CDC Features

CDC Features

Learn Some Positive Parenting Tips

Photo: Mother and Father with their children

Discover (or rediscover) positive ways to help your child learn and develop.

Proper nutrition, exercise, and rest are very important for children's health and development. Providing a safe and loving home and spending time with your child – playing, singing, reading, and even just talking – can also make a big difference in his or her development.

As your child grows, their needs may change. Discover positive ways to help the development of your Infant, Toddler and Preschooler as well as school-age children and adolescents.

Infants (0–1 year old)

Mother and child Cognitive development for your baby means the learning process of memory, language, thinking and reasoning. Your baby is learning to recognize the sound of your voice. She is also learning to focus her vision from the periphery or the corner of her eyes to the center.

Your baby's language development is also important during this time. Listening, understanding, and knowing the names of people and things are all components of language development. The way you cuddle, hold, and play with your baby will set the basis for how he will interact with you and others.

For more information on positive parenting tips for infants, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/parenting/infantstoddlers.html

Toddlers (1–2 years old)

During this time, your child is becoming increasingly more mobile, and aware of himself and his surroundings. Her desire to explore new objects and people is also increasing. Your toddler will also show greater independence, begin to show defiant behavior, recognize himself in pictures or a mirror, and imitate the behavior of others, especially adults and older children. During this time, it is important to encourage your baby to explore and try new things.

Mother and son For more information on positive parenting tips for toddlers, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/parenting/infantstoddlers.html

Toddlers (2–3 years old)

Because of your child's growing desire to assert her independence, this stage is often called the "terrible twos." However, this can be an exciting time for you and your toddler. He will experience huge intellectual, social, and emotional changes that will help him to explore his new world, and make sense of it. During this stage, encourage your child to engage in pretend play and allow her to be the leader in a game like parade or follow the leader.

For more information on positive parenting tips for toddlers, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/parenting/infantstoddlers.html

Preschoolers (3–5 years old)

As your child grows into early childhood, his world will begin to open up. She will become more independent and begin to focus more on adults and children outside of the family. He will want to explore and ask about his surroundings even more. Her interactions with family and those around her will help to shape her personality and individual ways of thinking and moving. Encourage your child to play with other children. This helps him to learn the value of sharing and friendship.

For more information on positive parenting tips for preschoolers, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/Preschoolers.html

Middle Childhood (6–8 years old)

Photo: A mother teaching her daughter how to play baseball Middle childhood brings many changes to a child's life. By this time, children can dress themselves, catch a ball more easily with only their hands, and tie their shoes. Developing independence from family becomes more important now. Events such as starting school bring children this age into regular contact with the larger world. Talk with your child about school, friends, and things she looks forward to in the future.

For more information on positive parenting tips for middle childhood, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/MiddleChildhood.html

Middle Childhood (9–11 years old)

Your child's growing independence from the family and interest in friends might be obvious by now. Healthy friendships are very important to your child's development, but peer pressure can become strong during this time. Children who feel good about themselves are more able to resist negative peer pressure and make better choices for themselves. This is an important time for children to gain a sense of responsibility along with their growing independence. So, parents should help your child develop a sense of responsibility—involve your child in household tasks. Talk to your child about saving and spending money wisely.

For more information on positive parenting tips for middle childhood, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/MiddleChildhood.html

Early Adolescence (12–14 years old)

Photo: A father talking to his son. Early adolescence is a time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. Hormones change as puberty begins. Boys grow facial and pubic hair and their voices deepen. Girls grow pubic hair and breasts, and start menstruating. They might be worried about these changes and how they are looked at by others. It is important to respect your teenager's opinions and take into account her thoughts and feelings. It is important that she knows you are listening to her.

For more information on positive parenting tips for early adolescence, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/Adolescence.html

Middle Adolescence (15–17 years old)

Middle adolescence is a time of physical, mental, cognitive, and sexual changes for your teenager. Most girls will be physically mature by now, and most will have completed puberty. Boys might still be maturing physically during this time. Your teenager might have concerns about her body size, shape, or weight. Eating disorders can also be common, especially among females. During this phase of development, your teenager is developing his unique personality and opinions. Always respect your teenager's opinion. Listen to him without playing down his concerns.

For more information on positive parenting tips for middle adolescence, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/Adolescence.html