understanding and supporting your child's development age 0–6
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding and Supporting
Your Child’s Development Age 0–6 Months
Developed by Informed Parents—Successful Children (IPSC)
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Overview
The mission of Informed Parents—Successful Children (IPSC) is to provide non-English-speaking parents and caregivers with tools to promote early childhood development and success. IPSC is funded by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
IPSC has prepared this booklet to provide parents with information about how babies (0–6 months) grow and develop and what they can do as parents to encourage their babies’ learning.
What follows is a brief description of four areas of development: cognitive, physical, social-emotional and language and literacy; along with overviews of developmental milestones; inexpensive activities you can do at home to encourage your child’s healthy development; and health and safety guidelines.
Children do not reach developmental milestones at the exact same age. Variations are expected from child to child. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the development of your child, please contact us (see contact information on back cover).
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Developmental Areas
Child development is commonly divided into four areas: physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language and literacy. These four areas are closely related and often overlap.
Physical development refers to the development of large muscles (gross motor) and small muscles (fine motor). Gross motor includes balance, stability, and a child’s ability to control large muscles in the body, especially the arms and legs. Fine motor includes using and coordinating small muscles in the hands and wrists.
Cognitive development refers to the development of children’s thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills. Children develop their thinking from the simple to the complex and from the concrete to the abstract.
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Social-emotional development refers to the process by which children learn to interact with others, communicate and express their feelings, and develop their identity and self-esteem.
Language development refers to the process by which children learn to use symbols and sounds to communicate. Literacy development refers to the process by which children learn to read and write.
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Physical Development
During the first six months of life, parents are able to notice the many physical changes their babies go through because they grow at an amazingly fast rate.
One of the first physical responses seen in a newborn is called “reflex.” These movements and responses are natural abilities babies have from birth. For example, the rooting reflex, a movement a baby makes when nursing, occurs when a baby’s cheek or mouth is touched gently, causing the baby to turn toward the touch and make sucking movements with his/her mouth.
As babies grow, they learn to control the different parts of their bodies. These improvements follow a pattern that moves from head to toe and from the center of their bodies toward their limbs. Babies are able to hold their heads up and look from side to side before they gain control of their arms and legs.
At approximately four months, newborns tend to put objects in their mouths as a way to learn about them, and they learn to coordinate movements to reach their hand to their mouths.
Around five to six months, babies start to grasp objects and move them from one hand to the other. By the time babies are six months old, they begin to sit up with support and to turn over from their stomachs to their backs and vice versa.
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What Babies Can Do
How Parents Can Help
Suck on fingers and find their hands a fascinating plaything.
(0–6 months)
Tell your baby about what he/she sees. (e.g., “Look at your hands. Are you sucking on them? What are you reaching for? Do you want this shaker?”)
Locate sounds.
(2 months)
Play music and sing, read and talk to your baby.
Begin to gain control of eyes, hands and leg muscles and movements.
(3 months)
Provide a safe and comfortable space to allow freedom of movement.
Provide soft toys and infant mirrors.
Place the baby on his/her stomach to stimulate muscle strength in the arms, torso, and neck.
Reach dangling objects.
(3 months)
Hang a mobile with highly contrasting colors above the baby’s crib that the baby can reach and touch. Make sure the mobile is secure and has no loose pieces.
Grasp and shake hand toys.
(4 months)
Give the baby lightweight rattles or soft, brightly patterned toys that make soft noises.
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Cognitive Development
Babies are capable of learning from the moment they are born. Their brains are developing at a fast pace, giving them the ability to recognize voices and respond to objects and/or people in their environment.
When babies are born, they respond purely by reflex (e.g., sucking when something is placed in their mouths, grasping a finger when it is placed in their hand). Reflexes help the baby survive and provide the foundation for brain development.
During the first six months, infants do not understand that objects are permanent. They think that if they cannot see something it does not exist. For example, when a favorite toy is put away, babies think it is gone.
Newborns repeat activities over and over, showing their ability to remember actions and the effect of actions. This repetition provides evidence of early signs of memory.
As babies age, they are able to understand that certain actions cause certain responses. When they shake a rattle, it makes noise; when they cry, their mom gives them attention; etc. They also begin to use tools to get what they want. At first they use their cries to let parents know they need something; later they use their own bodies to reach for things. Babies are also able to imitate facial expressions of adults, which demonstrates newborns’ ability to focus and repeat observed behaviors.
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What Babies Can Do
How Parents Can Help
Cry to make their needs known.
(0–6 months)
Do not let a young baby cry because you are afraid of spoiling him/her.
Consistently failing to respond when infants cry in the first six months can upset your baby and make him/her feel lonely and afraid.
Learn about objects by mouthing, touching, shaking and banging them.
(0–6 months)
Provide your baby with toys/objects of different sizes, textures and colors (e.g., soft, hard, big, brightly colored, etc.).
Put toys and other objects in their mouths. (4 months)
Be sure to keep toys clean since your baby will put them in his/her mouth.
Make sure there are no loose pieces in the toys in order to avoid choking hazards.
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Social-Emotional Development
Babies enter the world with their own unique personalities. Some babies are very calm and easily comforted when upset; others cry often and for long periods. This is called temperament.
From birth, babies form strong attachments with important adults. Newborns can tell the difference between their parents and strangers and look for the familiar voices of their parents.
By the end of the first month, infants express their feelings through facial expressions (e.g., their eyes widen and their mouths open as they greet a parent with joy). Between two and four months, babies stop crying more easily when approached by parents or familiar caregivers.
In the later months, babies continue to become more social and may begin to engage other adults by smiling and reaching out their hands and arms to play. They also become able to show joy, disappointment, anger, fear, interest, and surprise through facial expressions.
