It is said that “the childhood shows the man, as the morning shows the day” and This is truer than you might think. Pre-school is not just a stepping stone for proper growth and development of the child but also critical for the establishment of various traits that will continue to be refined into young adulthood. These initial years of life will define and shape the cognitive, social, and emotional development, as well as the physical and mental health of the child.
So how can I know if my child is developing well?
Read through to find out about the many signs that can tell you about your pre-schooler’s healthy development1:
Achieving Developmental Milestones
A simple yet extremely important way of gauging a child’s development is by comparing their actions and activities with the standardised developmental milestones. If the child is doing everything that is expected from them at their age, for example a 3-year-old climbing stairs one foot after another, then he/she is developing well.
Being Curious
Kids are inherently inquisitive and love to explore everything in their own way. A curious child will ask many questions about the same topic. This may become slightly annoying for the caregiver, but it is a positive sign of the child’s healthy development. Moreover, a child’s curiosity should always be encouraged and handled with patience and logic.
Understanding Non-Verbal Communication2:
In the early years of their life, babies understand their mother’s love or instructions even without knowing the language. Kids who can understand the non-verbal communication of people around them excel in their development. Non-verbal communication has long lasting effects on how they listen to and process information, as well as how they behave and speak with other people.
Interacting With Peers
A child who is always looking for reasons to interact with peers shows positive social and emotional development. An interactive pre-schooler easily learns to share, solve problems, and collaborate with peers.
Creative
Creativity is not merely an artistic expression, but it involves a lot of imagination. A creative child is a sign of a well-developing brain that can think beyond cognitive abilities.
Resourceful
A child who is resourceful and tries to find solutions for his/her problem by incorporating past learnings and creative ways can be considered properly developing.
Correct Posture
If a child sits, stands and walks in correct posture, it suggests strong bones and muscle. Moreover, a good posture also suggests confidence and self-esteem.
All these traits indicate good physical, cognitive and social development of the child. Finding these in your pre-schooler can be joyful but that is not enough. Overall growth and development of the child are majorly dependent on specific factors including nutrition. It is not always possible to fulfill all the nutritional needs of your toddler through a regular diet. So, how can you help? By adding a cup of milk with Junior Horlicks^ to your child’s diet. Junior Horlicks is enriched with nutrients like Choline, Iron, Iodine, etc., which are known to support brain development, as well as calcium, Vitamin D, vitamin K & Protein which are known to support physical growth and development. It also contains nutrients such as Vit E, A, selenium & copper to support healthy immune function.