Image: Shutterstock
No matter how old your child is, parenting never gets easier. As soon as you think you’re getting a hang of parenting your kids, they grow up and their needs change. Sometimes it can feel like you will never catch up, but knowing what kind of behaviors to expect from your child as they develop can make life as a parent so much easier. It’s important to be informed about what to expect in terms of behavior and mannerisms in order to help your children grow into kind hearted and responsible adults. This means bracing for your 4 year old’s tantrums and 12 year old’s meltdowns. Here are 6 critical periods in a child’s life that every parent should know about.
1. Newborn To 3 Months
Image: Shutterstock
When your baby is this little, crying is the only mode of communication they have with you. This means that you’re going to hear a lot of it and must learn to decipher it. As a parent, it is your job to learn the difference between a cry that means your baby is hungry, tired or feels discomfort.
However, sometimes your baby might cry for no reason at all. In these cases, it is important to reassure your baby with touch and words. Comforting your baby will help them feel safe, loved and will help them trust you. Keep in mind that newborns can sense emotions in your voice so keep your tone loving and friendly to help them feel secure.
2. 4 To 6 Months
Image: Shutterstock
At this stage your baby can laugh, smile, squeal, coo and gurgle. These are all new responses they can employ with regard to something you’re saying to them or showing to them, like a toy. So, the best thing for parents to do is to encourage them to be as responsive as they can be. For example, making your baby laugh and squeal by making funny faces or playing the peek-a-boo game. This is also the time when babies start to recognize other people other than their parents so it’s time to start introducing them to other kids and close family and friends.
3. 7 To 12 Months
Image: Shutterstock
At this point, babies start to prefer hanging out with mom over everyone else. They can get cranky when separated from them and are afraid of strangers. They tend to cling to their parents and cry when they leave. So what do you do to make this separation easier on your child? You could pop out of the room for a short while when they are playing in a safe area or leave them with their grandparents while you run some errands. This is a safe way to show them that you will always come back for them and that separation isn’t all that bad.
4. 1 To 2 Years
Image: Shutterstock
Children of this age should have more social interactions. It’s okay to get out of the house once in a while and let your child explore the world around them. However, take note that children at this age don’t really interact with other kids much as they don’t understand the concept of sharing. This is also when parents will have to start discipling their child in a gentle yet firm manner as temper tantrums are quite common.
5. 3 Years
Image: Shutterstock
This is when your child will begin to play with other kids and make friends. They will learn to share and be sociable. Encourage them to interact with their peers as much as possible. They may also start to have irrational fears of the dark of monsters under their bed. Comforting them will help them feel safe.
You should also encourage them to be independent and to pursue their interests. When your child exhibits an inclination to painting, singing, roller skating or play-dough sculptures, tell them that you are proud of them. This will motivate them to keep doing the things that make them happy.
6. 4 To 5 Years
Image: Shutterstock
This may be the hardest stage yet. Parents, welcome to the stage where you set and enforce rules. Although children at this stage can follow rules, they don’t necessarily understand how to differentiate good from bad, which means they don’t know right from wrong yet. However, they want to be more independent. So, it’s important to let them make their own choices. Some 4 year olds can have mood swings, fights with siblings and be aggressive. But by the time they turn 5, have better manners and get along well with their parents and peers. It’s all a matter of discipling your kids in constructive ways and helping them channel negative emotions appropriately.
Being a parent comes with different challenges at different stages, but that doesn’t mean that you have to feel lost and unprepared. With a little insight into what your little one is going through, helping them overcome their hurdles will be easier than ever. Happy parenting!
