2. 2 Years
3 Years
4 to 5 Years
6 to 12 Years
13 to 18 Years
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Child Development
Understanding your child’s changing growth and development milestones is an
important part of parenting. As infants and children progress through a series of
growth stages, they may encounter common physical or emotional challenges.
The pediatric experts at CHOC created a series of guides by age and stage, so
you can better understand what your child is going through and spot any issues
along the way.
Understanding your child’s
growth and development
3. Growth and development includes not only the physical changes that occur from
infancy to adolescence, but also some of the changes in emotions, personality,
behavior, thinking and speech that children develop as they begin to understand
and interact with the world around them. Skills such as taking a first step or
smiling for the first time are called developmental milestones.
Development Skills and
Milestones
Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act and move. All
children develop at their own pace, but these milestones give you a general idea
of the changes to expect as your child grows.
Developmental milestones can be categorized by the following:
● Speech and Language
● Dressing Skills
● Fine Motor and Visual Motor Skills
● Grooming Skills
4. Measuring Physical Child
Development: Growth Charts
Kids grow at their own pace. There are a wide range of healthy shapes and sizes
among children. Genetics, gender, nutrition, physical activity, health problems,
environment and hormones all play a role in a child’s height and weight, and
many of these can vary widely from family to family.
Doctors consider growth charts along with a child’s overall well-being,
environment and genetic background. Your child’s doctor may also consider:
● Is the child meeting other developmental milestones?
● Are there any other signs that a child is not healthy?
● What height and weight are the child’s parents and siblings?
● Was the child born prematurely?
● Has the child started puberty earlier or later than average?
5. Are All Kids Measured on
One Growth Chart?
No. Girls and boys are measured on different growth charts because they grow in
different patterns and at different rates. One set of charts is used for babies, from
birth to 36 months. Another set is used for kids and teens ages 2–20 years old.
Also, special growth charts can be used for children with certain conditions, such
as Down syndrome, or who were born early.
What Could Signal a
Problem?
Keeping an eye on growth charts may help you or your child’s doctor spot any
potential growth issues. Some patterns to look out for include:
● When a child’s weight or height percentile changes from a pattern it’s been
following. For example: If height and weight have both been on the 60th
percentile line until a child is 5 years old, and then the height drops to the
30th percentile at age 6, that might suggest a growth problem because the
child is not following his or her usual growth pattern. But changing
percentiles doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. Many kids may show
6. changes in growth percentiles at some points in development, when it’s
normal for growth rates to vary more from child to child. This is particularly
common during infancy and puberty.
● If a child’s height progression is very different from what is expected by his
or her midparental height calculation.
● If there is an abnormally low or high body mass index (BMI <5% or >85%).
Growth charts are a helpful tool, but it is important to know that they do not paint a
full picture of your child’s development or overall health. If you have any questions
or concerns about your child’s growth — or growth charts — talk with your
pediatrician.
Reviewed by Dr. Mary Choi, Seaview Pediatrics, CHOC Primary Care – June
2021
Your child’s health is important at every stage. Visit CHOC
Primary Care for pediatric services near you.
What to Expect at
Every Stage
7. Injury can happen at any age. Get the latest information and
tips to keep your kids safe.
Visit our Safety Center
