WHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT?
The first five years of a child's life are crucial for their physical, emotional, cognitive and language development. These years are the foundation that shapes children's future health, happiness, growth, development and learning achievement at school, in the family and the community.
The early years of life are a period of considerable opportunity for growth as well as vulnerabile to harm. Children’s developmental trajectories are shaped by sources of resilience as well as vulnerability. The cumulative experience of buffers or burdens is a more powerful determinant of children’s developmental well-being than any single protective or risk factors. Early developmental opportunities establish a critical foundation for children’s academic success, health, and general well-being. As we watch children grow, learn, and play, we may often find ourselves worrying. Do other children do this? How does my child compare to other kids his/her own age? Parents, teachers, therapists, and other caregivers all have an interest on the well being of children. Anyone who works or raises children needs to have a solid understanding of child development and what makes them tick. As important as it is to know what’s normal, it’s equally essential to understand what’s not. By being on the lookout for problems, parents and caregivers can offer an intervention and support that children need to keep on track.