space,
rocks body or talks
to self more often
than other children
of the same age
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Does not seek love
and approval from a
caregiver or parent
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Gross Motor Warning
Signs
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Has stiff arms
and/or legs
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Has a floppy or limp
body posture
compared to other
children of the same
age
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Uses one side of
body more than the
other
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Has a clumsy manner
compared with other
children of the same
age
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Vision Warning Signs
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Seems to have
difficulty following
objects or people
with his eyes
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Turns, tilts or
holds head in a
strained or unusual
position when trying
to look at an object
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Seems to have
difficulty finding
or picking up small
objects dropped on
the floor (after the
age of 12 months)
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Has difficulty
focusing or making
eye contact
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Closes one eye when
trying to look at
distant objects
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Eyes appear to be
crossed or turned
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Brings objects too
close to eyes to see
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One or both eyes
appear abnormal in
size or colour
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Hearing Warning Signs
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Talks in a very loud
or very soft voice
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Seems to have
difficulty
responding when
called from across
the room, even when
it is for something
interesting
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Turns body so that
the same ear is
always turned toward
sound
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Has difficulty
understanding what
has been said or
following directions
after, he has turned
three years of age
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Doesn't startle to
loud noises
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Ears appear small or
deformed
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Fails to develop
sounds or words that
would be appropriate
at his age
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Return
to Top
Help for Developmental
Delays
If you suspect that your
child may have a
developmental delay, you
should talk with your
child's doctor as soon
as possible.
“As children learn
developmental skills in
a consecutive manner
(e.g.: crawl, walk,
run), it is key that
intervention occurs as
early on as possible,”
explained
Dr Wendy Sinnathamby,
Specialist in Paediatric
Medicine, Raffles
Children’s Centre.
“Sometimes a delay in
one area can affect the
other developmental
areas. A child
with a speech delay for
example may be affected
socially and
emotionally.”
The doctor will address
your concerns, examine
your child, and get help
to screen or evaluate
him for developmental
delays.
Every parent desires the
best for their child.
Your keen observation
and concern can help
your child develop
optimally.
Return
to Top
Article contributed by:
Raffles Medical Group
Dated: November 2011
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Raffles
Medical
Group is
a leading
medical
group and
the largest
private
group
practice in
Singapore.
As a fully
integrated
healthcare
organisation,
the Group
owns and
operates a
network of
family
medicine
clinics, a
tertiary
care private
hospital,
insurance
services and
a consumer
healthcare
division.
Patients of
the Group
enjoy a
continuum of
care, from
having their
most basic
healthcare
needs met
through the
Group’s
islandwide
network of
Raffles
Medical
clinics, to
specialist
and tertiary
care at
Raffles
Hospital. |
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