Everybody would like to see their children grow up healthy and aims for seeing their development improve according to each age; sometimes the parents concern that their children development may go behind or slower than others by walking or speaking; a Pediatrician specializes in child development and behavior of Pediatric Center, Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, Dr. Sunee Cheausuwannachai would like to share some details about the development of children for each age so that the parents can observe some abnormalities and it is an appropriate time to consult a doctor or not.

3 Science Studies for children and behavior development

Taking care of the children to support their healthy development require these three majors of studies a pediatrician is a key person to help parents understand the children and suggest an appropriate care guideline as follows:

1. Child development : this science links to development or an ability of children during each age since pregnancy consists of 4 emphasizing parts: Gross Motor Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Language, Communication, Socializing and Adjustment.

1. The behavior of children: This includes emotions and proper expression of children that they react toward others however, the pediatrician would come to help parents understand what their children want or try to express so, when problems occur everyone can cooperate to solve problems.

The growth of children: it promotes height and weight according to gender and age of the children.

Common problems of children development and behavior

Problems are found mostly include muscle problems: crawling inability, walking inability, speaking inability (speech disorder), autism, being mischievous, short concentration (ADHD); conversely, for older children they mostly have problems with studying :reading, writing, calculating, socializing with friends or teachers ; moreover, some of them decide not to go to a school; additionally, certain of them bite their friends while some get older but still do wetting in a bed. For teenagers, what matters is adapting to change of the body physically as well as emotions ; some of them are so addictive to playing games, skipping a school, smoking or drinking alcohol in order to blend in group of friends.

Unsolved child development problem causes long-term effects in life

Problems about children development and emotions as well as growth majority caused by accumulated unsolved problems that continuite affecting the children in long term which is difficult to be treated in the future for example, being skinny or short including having slow skill of learning, autistic, self-sufficient inability, speaking inability and learning inability. However, for the children that receive diagnosis since a very young age together with well-observation of the problems these kids could be able to grow up healthy like other kids; some of them are smart but still get stuck in writing skill or reading causing them to leave a school later; however, if they receive proper care since kindergarten period the kids may have the development improved positively and this is good as a quick problem solving to its core.

Developmental Delay Observation

The Developmental Delay of children means kids who have their development delayed when compares to other kids in same age generally; although children have the difference skills for learning every skill will start to improve gradually such as, some small children crawl before walking or some start to cry before speaking a word etc.

Example of children with delayed development is the children aged around 18 months and require interaction with others and gesture improvement ; general children learn how to walk during the age of 9 to 15 months on the other hands, by 20 months if they are still unable to walk a condition would be considered as “Development Delay” which require additional screening to detect what are causes of condition.

Observe your children physical development during each age as follows

- 1 month old: children can make a fist and face down the hands .

- 2 months old: children can lift up the neck upward about 30 degrees and bring the hands into the middle of the body then release when both are touched by any strange object.

- 3 – 6 months old: they are able to move both, arms and hands including fisting the hands, lifting up the neck; the neck is more stiff than before; moreover, they also reach to stuff by hands and be able to balance the body while sitting talking about 1 minute for holding.

- 7 – 9 months old: they began to raise their hands and feet to the mouth, start to crawl, switching from sleeping posture (prone position) to sitting; moreover, they also be able to sit longer while also start to catch or hold things around and taking stuff by palms.

- 10 months old: they are able to walk on their own as well as catching things around.

- 11 – 12 months old: they can stand for awhile.

- 15 months old: they are able to walk and crawl up-down stairs.

- 18 – 24 months old: they can run, walk and go up – down stairs.

3-5 year-old: they can stand on one leg and jump with both or one leg as well.

In what age? your children should see a doctor for Pediatric Care

Normally, every kid should receive this type of screening since they are born and every time they come to have vaccination including by the age of 9, 18, 24 or 30 months old; when certain conditions seem to be abnormal we recommend them to see a specialized doctor of behavior and child development since the beginning together with hearing test and vision test.

Treatment guidelines

When the abnormal conditions are found, consulting a doctor is essential so that he or she can evaluate the cause of developmental abnormality and provide treatment plan; when there are indications which include premature birth, low body weight, physical body problems, living in unproductive environment the doctor may consider sending the children to a doctor who has more specific knowledge for the conditions to provide a right medication including promoting a better improvement of different developmental skills; at the same time, if they have neurological and muscular problems receiving help from a physical therapist to prevent muscle atrophy or contraction is important or when they have problems about speaking, receiving special care from therapists and psychologists are vital.

For someone who becomes a father or mother having a knowledge and understanding of raising children with way of proper observation for child development can create the most sustainable benefits for the children in accordance with the development during each age differently; however, whenever you have questions or feel that your kids may have symptoms of developmental delay it is very important to consult a specialized doctor directly.

For more information contact

Pediatric Center
Phyathai Sriracha Hospital
Tel. +6638-317-333 ext. 3340 or +6687-860-0001

Child Development Observation (Does my child grow up properly by age?)