Early childhood is a time of significant growth and development. Watching children evolve can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, there are certain crucial points in your child’s life that lead to a normal, healthy life. Passing these milestones indicates that your child is following the right developmental path. These experiences also serve to show which areas in your child’s growth need more support or guidance.

Missed milestones can indicate a number of social and behavioral concerns, including autism spectrum disorders, speech and language pathologies, and learning disabilities. The earlier these conditions are noticed, the easier it is to find ways to overcome or treat them. If there is ever a concern that your child is missing a developmental marker, notify your pediatrician for more information and guidance.

Milestones occur through the development of skill sets. These include fine and gross motor skills, language and communication skills, cognitive skills, and social skills. It is important to remember that every child is unique and will have strengths and weaknesses in each of these areas, and some may develop these skills at slightly different times. There are, however, some general milestones to be aware of that are essential in determining a child’s developmental progress. These include:

1. By three months old, a child should be able to grasp an object, turn his or her head from side to side, respond to human voices, smile, and communicate hunger, fear or discomfort.
2. By six months, a child should be able to gold his or her head steady when seated, roll over, open his or her mouth for food, babble, and laugh.
3. By one year, a child should be able to drink from a cup with some help, crawl, begin to stand, copy a parent’s actions or sounds, speak a word or two, and raise his or her arms to indicate that he or she wants to be picked up.
4. By a year and a half, a child should be able to turn the pages in a book, scribble with a marker, walk without assistance, identify objects from a book, speak eight to ten words, act out familiar activities, and seek attention.
5. By two years, a child should be able to drink from a straw, feed him or herself, have a vocabulary of a couple hundred words, and enjoy looking at picture books.

Childhood obesity is a preventable disease that parents can take action against. Childhood obesity increases a child’s risk of developing diabetes and numerous other health problems. Children today are not as active as they were 20 years ago, and it is definitely showing in their waistlines. Childhood obesity has become so out of control, the First Lady has based her platform on the growing epidemic.

Parents must do their part to teach their children about healthy eating and exercise habits. In our fast paced society, fast food has become one of the major contributors to the obesity problem. Many restaurants are beginning to provide pertinent nutritional information for parents to base their menu choices on. Parents can teach their children what foods are best for them.

Parents can also do their part by not stocking the kitchen with unhealthy junk food. Junk food is tempting, and a child will have a tough time choosing healthy snacks when a bag of potato chips is in sight. Stocking the fridge with fruits and veggies is a good practice. Schools are also getting in on the healthy eating movement by providing healthier meal choices. Some schools are removing vending machines that are stocked with various snacks and sodas and replacing them with machines filled with fruits and juices.

It is imperative parents encourage their children to get outside and play more often as well. Video games and online gaming have turned today’s children into couch potatoes. This is another major factor in the childhood obesity epidemic. Parents should encourage children to get involved in sports or other extra curricular activities that get them moving. Hiking or walking is an activity the entire family can enjoy together.

Part of the Let’s Move campaign that the government is implementing, calls for communities to create safe places for children to play outside. Another portion of the campaign includes cities building safe pathways for children to get to and from school. Walking or biking to school is a great exercise, and it should be encouraged as well.