Your Child's Learning and Development
Your child is unique and will develop in their own way and time. Every child goes through the stages of development in the same order but will spend different lengths of time and display different characteristics at each stage.
The following information gives you an overview of each stage of development from newborn to school age and ways that you can help their learning along the way.
To give you further practical information we have included a link to the Raising Children Network website, an invaluable resource for parents. Supported by the Australian Government, the Raising Children Network website features reliable, research based material and resources that offer practical information and suggestions, step by step guides in areas such as child development, behaviour, health, nutrition, play and learning, communication, sleep and safety. It also has a section for parents on looking after your own needs.
For more information, see: Raising Children Network
More information
For more information, see:
- Australian Breastfeeding Association – this large, community based self-help group is recognised as a leading authority on breast feeding
- Better Health Channel – this website contains information about different illnesses and conditions, healthy eating and health service directories
- My Health and Development Record – designed for parents to keep and to record your child’s milestones, health, growth, development and immunisations throughout their childhood.
- Maternal and Child Health Line (phone 13 22 29) – qualified maternal and child health nurses provide information, support and advice to Victorian families with children from birth to school age (5 years old) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Parent Line (phone 13 22 89) – this telephone counselling service is available to parents and carers of children aged from birth to 18 years throughout Victoria. They provide information and assistance on a wide range of issues, including those who are struggling with or finding the parenting role challenging. They can not, however, provide you with legal or medical information
- Playgroups and Parent Groups – outlines what these are and why they are important.
- Nurse on Call (call 1300 60 60 24) – this telephone service provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- SIDS and Kids Victoria – Sudden Infant Death Research Foundation Inc., trading as SIDS and Kids Victoria; is a high-profile and well respected nonprofit organisation that boasts an enviable history of success
It can be useful to have information on hand when you need it so we have included some printable resources here for your convenience:
- Your Child’s Health and Development: birth to 6 years (PDF - 354Kb) – keep track of the stages of development that your child goes through and what you can expect with this handy wall chart
- Kids Talk: 75 ways to encourage your child to talk (PDF - 338Kb) – this poster has useful and practical tips on encouraging your child to talk
The following series of pamphlets are a handy printable resource of tips and suggestions on how to encourage your child’s development: