Jennifer Ramsey, age 13, of Baton Rouge, La., for her question:
WHEN DOES THE AVERAGE INFANT START TO WALK?
Newborn infants perform motor movements, many of which are reflexive. Soon after birth they gain voluntary control of movements. The major stages of locomotion are crawling (using arms only), creeping (on hands and knees) and walking. The average infant walks between 13 and 15 months of age.
Infancy is that period from birth to approximately 18 months of age. This first stage of life is an important time, characterized by physical and emotional growth and development.
During the first 18 months of life, the the average child makes considerable gains in height and weight, begins teething, develops sensory discrimination and begins to talk and walk.
Research shows that newborn babies are capable of visual and auditory discrimination. By two days after birth, infants
can discriminate odors. Infants react to loud noises, and they probably possess taste discrimination. Within three months they can distinguish color and form. They show a preference for complex and novel stimuli as opposed to simple and familiar stimuli.
Normal infants possess neurological systems that detect and store speech sounds, permit reproduction of these sounds and eventually produce language.
Infants utter all known speech sounds but retain only those heard regularly. Wordlike sounds occur at 12 months and have meaning at about 18 months. One and two word sentences are used to convey meaning. Early words generally include naming object and describing actions. For example, "fall floor" can be the infant's way of reporting that he or she fell onto the floor.
Acquisition of complex language after 18 months is very rapid.
Attachment is a psychological bond between an infant and his or her primary care giver, usually the mother. Crying and smiling bring infants in contact with care givers and are called attachment behaviors.
Attachment provides an infant a secure emotional base from which mature relationships develop. Research shows that inadequate attachment slows down social and emotional development throughout life.
Traumatic events such as physical abuse or malnutrition during infancy will affect development and behavior, usually in a negative way.
Less extreme experiences are also influential, but their effects may be temporary and less apparent.
All early experiences are known to influence attitudes toward the learning process, the self concept and the ability to form and maintain social and emotional relationships in later life.