3 Myths About Early Childhood Development
Healthy development during the early years can look vastly different from one child to the next. This variation can be confusing for caregivers, and especially first-time parents or new teachers. Not to mention, everyone on the street seems to have an opinion on what is or isn’t “normal” and what you should do about it. Let’s break down a couple of common myths about development during the early childhood years and look at what the truth actually is!
Myth: All children reach key developmental milestones around the same time.
Reality: There are some common patterns across populations of children regarding the timing and process of development, but it also varies significantly based on a number of factors (like genetics, personality traits, physical/mental health, relationships with caregivers, and so on). It’s really useful to know at what age children typically achieve certain milestones, especially during infancy and toddlerhood, because then you have an idea of what they should (and should not) be able to do, which then means you can promote positive development in a healthy and meaningful way. But development also hinges a lot on the environment that a young child is brought up in – for instance, in some parts of the world, parents commonly carry their children all day every day until they’re nearly toddlers. These children might not learn to walk at the same time as a child from a highly independent and athletic family, but it has nothing to do with a “developmental delay.” Each child’s developmental trajectory is unique!
Myth: If a child demonstrates delays or differences in development early in life, they will always be delayed.
Reality: Healthy development is dynamic, it’s not always linear, and it ebbs and flows throughout the lifespan. It’s not uncommon for a young child to “miss” a certain milestone, and then suddenly catch up and blow past their same-age peers. For a child who does demonstrate delays, early and targeted intervention is one of the surest ways to impact growth, especially over the long-term. Young children can be particularly responsive to small but consistent doses of targeted instruction because their brains are especially plastic during these early years. Even young children who demonstrate significant and pervasive delays early in life have been shown to make meaningful progress when exposed to evidence-based intervention practices in high-quality, responsive environments. Development is a dynamic process!
Myth: Challenging behaviors in early childhood indicate a delay or problem in development.
Reality: Occasional challenging behaviors, even phases of frequent challenging behaviors, are common, typical, and to be expected during the early childhood years. Once these behaviors reach the point of significantly impacting the family’s day to day quality of life, then there’s cause for concern. It’s not typical for a child to regularly hurt themselves or others, or for their behaviors to impede their participation in daily routines and activities, especially if they demonstrate delays in other developmental domains. But throwing a tantrum when they don’t get their way, noncompliance (“No!”), insistence on doing things for themselves (“I do it!”), difficulty distinguishing pretend from reality, and a strong sense of ownership over their favorite things (“Mine!”) are all appropriate signs of healthy, typical development during the toddler and preschool years. Development isn’t always easy!
There are a LOT of really great resources for parents and educators around early developmental trajectories and effective practices to promote healthy development, including Zero to Three, the Center on the Developing Child, and the Child Mind Institute. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that each child is unique, so there’s never one right way that they should be growing and progressing. If you’re worried about something in your child’s development, reach out to your pediatrician (or a behavior coach). The internet can be a great place to turn to for more information…just make sure you’re utilizing a quality source!
