One of the biggest joys of being a parent is watching your little one grow up right before your eyes! Seeing them grow taller and achieve milestones such as their first steps and their first words is such an amazing experience.
But did you know that these milestones are more than just momentous occasions? Developmental milestones are a good way for you to make sure that your child’s growth and development are on track. Knowing what these milestones are and what you can do to help your child reach them is essential when it comes to growth and development.
What are developmental milestones?
Developmental milestones can be placed into four general categories: communication and language, social and emotional, cognitive, and motor1. These milestones are representative of a child’s growth and development and can be used to gauge how well a child is progressing.
Communication and language milestones encompass a child’s ability to talk, understand words and commands, and engage in conversations.
Social and emotional milestones highlight how your child behaves, relates to, and socializes with other people. These include crying, smiling, playing with adults, playing with other children, making friends, and other social activities.
Cognitive milestones underline how your child thinks, learns, and solves problems. Understanding cause and effect, imitating actions, sorting shapes, being able to count, etc. are some examples of these milestones.
Lastly, motor milestones focus on how your child moves and uses their body. These include walking, grasping toys, throwing, catching a ball, and other similar physical activities.
Aside from these developmental milestones, a strong indicator of a child’s physical development is their height. Here are some tables on the average height that a healthy child should be at based on their age:
For boys:
| Age | Normal Height |
| 1 year old | 71.0-80.5 cm |
| 2 years old | 81 – 93.2 cm |
| 3 years old | 88.7 – 103.5 cm |
| 4 years old | 94.9 – 111.7 cm |
| 5 years old | 100.7 – 119.2 cm |
For girls:
| Age | Normal Height |
| 1 year old | 68.9 – 79.2 cm |
| 2 years old | 79.3 – 92.2 cm |
| 3 years old | 87.4 – 102.7 cm |
| 4 years old | 94.1 – 111.3 cm |
| 5 years old | 99.9 – 118.9 cm |
Source: National Nutrition Council Child Growth Standards Table
Every Child is Different
Growth and development is different for each child. Some kids reach milestones earlier than others, while some children may take longer to arrive at these milestones, perhaps later than their peers. However, it is also important to be aware of some red flags in terms of your child’s development2. These include activities such as not responding to loud noises, being unable to crawl, or stand when supported, not walking at 18 months, or the inability to communicate, etc. If you feel that your child might be exhibiting some of these, it would be best to talk to a doctor about it.
As a parent, it is important to be attentive and encouraging when it comes to your child’s development. Here are ways to support your child.
Encourage Them to Play
Playing is not just an activity kids love to do; it is a crucial part of their early life and a great opportunity to support their growth.
Playing is a chance for your child to utilize their mental and physical capabilities. Whenever kids play, they start engaging the parts of the brain responsible for thinking, creativity, and imagination3. They’re also using their physical capabilities when they run around, pick things up, throw a ball, etc. Playing with other children builds their social skills and can help them form lasting bonds with their friends4. All of these can have a significant impact on their development.
One great way to encourage your child to play would be to introduce them to traditional Filipino games such as langit-lupa, tumbang preso, piko, patintero, etc. These games are not only a great way to support your child’s development, but also an opportunity to introduce Filipino culture to them.
Encouraging children to participate in sports at an early age can create a love for physical activity and foster healthy habits. Sports can teach them values like teamwork, fair play, cooperation, discipline, and respect. Engaging in sports also improves your child’s physical abilities and is a great way to keep them fit and healthy.
The Importance of Nutrition
Another means to promote growth and development is through proper nutrition. Your child’s developing body needs to get the right amount of vitamins and minerals each day so that their development stays on track.
When it comes to brain development, one study found that children who had the right nutrition had better cognitive development compared to children who were undernourished. After undernourished children received adequate nutrition, their cognitive development significantly improved5.
In terms of physical development, a lack of proper nutrition is directly linked to stunting. Stunting means that a child has a height that’s lower than what’s ideal for their age. In addition, children who don’t receive proper nutrition, can also become underweight or have a weight that is lower than the standard for their age6. Proper nutrition can help eliminate these problems and ensure that your child’s growth is right on track.
Eating healthy foods should always be prioritized when it comes to growth and development. Children should have a balanced diet that contains all of the nutrients that their bodies and brains need to grow and reach their developmental milestones. Another good way of supporting their development would be through the use of growing-up milks such as Bonakid Pre-School 3+.
Bonakid Pre-School 3+ is specifically formulated to be an additional source of essential nutrients to support your child’s Laban sa Paglaki. It has also been clinically proven and tested to result in a 2.4cm increase in height, and a 1.3kg increase in weight. Regular consumption of Bonakid Pre-School 3+ has been attributed to 10% fewer sick days after a 16-week clinical study was done on Filipino children.
Bonakid Pre-School 3+ Stories from Moms
A lot of mothers have seen the benefits of Bonakid Pre-School 3+ in their child’s development. Here are some of their stories:
Mommy Sam, mother of 5-year-old Martine, has been giving her daughter Bonakid Pre-School 3+ for a year. It was recommended by her pediatrician and she noticed significant changes in her daughter’s development. According to her, Martine is now more active at home as well as when she’s outside.
Mommy Karla, mother of 4-year-old Agos, shared that she has been giving her son Bonakid Pre-School 3+ for about a year. According to her, Agos loves outdoor activities but initially wasn’t able to keep up with his playmates. Since having Bonakid, he seems to be on the go, and confidently competes with other kids his age now.
And Mommy Ivy, mother of 3-year-old Santino, has been giving her son Bonakid for 8 months. He was small for his age, but grew taller thanks to Bonakid Pre-School 3+; now his height is just right for his age. Santino is now more confident and socializes well with other children.
These real-life stories just go to show how important proper nutrition is when it comes to developmental milestones. Through a healthy diet and the support of Bonakid Pre-School 3+, parents can give their child a fighting chance in their Laban para sa Paglaki.
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