Watching your child learn how to walk, create relationships, and develop their own unique personality is an amazing process! This is called child development, and you may have noticed your child’s behavior becomes more complex as they grow. Children have certain behaviors and skills that they develop according to their age. Even though your child is unique, most children share these milestones. Learning them can give you an idea of what to expect as your child grows. These milestones include new ways that they communicate, problem solve, and interact with others.

Here are some tips to spot and encourage healthy development in your child.

When you know the skills that most children can have at certain ages, you can track how your child is developing according to their current stage of life. You’ll understand when your expectations fit with their age and if you might be expecting too much from your growing child. For instance, knowing when most children potty train means you won’t be too hard on yourself if you try to do it too early. This way, you can provide better care by celebrating when things are going well and have the right tools to spot issues early on.

If you have any concerns about your child reaching their milestones, reach out to your pediatrician. They can make sure everything is okay, or help you take care of an issue you’re concerned about. Your child’s pediatrician will help your child get the support they need as early as possible, so they can thrive.

There are a couple ways you can help your child develop healthily at different phases of their life. You can do it with the right mix of nurturing, protection, and support. This will help your child be healthy, safe, and successful.

When your child is very young, it’s important to spend time talking, reading, playing, and cuddling with them. Praise, encouragement, and consistent rules are very important at this age. So is helping them with language, problem-solving, and exploring their environment.

As they grow into a teenager, you can help your child become more independent by supporting their good choices and helping them create healthy relationships. Ask questions, and listen with care to understand their relationships with family, friends, and teachers. Provide guidance if they need it. Help them understand the foundations of a healthy relationship, like honesty, trust, and respect. These skills and expectations of others will allow them to build safe and caring relationships in the future.

Positive parenting makes it easier for your child to succeed in school, at work, and all stages of their life.

Just like a dentist or eye doctor makes sure your child’s teeth and vision are healthy, a screening by your pediatrician can make sure your child is on track with their language, social, behavioral, and motor skills — or let you know if there is an issue. Sometimes, the age that children reach these milestones can be different, so it doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Your healthcare provider can help you understand if you should address an issue with a delay, or if everything is fine.

As you love and care for your growing child, knowing their milestones can help you understand a lot more about how your child is learning, growing, and moving along the pathway of their life. You’ll be able to provide better support, have a stronger relationship, and learn the best tools to quickly respond to their needs.