In the first few months or so after your first child’s birth, you might feel like you are smooth sailing. You have your feeding and nightly routine down with your baby or you are finally learning how to navigate your day and respond to his or her needs. It can seem blissful (or not). I know I was expecting the next son to be the same as the first — and that was not the case. Between your first and your last child, each developmental experience will be different.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “developmental milestones are the behaviors that mark stages of typical growth. Children all develop at their own pace. However, most children pass through specific changes at approximately the same time as they get older.”
So while one child may walk before age 1, it doesn’t mean your other children will do the same.
These milestones are not just in the early years, but also as they grow into their academic, social and physical abilities.
For parents who get their little ones into sports and activities, this comparison of kids can seem more inflated. What if your child doesn’t want to play? What if one does? When should you send your child on their own path?
Managing all your children differently seems like a tall order, but it can help bring out their personalities and give them confidence to be who they are.
“As children get older, that confidence can be as important as the skills themselves,” according to 2023 article “12 Tips for Raising Confident Kids” from the Child Mind Institute. “To thrive, kids need to trust in their own capabilities while, at the same time, knowing that they can handle it if they aren’t successful at something. It’s by experiencing mastery and rebounding from failure that they develop healthy self-confidence.”
It’s always best if your child is behind in developmental milestones or if you are concerned, to check with your pediatrician.
That’s why in this issue, we focus a bit on development, like gross motor skills for your little ones and answering those questions like “why are your kids so loud together?”
For your tweens, view the Middle School Guide. For me, the hardest part of my kids’ school experience were those years. It’s a time when I saw a lot of changes happening and they began to separate themselves from us, the parents. Kids, at that age, start to grow as individuals. In the guide, we talk about their phone use, independence and how bullying can impact kids.
While it can be a difficult subject, therapy might be helpful for those struggling mentally. We help parents get information, if it’s needed or not.
Of course, as you saw on our cover, Halloween is upon us. It’s my favorite time of the year, because it feels like everyone wants to have a party or some type of adventure in the colors of the season.
For others, this time of year is spooky, for me, I’m not scared of anything anymore, especially with raising two teen boys, including a new driver.
