Understanding child development

Understanding how your child’s reactions, thoughts, behaviours and sense of control are influenced by their development can help you understand them and respond in ways that support positive development and mental health.

This resource explains why it’s helpful to understand child development and to remember that every child develops at their own pace. It also outlines some key things you can do to support healthy development at any age.

Infants and toddlers are growing and learning so quickly that it can be difficult to know if their behaviours are part of normal developmental changes, related to what’s happening in the world around them, or signs of possible concerns.

This fact sheet describes the main developmental experiences and capabilities of babies and toddlers up to around three years of age. It offers ways parents, family members and other adults can support children’s healthy development and wellbeing.

As a parent of a preschooler, it can be difficult to understand how your child is experiencing the world and why they’re behaving the way they are.

This fact sheet describes the main developmental experiences and capabilities of children from around three to five years of age. It offers ways parents, family members and other adults can support children’s healthy development and wellbeing.

Once children start school, their relationships and experiences in their school environment greatly influence their development.

This fact sheet describes the main developmental experiences and capabilities of children from around five to eight years of age. It offers ways parents, family members and other adults can support children’s healthy development and wellbeing.

Around this age, children are developing their own identities and thinking about their beliefs and values. You can support a child’s positive mental health now and in the future by encouraging and guiding them as they move between the child and adolescent (teenage) worlds.

This fact sheet describes the main developmental experiences and capabilities of children from around nine to 12 years of age. It offers ways parents, family members and other adults can support children’s healthy development and wellbeing.

When a family is facing difficulties – such as financial or housing stress, health issues or relationship breakdown – it impacts on everyone in the family, even very young children. In these situations, it’s normal for a child’s developmental process to be interrupted and different to what’s ‘typical’ at their age.

This fact sheet is about how children of different ages commonly react and behave if their parents or families are experiencing difficulties or stresses. It includes suggestions for what you can do to support your child’s healthy development while you’re navigating tough times.