North Florida Pediatrics

Watch Your Baby Grow

0-3 Months

Your Baby Should Be Doing This. . . Physical Skills: Raises head & chest when on stomach Stretches & kicks on back Opens and shuts hands Brings hand to mouth Grasps and shakes toys Social Skills: Begins to develop social smile Enjoys playing with people More communicative More expressive with face & body Imitates some movements & expressions Sensory Milestones: Follows moving objects Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance Starts using hands and eyes in coordination Prefers sweet smells Prefers soft to coarse sensations

4-7 Months

Your Baby Should Be Doing These Things. . . Physical Skills: Rolls both ways Sits with and without support of hands Supports whole weight on legs Reaches with one hand Transfers object from hand to hand Uses raking grasp Social Skills: Begins to develop social smile Enjoys playing with people More communicative More expressive with face & body Imitates some movements & expressions Sensory Milestones: Follows moving objects Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance Starts using hands and eyes in coordination Prefers sweet smells Prefers soft to coarse sensations

8-12 Months

Your Baby Should Be Doing This. . . Physical Skills Gets to sitting position without help Crawls forward on belly Assumes hands-and-knees positions Gets from sitting to crawling position Pulls self up to stand Walks holding on to furniture Social Skills Shy or anxious with strangers Cries when parents leave Enjoys imitating people in play Prefers certain people and toys Tests parental response Finger-feeds himself Cognitive Thinking Explores objects in different ways Finds hidden objects easily Looks at correct picture when the image is named Imitates gestures Begins to use objects correctly

1 Year Old - 4 Years Old

Your Toddler Should Be Doing This. . . Physical Skills Walks alone Pulls toys behind when walking Begins to run Stands on tiptoe Kicks a ball Social Skills Imitates behavior of others Aware of herself as separate from others Enthusiastic about company of other children Cognitive Thinking Finds objects even when hidden 2 or 3 levels deep Sorts by shape and color Plays make-believe

4 Years Old - 5 Years Old

Your Preschooler Should be doing this. . . Physical Skills Climbs well Walks up and down stairs, alternating feet Kicks ball Runs easily Pedals tricycle Bends over without falling Social Skills Imitates adults and playmates Show affection for familiar playmates Can take turns in games Understands "mine" and "his / hers" Cognitive Thinking Makes mechanical toys work Matches an object in hand to picture in book Plays make believe Sorts objects by shape and color Completes 3 - 4 piece puzzles Understands concept of "two"

6 Years Old - 12 Years Old

What can my child do at these ages? As your child grows, you’ll notice him or her developing new and exciting abilities. A child age 6 to 7: Enjoys many activities and stays busy Likes to paint and draw Practices skills in order to become better Jumps rope Rides a bike A child age 8 to 9: Is more graceful with movements and abilities Jumps, skips, and chases Dresses and grooms self completely Can use tools, such as a hammer or screwdriver A child age 10 to 12: Likes to sew and paint What does my child understand? As children enter into school age, their skills and understanding of concepts continue to grow. A child age 6 to 7: Understands the concept of numbers Knows daytime and nighttime Knows right and left hands Can copy complex shapes, such as a diamond Can tell time Understands commands that have 3 separate instructions Can explain objects and their use Can repeat 3 numbers backward Can read age-appropriate books A child age 8 to 9: Can count backward Knows the date Reads more and enjoys reading Understands fractions Understands the concept of space Draws and paints Can name the months and days of the week, in order Enjoys collecting objects A child age 10 to 12: Writes stories Likes to write letters Reads well Enjoys using the telephone How will my child interact with others? An important part of growing up is learning to interact and socialize with others. During the school-age years, you’ll see a change in your child. He or she will move from playing alone to having multiple friends and social groups. Friendships become more important. But your child is still fond of you as parents, and likes being part of a family. Below are some of the common traits that your child may show at these ages. A child age 6 to 7: Cooperates and shares Can be jealous of others and siblings Likes to copy adults Likes to play alone, but friends are becoming important Plays with friends of the same gender May sometimes have temper tantrums Is modest about his or her body Likes to play board games A child age 8 to 9: Likes competition and games Starts to mix friends and play with children of the opposite gender Is modest about his or her body Enjoys clubs and groups, such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Is becoming interested in boy-girl relationships, but doesn’t admit it. A child age 10 to 12: Finds friends are very important and may have a best friend Has increased interest in the opposite gender Likes and respects parents Enjoys talking to others How can I encourage my child's social abilities? You can help boost your school-aged child's social abilities by: Setting limits, guidelines, and expectations and enforcing them with appropriate penalties Modeling good behavior Complimenting your child for being cooperative and for personal achievements Helping your child choose activities that are suitable for his or her abilities Encouraging your child to talk with you and be open with his or her feelings Encouraging your child to read, and reading with your child Encouraging your child to get involved with hobbies and other activities Promoting physical activity Encouraging self-discipline and expecting your child to follow rules that are set Teaching your child to respect and listen to authority figures Encouraging your child to talk about peer pressure and setting guidelines to deal with peer pressure Spending uninterrupted time together and giving full attention to your child Limiting screen time (TV, video, and computer)

