Thursday, March 5, 2009

Stages & Ages



See full size image



Though the days turn into weeks, to months, to years, children become adults, and the stages will pass before you know it!

Before you begin on the path to parenthood, it is important to choose a Doctor who you can trust! Someone who is reliable, local, kind, and sharp minded. You want to make sure that your baby is going to be in the hands of someone you know and can trust.

The Two weeks stage: As you begin to prepare for the road ahead, it is important to wise up! Change is on the break, and the better prepared and aware you are of this change, the more able you will be to handle situations properly and decrease the level of unpredictability. 

 Two months of Miles of Smiles. You will enjoy this stage as their facial expressions begin to take shape and form. Those faces of confusement, excitement, fear, frustration will engage in the communication process.

Four months. Their personality will begin to emerge and reflect your own as they will pick up and mimic the expressions that you display and show them. They will begin to interpret your response to them and begin to form patterns of thinking.

Six months. Observation and socialization. They want a part of what you have. Around the dinner table, they begin to imply, point, or grunt for what they want. All this time, they have watched you interact with others around, and they want to engage too!

Nine Months. Call it the stomp and stumble. Be sure to watch them carefully. As some may say "You have to watch them like a hawk!" They will begin to take off here and there and everywhere. Make sure to not let distractions miss them heading for places like the stairs, outdoor pool areas, the kitchen, and the garage.

One Year! You've made, and so have they! They are only going to continue to grow and learn and mature from this point on. Establishing healthy, and positive behaviors, pattens, and habits is crucial at this point.

15 Months. Into this, pulling out the diapers from the hamper, they will get into everything that is within hand's reach! Be sure to use caution and keep dangerous tools, objects, and harmful things out of their path.  They are into the 'do' of things. They don't want you to spoon feed them anymore, they want to do it themselves! Independence is theirs and begins to develop!

Two Years. More independence! "Mine" becomes one of their favorite words. You may say to them, "Now Jimmy, you need to share that with your friend." They don't get that concept at this age. By mirroring proper behavior, they will eventually begin to follow. Discipline is something that needs to be brought in.

Three Years. As the babyhood years seemed so pleasant and easy, don't start kicking your feet up too soon! Childhood development will almost put you back at starting point A. It is like learning something new for the first time. The thing to remember is keep a firm attitude, and a little discipline will not hurt. Cooperation is what you want, so make sure that you give affirming and positive rewards for good behavior, as well as consequences for bad behavior.

Four Years.  Self reliance integrated with responsibility builds good character. Accomplishment and the recognition of these things is important to guide them with. They will come to distinguish that completion of a task brings self-confidence.

Ten Years. Pre- Adolescent age can be a test of patience, when the attitude starts to kick in and it begins to get a little frustrating. Kids are influenced by their friends a majority of the time, and start to rebel against your will as parents. If you give enough room and some discipline, you want to try and find a balance somewhere in between.

Teen Years. The problem is more attitude. They want the independence, and the choice, the freedom. The one thing that you hear as a kid is "I'm doing this for your own good," "Or you'll understand once you are older," or "It's because I love you." These comments are things that are heard a lot. It is not that you don't care, but don't smother them!





No comments:

Post a Comment