Introduction
During the first two years of life, children develop rapidly in all spheres of being. They acquire basic social and language skills, their bodies grow, and their senses develop. All senses are functional in newborns, except for vision which is better in a few weeks when infants see closer objects. Reflexes help infants hold their heads, crawl, sit, stand with support, and eventually take their first independent steps. This paper aims to discuss growth, sensory development, and language acquisition for children during the first two years of life.
Children’s development during the first two years of life
The early period is the most important for language and conceptual perception. By one year, most babies respond to their name, babble with intonation, take turns when ‘talking’ with adults, say at least one word, and say mama and dada. Between the ages of one and two toddlers follow simple commands, get objects if asked, point to body parts if asked, point to objects for naming, and learn one or two new words per week. By the age of two toddlers point to pictures in books, can say 50-100 words, and a few two-word sentences.
Experiences in early childhood affect an individual’s behavioral development because during this period toddlers learn to socialize and gain autonomy, including through using language. They adapt to the environment by using their senses, ability to focus and understand, and rely heavily on reflexes in earlier stages. Importantly, children need a specific diet rich in fats and glucose since in this phase their brains are growing very rapidly (Georgieff et al., 2018). Another issue is a large amount of energy spent on tissue development, weight accretion, and linear growth. The right diet in early childhood can help avoid cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in older years.
Conclusion
Thus, it was discussed how infants and toddlers go through the stages of growth, senses, and language development during the first two years of life. They spend a lot of energy on physical growth and brain development. Language acquisition is often seen as socialization and gaining autonomy at an early age. Children learn to adapt to the environment, and need to feel cared for, while facing some challenges that stimulate them. Toddlers need the right diet to avoid problems with health when in their older ages.
Reference
Georgieff, M. K., Ramel, S. E., & Cusick, S. E. (2018). Nutritional influences on brain development. Acta Paediatrica, 107(8), 1310-1321.