Chennai: Physical well-being of a child isn’t enough. Researches suggest that quality of earliest environments of a child and availability of appropriate experience at the right development stages are crucial determinants of how a child's brain develops.
Child development refers to changes that occur as a child grows and develops to be physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally sound, socially competent and willing to learn.
Neurological research shows that every child, up to the age of 5 years, needs to continuously assessed and monitored for certain milestones such as language, cognitive, motor skills, hand, finger and eye coordination.
The early years of a child play an important role and are influenced by nature and nutrition, say medicos. In western countries, parents monitor the health and growth of their children severely and ensure that the child undergoes regular checks.
However, there is still no awareness on the right development measures for a child in the country.
Dr Ganesh R., senior consultant, general paediatrics and paediatric metabolic disorders, Rainbow Children's Hospital, says most Indian parents only focus on physical development of a child. However, developmental paediatrics is an upcoming speciality. “Awareness has been made and now parents keep track of their child's brain growth as well as physical aspects. Every child, up to the age of 5 years, needs to continuously be assessed and monitored for certain milestones such as language skills, cognitive skill, motor skills, hand, finger and eye coordination,” says Dr Ganesh. “Gross and fine motor development, vision and hearing development, language development and personal and social development are the main domains that we test for in the child during every visit they make.”
“Personal and social development includes the child's experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive relationships with others. Nutrition is the first important factor. Good nutrition will ensure good physical and mental development of the child. The second important factor is the environment. The child should have a comfortable family situation. The company of these two factors will facilitate the child’s overall development.”
