Understanding the developmental milestones in infants and toddlers are important in many different ways. First and foremost, developmental milestones can be used as an example on how a child should be developing. Although all children will develop at different rates, the developmental milestones are still an example for the typical child. If a parent is aware of the developmental milestones their child should be reaching at a particular time, they can assure the best physical and mental health for their child. Also, if a child is not meeting the developmental milestones at a reasonable amount of time, this can serve as an early alert so that the parents can immediately get help. Knowing the developmental milestones are not only beneficial to the parents, but to doctors as well. If the doctors knows what a child should be doing, but aren’t able to do, then the doctor can take appropriate precautions in finding a cure for the child. Knowing the developmental milestones of a child can be helpful when attempting to teach a child as well. For example, a four month child would not be able sit down a read a book, because they are not to that stage yet. But, if a five year old child cannot sit down and read a book, the parent would then know that something might not be right.
Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, and Erik Erikson all had different viewpoints on the developmental stages of children. Freud believed that a child’s personality developed while they were discovering the world in different stages. Jean Piaget believed that a child’s personality would reflect their thoughts. Erikson, similar to Freud, believed that a child’s personality would develop based on how they withstand the problems they encounter. Understanding developmental milestones are helpful in preventing permanent disorders, teaching children, and understanding how a child developed their personality.