Your Child's Development - The Second Year Of Life
Becoming a parent is an incredible experience
, but it can also be overwhelming at times. Sleepless nights and constant worrying are common among new parents. It does not take long before new parents realize the high level of responsibility they now face as they begin raising their child. Recent research on child development has revealed that the majority of a child's brain is developed within the first few years. Raising a child in a healthy atmosphere filled with the proper stimulation can help a child's brain to wire itself in a beneficial way.Babies and toddlers who live in an unhealthy environment can be stunted emotionally and have lifelong limits based on their poor childhood brain development. Studies have shown that babies follow a distinct developmental pattern in four different areas: cognitive skills, speech, socio-emotional development and motor skills. Babies experience rapid development in these four areas during their second year.
Toddler Motor Skills
In the second year, infants begin to crawl and stand. With practice, they will take their first steps and eventually walk on their on their own without their parents assistance. At this stage in their life, they become extremely curious about their surroundings and their newfound mobility makes it easy for them to explore the objects around them. Toddlers want to touch and hold the things that they are interested in, and they begin to reach and grab for those items. They are now able to sit up well, and hold objects such as utensils or cups. This is the perfect time for parents to stimulate their child with educational toys that will improve their child's motor skills. Building blocks, crayons and books for toddlers are an excellent choice for children of this age. Parents can begin to teach their child how to play catch with a ball, how to clap their hands together, touch their toes or reach their arms up high.
Cognitive Stimulation and Development
Young toddlers gradually begin to understand simple concepts such as finding hidden objects and the association between related items like a fork and plate. A child of this age can put together an age appropriate puzzle and has enough patience to flip through a short picture book. Most parents can spot developmental problems at this stage, which is why many children are diagnosed with autism during their first few years of development. Colorful toys, books and puzzles can be used to stimulate cognitive growth. Parents should provide their child with a variety of interactive toys that teach them new skills and can hold their interest.
Communication and Speech Development
Toddlers learn a lot about communication as they begin to take a greater interest in the world around them. Parents watch in amazement as their child's level of communication rapidly increases between the ages of one and two. Most toddlers learn to say simple words like mama and dada and then quickly progress to two or three word sentences. Once a child realizes the power of communication they continue to use their words to express their feelings and even opinions. Children will begin to follow verbal directions and use pointing and other head and hand gestures to communicate with those around them. At this age, toys or books with an audio component will help a child to develop their speech. Playing educational DVDs or CDs which feature basic stories, the alphabet song or fun sing-a-long songs will encourage your child to learn new words.
Toddler Socio-emotional Development
During the second year of development, toddlers learn how to interact with others. Although they play alone, they begin to show an interest in the people around them. They like to have others nearby and enjoy socializing with people. As a child becomes more social, they may begin to resist performing common tasks such as washing their hands or going to bed. Introducing toys that promote interaction with other adults or children can encourage socio-emotional growth. Parents should help their child learn how to share their toys and take turns with others. Proper social skills are essential for a child's success with future relationships.
Each child is a unique individual that will develop at their own rate. The toys and other products that parents and educators use to teach and entertain toddlers cannot replace the need for the nurturing and stimulation that a parent or caregiver can provide. Educational products are only an asset when used in addition to daily parental interaction.
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