Want to read this magazine in your preferred language? You can translate the entire document using any modern AI tool (such as Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude). Just follow these simple steps:
The development of a child from 1 to 2 years is very crucial
Radha Nandakumar
The age between 0 to 2 years is referred to as the Sensory-motor stage. During this stage, children explore their environment through their senses by touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, listening. We might have seen children trying to play by throwing objects. These activities, which are the primary occupation of a child prepares the child for all the perceptual skills necessary for it to acquire the requisite foundation to start learning in the school age.
Most often, in the present day, children are deliberately deprived of such exploration in the pretext of modernization. For example, children are not allowed to touch anything because we feel it is unhygienic, not allowed to taste/bite anything because we feel it might cause stomach upset, and not allowed to smell anything because we feel it might cause an allergy.
But we fail to understand that we are hindering a natural development process. Every individual perceives information from the environment as per his/ her understanding. To form a basic understanding, a child has to explore a variety of information/ things.
There is another important aspect in which we are trying to hinder the development in the modern days, and that is by presenting very colorfully designed toys, which are expected to bring in creativity to a child.
But, such creativity can be obtained by simple toys as well. The side effects, sometimes, of the very bright toys are making a child inattentive.
Also, by playing in engaging in throwing objects children understand the pressure or effort required in handling various objects. We generally restrict such play calling it as disciplining.
Another important deprivation that we generally do is restricting a child from crawling for a long period. We must bear in mind that crawling is the most important activity that must be encouraged, as it strengthens the shoulder, which is a basic prerequisite for acquiring writing skills.
As a child grows, there is development/ growth simultaneously in eight different areas,
When there is a lag in any one of the areas, it will create an impact in the progress of other areas. Hence, when any of the areas is slow due to some impairment or condition, stimulation must be categorically provided to that particular area in abundance so that it doesn't affect the overall progress. Also, the other areas must be given adequate stimulation to progress at the right pace. In all, the olden days of child upbringing may be revisited which might help in avoiding unnecessary deviations in the development process.
About the author: Mrs. Radha Nandakumar is the founder and chairperson of Gurukulalm Integrated Centre for Children with Special Needs, Chennai. She helps parents to equip children with essential life skills, empowering them to navigate the world independently and with confidence.