Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-playing-inside-her-room-3933025/
The first five years of a child’s life are a flurry of growth and change. One minute, you are cradling a newborn who fits in the crook of your arm, and the next, you are watching them run off to class with a backpack that looks far too big. It all goes by so quickly! Knowing what milestones to expect and finding ways to be present for them can make sure that you don’t miss a thing.
The First Year
During the first year, everything feels new. Your baby’s first real smile usually appears around two months, followed by rolling over at four months, sitting without support at six, and crawling around eight. Before long, they will be pulling themselves up to stand, taking their first steps, and possibly saying their first words.
Alongside these developmental leaps are their first holidays, like their first Christmas or Halloween, and perhaps a Christening or naming ceremony. The first birthday is the big finale, marking not only your baby’s growth over the last 12 months but also you completing your first year as their parent.
Making the First Year Last in Your Memory
This first year typically goes by in a haze of feedings, diaper changes, and sleepless nights, so it helps to slow down deliberately. Write quick notes in your phone about special moments as they happen, and have your camera close by to capture them. Try to carve out a little time each day to be with your child without distractions; this special one-on-one time will matter just as much as the big milestones. For their first birthday, look up creative first birthday ideas for boys or girls and take lots of photos—your baby may not remember it themselves, but the rest of the family certainly will.
Toddler Years: One to Three
Once your child takes those first steps, everything shifts into high gear. They go from toddlers taking wobbly steps to confident runners and climbers. Their vocabulary explodes, growing from single words to full sentences. They start feeding themselves, asserting their independence, and showing strong preferences.
Their second and third birthdays often become more about them and their personalities. You may see them get excited about party themes or pick their own cake. It is also around this time that they may start attending playgroups or toddler classes, learn to use the bathroom independently, and develop early social skills.
Staying Present During the Busy Toddler Years
This stage can be exhausting and busy, but it is also full of wonder. To avoid letting it fly past, build simple daily rituals. For example, you can read a bedtime story every night or sing the same song during a bath. Keep a small box for keepsakes like scribbled drawings, birthday cards, or cute little toys that they have outgrown. At parties or events, ask someone else to take photographs so you can focus on enjoying the moment. Your child will not remember the perfect decorations, but they will remember that you were laughing and having fun with them.
Preschool Years: Three to Five
By the time they hit the preschool stage, your child’s world gets much bigger. They can carry on conversations, dress themselves, and start understanding rules and routines. Their questions multiply by the day as their curiosity blooms. They make their first real friendships and begin to show clear interests in drawing, building, or sports.
This age often brings first performances, first school projects, and first days of preschool or kindergarten. Their birthdays during these years usually become group celebrations with friends, and they start forming close bonds with their peers and relatives, making these occasions especially meaningful.
How to Truly Soak In the Preschool Stage
The preschool years can easily get swept up in a rush of schedules and school events. Choose one night a week to start a family tradition, such as a pizza or movie night. Take time to talk to your child about their day, even if they ramble on about silly topics. Celebrate small achievements, like writing their name or drawing their first stick figure, to build their confidence. And when special events like school concerts or birthdays come around, remember to set down your phone after a few quick photos so you can cheer them on.
Why Milestones Matter
Milestones are more than boxes to tick off. They are moments in your child’s story that mark who they are becoming. Watching them smile for the first time, run across the yard, or make their first friend lets you see their future selves unfolding in real time. If you let these moments slip by unnoticed, you might look back and feel like their early years vanished before you had the chance to fully experience them.
Therefore, be sure to take every opportunity to slow down and savor the journey. Having a camera at the ready can help you capture fleeting moments, but true presence means engaging directly with your child in the moment. So, aim to be an active part of their journey and give yourself permission to enjoy the ride as your child’s closest companion.
