Growing Pains and Gains: From Infancy to 18 – A Journey Through Growth and Development
Let’s explore growth and development from birth through 18 years!
Have you ever marveled at the sight of an infant growing and playing to learn? Each tiny movement, every giggle, and even those moments of frustration - are stepping stones in their incredible development journey. It’s a wonder how much they absorb by exploring the world around them!
Development means expansion and progress. Growth means outgrowing a tumor or a lump.
Development and growth are the act of going from basic to complex or advanced. Consider the astonishing progress a baby makes in just 12 months. From an infant who can only move their arms and legs with no real purpose to sitting up and crawling, and some even walking by 12 months, it’s a testament to the incredible journey of growth and development!
Babies must reach many developmental milestones in just 24 short months!
Infants (0-2 years) – The Early Explorers
How many milestones can you list? Write them down on paper, then watch this video (below) and see how many you get!
Baby Development Milestones in the First Year
How right were you?
Let's consider how hard the brain and body work to achieve these milestones. From learning how to crawl, stand, and walk. From cooing, to staying the first word, to short sentences in a few months, it's hard to believe our bodies can do that. Babies do all of this just by exploring their environment! What have you recently learned by exploring? Could you learn as much as an infant does in that short time?
Toddlers are still exploring their environments but now have the added task of exploring (and managing) their emotions too.
Toddlers (2-5 years) – Little Adventurers
Here is a baby going from infant to toddler in a couple of steps! The baby is still learning by exploring, but now it is learning how to act, show personality, talk, and remain curious.
Check out this video clip: https://youtu.be/HtY6RH-1kss.
This age group wants their independence and thus starts the age of temper tantrums because we tell them they can't do what they want or have what they wish to up to, including throwing themselves on the ground and screaming, kicking, and hitting! Young children must learn to show their emotions instead of throwing things, yelling, or throwing themselves on the floor. Do you remember when you were young that you had trouble expressing your feelings to your mom and dad, or maybe your teacher had to show you how to express that better? It is never easy.
For a fun interactive exercise, make a Memory Map of your earliest memories. You can share a meaningful memory (or two) in the comments section of this blog.
Early childhood development focuses on socialization.
Early Childhood (5-8 years) – Social Butterflies in Training
Interactive Element: Draw Your World.
The little girl in this video is doing what makes her happy. It is not what her mom or caregiver wants, but looking at that smile, I see she is happy in her activity.
Video link: https://youtu.be/IXG6E0_DTdk
She is exploring how to make friends and play with them. During this time, the child learns to share. Sharing is not easy when it's previously been all about you. But they soon get it, like Elmo and Ernie in this song!
Sesame Street: Sharing Song with Elmo and Ernie
For a fun interactive exercise, think about a child you know who is between the ages of five and eight years old. Then draw a web of who they socialize with. Make bigger bubbles for who they spend the most time with (parents, daycare/school peers), and smaller circles for who they spend the least amount of time with (distant relatives, etc.).
What challenges await children between the ages of nine and 12 years old?
Middle Childhood (9-12 years) – Navigating New Challenges
This age group faces new academic and social pressures, including the transition to pre-adolescence. Problem-solving and other mental development milestones occur as middle-aged children develop more logical thinking and independence. Below are two quizzes you can take while thinking of a child in your life that is between the ages of nine and 12 years old.
"Has your child started expressing their interests or building a unique skill set? Take this quiz to see what confidence-building activities might help them thrive."
Circle Of Control Activity For Kids - Good Mental Health And Stress Management
Check out this Confidence Booster Quiz: "Has your child started expressing their interests or building a unique skill set? Take this quiz to see what confidence-building activities might help them thrive."
Circle Of Control Activity For Kids - Good Mental Health And Stress Management
Who remembers their teen years?
Early Teens (13-15 years) – Emotional Rollercoasters
Hormones, getting older, and experiencing peer pressures bring out a lot of different emotions in teenagers. If you know a teen, ask them to create an emotional playlist of songs. I like the attached song; it covers several things that can come through loudly and clearly during this age.
Feelings Song | Emotions Song | The Singing Walrus
Teen’s access to social media these days does not always help. I know if I spend too much time looking at everyone else's best life online (because no one shows the wrong side of life), I will get down because my life is not so perfect. This can be especially true for teenagers. They often believe social media is accurate, and what they see is the truth. The hole a teenager can fall into can be a dangerous one.
Older teens have a lot to think about and juggle between, school, work, and future plans.
Older Teens (16-18 years) – Building the Path to Adulthood
What’s Your Teen’s Passion?
At this age, older teens start developing deeper self-awareness and planning for their future, whether through college or career paths. It’s helpful to encourage older teens to think about what makes them passionate and how they can start planning steps toward pursuing those interests. Whether it's music, sports, or something else—passions fuel growth!
This can also be a time of learning while older teens try to find a balance between their newfound freedoms and their added responsibilities. How did you decide on a career path based on your passions as an older teen? Did you ever have trouble balancing the freedoms of having a car and spending money to get to school/work on time or budgeting your limited income? Tell us in the comments below!
Growth is a Lifelong Journey
Remember, growth and development are continuous and don’t stop at 18. Parents, caregivers, and teens should celebrate each growth stage and look forward to the next steps. Growth is not easy, but with support and resilience, every stage leads to greater strength and self-discovery.
What milestones or challenges in your child's (or your own) development have surprised you? Share below! Let's build a supportive community where we can learn from each other's experiences.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
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Comment below!
I invite my readers to join a discussion in the blog comment section to share tips and support each other in developing this essential skill.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments:
What is your earliest memory? What emotion do you remember expressing at that young age?
Who do you think is the biggest part of a five year old’s social circle?
How did you decide on a career path based on your passions as an older teen? Did you ever have trouble balancing the freedoms of having a car and spending money to get to school/work on time or budgeting your limited income?
What milestones or challenges in your child's (or your own) development have surprised you?
Any tips or stories you'd like to share with your fellow new nurses?
Ready to embark on this learning journey? Let's make this learning experience interactive and fun!
Share your answers in the blog comments to learn from each other.
Don’t forget to follow me on my Instagram account @nclex_one_on_one_tutoring and share it with your colleagues!