Early emotions develop based on infants’ individual personalities and their relationships with others. As babies and parents/caregivers form strong bonds, the interactions between them grow and their unique personalities emerge.
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What Babies Can Do
How Parents Can Help
Distinguish parent’s voices and form strong attachments (relationships) with familiar adults.
(0–6 months)
Provide your baby with constant love and attention.
Talk to him/her in a soothing and affectionate way.
Communicate needs through crying.
(1 month)
Respond to your baby’s cries calmly.
Remember that he/she is not being spoiled; at this age crying is their way to communicate with you.
Begin to show wariness or distress when approached by an unfamiliar person.
(5 months)
Understand that this is normal behavior. Hold your baby if you notice that he/she becomes distressed and talk to him/her calmly. Explain to him/her who the person is while holding your baby.
Express joy, disappointment, anger, fear, and surprise in their facial expressions.
(5 months)
Play the mirror game. When your baby smiles, you smile back; when he/she opens his/her mouth, you open yours.
Try to initiate some faces to see how your baby responds.
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Language and Literacy Development
Even though newborn babies are unable to talk, they are still able to communicate in different ways, using their bodies and cries to make their needs known.
Language is part of an infant’s day. When waking up, an infant may be greeted with the chatter of the family; when feeding, he/she may hear the sounds of people around him/her; and at bedtime, quiet songs and gentle movements let him/her know it is time to go to sleep.
The language a newborn uses depends on how he/she feels (e.g., a hungry infant may cry, a feeding infant may make a humming sound, etc.). By taking care of the baby’s needs, parents are helping him/her understand how language, communication and trust work.
Around three months, babies start experimenting with their voices, making gurgles, squeals, and chuckles. You should imitate these sounds so your baby notices how his/her own sounds are of interest to you and others.
Talking with infants gives them the foundation for later communication and thinking. You should talk to your baby from the time he/she is born or even before. Describe what you are doing; talk about things the baby sees and what the baby might be feeling. Talking to your baby and imitating the sounds he/she makes will help him/her develop language skills.
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What Babies Can Do
How Parents Can Help
Begin to follow regular patterns of eating and sleeping.
( 0–3 months)
Maintain a consistent pattern for eating, sleeping and nap time.
Understand what parents say and recognize parents’ voices.
(0–6 months)
Talk to your baby.
Describe what you are doing, talk about things the baby sees and what he/she may be feeling.
Use their bodies and cries to make their needs known.
(0–6 months)
Take care of your baby’s needs. Comfort your baby in a calm, serene manner.
Respond to the sound of music.
(0–6 months)
Play music and sing to your baby. The repeated tunes and rhythms will help your baby’s brain develop and prepare him/her for language development.
Make sounds (gurgles, squeals, chuckles) to experiment with their voice.
(3 months)
Imitate the sounds your baby makes to help the baby notice how his/her sounds are of interest to others.
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Health and Safety
There are many health and safety concerns when a baby is born. When holding an infant, you must support the head as well as the rest of the body.
You should choose a separate place, such as a crib or bassinet for your baby to sleep and do not use blankets to cover a newborn. Soft bedding and sleeping adults can cause an infant to suffocate. Place the baby on his/her back when putting him/her down to sleep. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, placing a baby on his/her back to sleep is the best way to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months. However, if you cannot breastfeed, you should check with your physician to determine which formula is best for your baby. Remember that regular milk and solid foods should not be given to newborns because of choking hazards and digestion problems. Giving a child solid food too soon can cause food allergies or painful gas.
Consult your pediatrician to determine when your baby is ready to start eating solid food. Once the doctor gives approval, be sure to give the baby mashed or ground food that he/she will not choke on.
In addition, you should avoid choking hazards by checking toys for broken or missing parts.
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Expected Behaviors and Common
Situations
What Parents Should Do
Constantly being held by adults.
(0–6 months)
Support your baby’s head at all times.
Never hold your baby while smoking, drinking a hot liquid, or cooking by a hot stove or oven.
Sleeping many hours a day.
(0–6 months)
Place your baby on his/her back when putting your baby to sleep and find a separate space, such as a crib or bassinet, for him/her to sleep.
Experience problems with breastfeeding.
(0–6 months)
Check with your pediatrician to see which formula is best for your baby. Do not give him/her regular milk.
Sitting in a car seat.
(0–6 months)
Always use an approved car seat that has been installed correctly.
Make sure the car seat is appropriate for your child’s height and weight.
Place the car seat in the backseat facing the rear.
Eating solid food.
(4 months)
Consult your pediatrician to determine when your baby is ready to start eating solids. Be sure to give the baby mashed or ground food that he/she will not choke on.
Informed Parents—Successful Children (IPSC) www.informedparents.org
5272 River Road Suite 340
Bethesda, MD 20816 Phone: 301.657.7741
Fax: 301.657.8782
IPSC is funded by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Additional MAC Parent Information website: Maryland Parental Information Resource Center
www.mdpirc.org
IPSC Staff
María del Rosario (Charo) Basterra Director
[email protected] 301.657.7741 ext. 124
Leonor Guillén Senior Parent Training Specialist
(Spanish) [email protected]
301.657.7741 ext. 122
Katie Farbry Research and Technology Specialist
[email protected] 301.657.7741 ext. 114
General Information/
Referral Services [email protected]
301.657.7741 ext. 122
Special thanks to Paloma Panesi and Chris Chen; and to the following organizations for allowing us to publish and disseminate photos of the children portrayed in the
pamphlets. Organizations: Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), Montgomery County Child Care Resource Center (MCCCR&RC), and the Spanish Education Development (SED) Center. Individuals: Carol Chen and Isela Khouri.
© 2008 Informed Parents―Successful Children (IPSC), Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc.