What+is+normal?

In PTRS 851, and now in PTRS 833, we talk a lot about "normal" and "abnormal" or "typical" and "atypical" development. Please use this page to post files, links, and resources related to "normal" development. Each group member must contribute at least two unique items to this wiki by 5:00 pm September 16. The discussion board tab is optional, but may be used for online discussion of this topic (in addition to your wiki content). You may want to consider some of the following questions as you build this page:
 * What does "normal" mean? Is there really any such thing as "normal?"
 * What implication do the terms "normal" or "abnormal" have for families of children with disabilities?
 * How do we define and explain typical and atypical development to families?
 * Is there anything that is developmentally normal or typical in children that may be surprising to parents?
 * What resources are available that may help families and providers identify typical and atypical development?

I'll begin with this video of my son, Charlie, on the day he turned 11 months old, demonstrating what would be considered "normal" development for an 11-month-old infant. media type="youtube" key="bNhTLbq_63A" height="349" width="425"

Link for CDC signs for development: [] Milestones from social, movement, vision, and hearing and speech for 3months to 5 years. You can click on your childs age and find checklists for each age.

For example, year 1:

Here is a free qualitative article from the journal //Pediatrics// where parents and early intervention specialists were interviewed and gave advice on handling different situations regarding child development (1st link is the article, 2nd is the summary table) "Sugar-coaters and Straight Talkers: Communicating About Developmental Delays in Primary Care"- Article Summary table for "Sugar-coaters and Straight Talkers: Communicating About Developmental Delays in Primary Care" Sices L, Egbert L, Mercer MB. Sugar-coaters and straight talkers: communicating about developmental delays in primary care. Pediatrics 2009;124:e705-13.

Below is the link to a PDF of an assessment tool for developmental milestones. There is a new chart for 8 different age points when children are under 6 years old. Each age has a different sheet with various developmental milestones that are considered to be normal development for that age. It looks like a great tool that can be used in the clinic, especially a multidisciplinary clinic. It is also very easy to follow which is always a plus.

[]

Here is a webpage article from titled //Early Identification: Normal and Atypical Development//. It does provide information on the developmental milestones but also adds more insight on variability of normal. The article also provides information for the parents about what to look for in atypical development. []

The link below is to the "Ages & Stages" tab of the HealthyChildren.org website. Again developmental milestones for cognition, motor, and social skills are incorporated. In addition, there are several helpful articles under each age group for parents regarding other developmental steps (ex: toileting, teething, reading, etc.) and what is considered normal for these tasks. []

The two videos below are of my cousin's little boy Jamie! The first video is when he was approximately 10 months old. He is able to pull-up to standing using the couch, seems to be thinking about cruising but hasn't quite gotten there, and crawls very easily as you can tell. In our motor development chart the "normal" time frame for these skills was 9 months so I'd say Jamie is on track! The second video is when Jamie learned how to walk. He was right around 12 months at that time. Anywhere from 11-15 months seems to be about the average time that children start walking. Enjoy!

media type="youtube" key="50HeUpfjxgQ" height="345" width="560"

media type="youtube" key="acQPTWsVt_o" height="345" width="560"

Normal development can be based upon whether the child is with or without disease or disorder. Once the child has been diagnosed with Down Syndrome, for example, there is a new standard of normal with new milestones for that child. For the parents, there is no longer a need or ability to compare their child with a child that does not have a diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

There are many resources available for new parents of a child with a disability. Here a new mom blogs about her life and experiences with a daughter with Down syndrome. This mom does some research and provides summaries, and provides many stories about her daughter’s development. http://downsyndromenewmama.blogspot.com/ The Developmental Journal for babies and children with Down syndrome. This will link you to a free PDF with sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional milestones. []

Autism is another common diagnosis for children. This page provides information for providers on how to care for children with Autism, and what to expect from a child with Autism. As providers we need to be informed of the diagnostic indicators in order to appropriately speak with parents, and let them know what is considered normal for their child. https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00040-2009

This video shows moms and their autistic children, and discuss what is part of their typical day. As you can tell, it is similar across the spectrum for austism, but vastly different than a typical day for a parent whose kids do not have a developmental disorder.

media type="youtube" key="FDMMwG7RrFQ" height="345" width="560"

Here is a website from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics that shows ways that you can stimulate a child's normal development. At the bottom of the page, it also has easy to understand developmental milestones. Developmental Stimulation Also, an interesting, normal motor development in children is that handedness doesn't develop until 3-4 years old. (...don't have dreams of having a left-handed MLB pitcher too early).

