Child Development Summary As children grow older, they develop in several different ways. Child development includes physical, intellectual, social, and emotional changes. Children grow and mature at very different rates. It’s hard to say what “normal” is. There can be big differences in height, weight, and build among healthy children. Diet, exercise and genes are all factors. Some children begin puberty or are close to it before they are teenagers. Children start to become more independent from their parents. They may rebel. They also look outward – to their friends, who are usually of the same sex. Peer approval becomes very important. Your child may try new behaviors to be part of “the group.” This can also be the time that parents or teachers recognize learning disabilities or behavioral problems in children. These problems can get worse as time goes on, so it is important to get help early. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Related Issues 5 Ways to Promote a Positive Body Image for Kids Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics A Child Becomes a Reader National Institute for Literacy Building Play Skills for Healthy Children and Families American Occupational Therapy Association Emotions and Behavior Nemours Foundation How to Understand Your Child’s Temperament American Academy of Pediatrics Late Blooming or Language Problem? American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Magic of Play: How It Inspires & Aids Early Development Nemours Foundation Nightmares Nemours Foundation Shyness in Children American Academy of Pediatrics Sleepwalking (For Parents) Nemours Foundation What Is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician? American Academy of Pediatrics Your Child’s Growth Nemours Foundation Start Here Child Development Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Child Development & Behavior Topics University of Michigan Health System Growth and Development Nemours Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Development National Institutes of Health Children Dealing with Peer Pressure Nemours Foundation Story on Self-Esteem Nemours Foundation Why Am I Left-Handed? Nemours Foundation Videos and Tutorials Development of the Young Brain National Institute of Mental Health Array Developmental milestones record Developmental milestones record – 3 years Developmental milestones record – 4 years Developmental milestones record – 5 years Developmental Screening Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Growth chart Normal growth and development Preschooler development School-age children development Statistics and Research First Grade Math Skills Set Foundation for Later Math Ability National Institute of Child Health and Human Development It’s a Kid’s Job: Playing Helps Kids Learn and Grow National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Growth Charts (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Find an Expert KidsHealth Nemours Foundation National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Treatments and Therapies Physical Therapy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Speech-Language Therapy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Journal Articles Child Development Encyclopedia Temper tantrums Latest News Kids Who Aren’t Ready for Kindergarten May Suffer Long-Term Consequences HealthDay What Works — and Doesn’t — to Manage Your Tot’s Screen Time HealthDay Kids’ Grades May Suffer When Families Move HealthDay Music Might Give Babies’ Language Skills a Boost HealthDay Spanking: More Harm Than Good? HealthDay
