AGES & STAGES -
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Developmental milestones give a general idea about what to expect from
children of different ages. However, there will always be differences
between individual children. Some children begin to walk at 10 months,
some at 15 months. Some toddle along quickly and smoothly, getting the
"hang of it" right away. Others fall down a lot, hesitate, or
even give up for a few days. Some children talk before they are 2, others
talk very little before they are 3 or so. Some will always be quiet
people.
Some abilities become clear in one child, but may never be very strong in
another.
Recognize the individual in the child and look for differences based on
the following:
SENSE OF SECURITY
Some children need more consistency,
more reassurance, and more confidence and trust-building than others.
Insecurity sometimes can cause a child to withdraw or behave aggressively.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Some children need more active play
than others. They need the opportunity to move around, jump, run, and
bounce many times throughout the day. Other children need more quiet time
or more rest.
RESPONSE TO STIMULATION
Children are inherently different
in their tolerance to noise, activity, visual stimulation, or changes in
the environment. An environment that is sensitive to this need in children
will provide interesting activities as well as a quiet place to get away
from the action.
THINKING STYLE
Some children think quietly through
possible solutions to a problem; others push in and try the first idea
that occurs to them. Some children are interested in experimenting to find
out how objects work; others choose to ask friends or adults for help.
Developmental guidelines should be used as a general rule of thumb. In
your work with children, do not confuse earlier or faster development with
better development. Early talking by a 1-year-old does not mean that the
child will be a chatterbox or a brilliant conversationalist at age 10.
Later talking may mean that a toddler is putting more energy into physical
growth and motor exploration right now.
Development or the lack of it that falls outside the normal range may
indicate a problem that requires attention. You may need to help parents
recognize possible problems and special needs, such as poor vision or
hearing. Familiarity with developmental norms and with community resources
can assist you in helping parents seek professional advice about
developmental questions.
Reprinted with permission from National Network for Child Care -NNCC.
Oesterreich, L. (1995). Ages & stages - individual differences. In L.
Oesterreich, B. Holt, & S. Karas, Iowa family child care handbook [Pm
1541] (pp. 191-192). Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.
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