13 Years Old - 18 Years Old

How much will my teen grow? The teenage years are also called adolescence. This is a time for growth spurts and puberty changes (sexual maturation). A teen may grow several inches in several months, followed by a time of very slow growth. Then they may have another growth spurt. Puberty changes may happen slowly. Or several changes may occur at the same time. It's important to remember that these changes will happen differently for each teen. Some teens may have these signs of maturity sooner or later than others. Each child goes through puberty at their own pace. What changes will happen during puberty? Sexual and other physical maturation that happens during puberty is due to hormonal changes. Here's a look at the changes for boys and girls. In boys, it's hard to know exactly when puberty is coming. There are changes that occur, but they happen slowly and over a period of time. It's not just a single event. Each male teen is different and may go through these changes differently. But these are average ages when puberty changes may happen: Start of puberty. Between 9 ½ and 14 years old. First puberty change . Enlargement of the testicles. Penis enlargement. Begins about 1 year after the testicles begin enlarging. Pubic hair appears. About 13 ½ years old. Wet dreams (nocturnal emissions). About 14 years old. Hair under the arms and on the face, voice change, and acne. About 15 years old. Girls also experience puberty as a series of events. But their puberty changes often begin before boys of the same age. Each girl is different and may go through these changes differently. These are average ages when puberty changes may happen: Start of puberty. Between 8 and 13 years old. First puberty change. Breast development. Pubic hair appears. Shortly after breast development. Hair under the arms. About 12 years old. Menstrual periods. Between 10 and 16 ½ years old. Both boys and girls go through certain stages of development when developing secondary sex characteristics. These are the physical characteristics of males and females that are not involved in reproduction. These include voice changes, body shape, pubic hair distribution, and facial hair. Here's a quick look at the changes that happen: Boys. In boys, the first puberty change is the enlargement of the scrotum and testes. At this point, the penis does not enlarge. Then, as the testes and scrotum continue to enlarge, the penis gets longer. Next, the penis will continue to grow in both size and length. Girls. In girls, the first puberty change is the development of breast buds. This is when the breast and nipple elevate. The dark area of skin that surrounds the nipple of the breast (the areola) gets larger at this time. The breasts then continue to enlarge. Over time, the nipples and the areolas will rise again. They then form another mound on the breasts. When a girl becomes an adult, only the nipple is raised above the rest of the breast tissue. Both boys and girls. Pubic hair development is similar for both girls and boys. The first growth of hair produces long, soft hair that is only in a small area around the genitals. This hair then becomes darker and coarser as it continues to spread. Over time the pubic hair looks like adult hair, but in a smaller area. It may spread to the thighs. It sometimes goes up the stomach. What does my teen understand? The teenage years bring many changes. These are not only physical, but also mental and social changes. During these years, teens become more able to think abstractly. Over time they can make plans and set long-term goals. Each child may progress at a different rate and may have a different view of the world. In general, these are some of the abilities you may see in your teen: Develops the ability to think abstractly Is concerned with philosophy, politics, and social issues Thinks long-term Sets goals Compares himself or herself to their peers As your teen starts to struggle for independence and control, many changes may happen. Here are some of the issues that may affect your teen during these years: Wants independence from parents Peer influence and acceptance becomes very important Romantic and sexual relationships become important May be in love Has long-term commitment in relationship How to help your teen to develop socially Here are some ways to help strengthen your teen's social abilities: Encourage your teen to take on new challenges. Talk with your teen about not losing sight of one's self in group relations. Encourage your teen to talk with a trusted adult about problems or concerns, even if it is not you. Talk about ways to manage and handle stress. Provide consistent, loving discipline with limits, restrictions, and rewards. Find ways to spend time together.