Your Developing Child

During the first 3 years of life the young child acquires three of the most important human abilities – standing upright and walking; the ability to speak; and with the advent of speech, the ability to think.

Uprightness & Walking

Most children start to stand up and walk by themselves around 1 year. Some are earlier and some later – it could be anything from 9 months to 1 ½ years.

Being upright and walking is the most human characteristic. No animal can do this.

Learning to walk – and later to talk and think – are the most important steps in child development. They are inborn human capacities but need the appropriate environment in which to fully unfold.

The most crucial element in this environment is the presence of other human beings – caring adults who provide examples for imitation.