We deal with movement and physical activity, so let's look at an article dealing with the effect of physical activity on growth and development. Is sedentary the new normal? Hills, Andrew P., Neil A. King, and Timothy P. Armstrong. __The Contribution of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours to the Growth and Development of Children and Adolescents: Implications for Overweight and Obesity__. //Sports Med//. 2007: 37 (6): 533-545.: [|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-67.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-68.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-69.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-70.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-71.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-72.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-73.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-74.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-75.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-76.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-77.JPG|PI-0MLR-2007-JUN00-IDSI-78.JPG&docId=GALE|A200844715&callistoContentSet=PER&isAcrobatAvailable=true] Children are a great place to start physical activity. Physical activity is shown to improve health in general, prevent illness, and decrease obesity. Starting early in life will encourage physical activity and promote good health throughout the lifespan.

According to infantsee.org, 1 in 10 children are at risk for late diagnosed vision and eye problems. Visual disorders are not easily detected in infancy. However, optometrist have the training to diagnose disorders early. Infantsee.org is an organization created by the American Optometry Association. The goal of the organization is to promote infants being evaluated by an optometrist at the 6 months and 12 months of age. Visual difficulties can go undetected for the first few years of life, until detected by learning difficulties. By participating in infantsee programs, early detection can promote early treatment for visual disturbances. Infantsee.org has information on visual development, and how to participate in the program. [|www.infantsee.org]

The link below contains a guide with child development benchmarks from birth to 8 years of age. This guide was published by the National Association of Education for Young Children. This guide can be a great resource for parents because it not only gives developmental milestones but also provides ideas of art projects that the parent and child can do together at each age. The guide was created in effort to promote parent and child interaction (and development) using art projects for education. []

What is developmental delay and what services are available if I think my child might be delayed? There are several sites to tell us what milestones need to be met to make our children "normal." Here is a site that may help when those milestones aren't met. The site gives some great advise about developmental delay in areas of hearing, vision, behavior, gross motor, etc. It also goes into an explanation of what early intervention resources are available. I feel like it is a great site for quick and dirty information with resources for further research! []

For those that don't like to read articles here is a great 5 minute clip that sums up some basic milestones and gives advice for all parents. It emphasizes that a parent should get to know their own children's "normal" first. That can only be done by playing, observing, speaking, etc. This strives to help parents be the best possible advocate for their children.

media type="youtube" key="KrUNBfyjlBk" height="345" width="420"

This Youtube video highlights developmental milestones of a premature baby. media type="youtube" key="k-MrCxDLAZo" height="315" width="560"

 This website [] provides an article addressing speech and language delays in the following context: Understanding normal speech and language development, the difference between speech and language, warning signs of a possible problem, causes of delayed speech or language, what speech-language pathologists do, what parents can do.

Developmental Handouts (Well Child Visits)
Here are developmental handouts (.pdf) by age group, from newborn to teenagers created, by Palo Alto Medical Foundation doctors for the early years of your child's life. They highlight measurements, immunizations required, nutrition, typical development patterns, common concerns, safety, family issues, when to call your doctor and offer additional resources for parents. These handouts are used during the Well Child Visits.

Sixty Second Parent
[]

This website is designed for parents or soon to be parents that "brings together experts in child development, child health and parenting to provide sound, practical parenting information within an online community network." There is a Facebook (sixtysecondparent.com) and Twitter (@60secondparent ) account. The site offers a panel of Pediatric Doctors, Nurse Practitioners and Practical Parenting Advisers. They have sources for pregnancy, newborns, babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners. It is a very parent friendly website that offers blog spots and discussion boards.