Atypical Development In Children

Atypical Development is “any aspect of a child's physical or psychological makeup that is different from what is generally accepted as typical to early childhood” (Allen & Cowdery, 2012, p.81). It is difficult to define atypical development because many people look at it differently. “Children with differences that alter their development often are referred to as “exceptional” or “atypical” (Allen & Cowdery, 2010, p.81). Children who are different either mentally or physically were deemed as being atypical because of their differences from so called “normal” children. Every child is different and unique. All children develop at their own style and at their own pace. There are certain milestones that children reach in their stages of development. Older children who could possibly show signs of atypical development are not able to dress or undress themselves, use utensils to eat, they also cannot draw or use scissors. In younger children they can be delayed in crawling, walking, and sitting up on their own. If your child or infant is showing significant delays in their development they could also be a sign of a motor or movement disorder. Atypical cases in children can include factors like prematurity, and environmental factors. …show more content…
Normal or typical development is an ongoing process when a child is changing, growing, and acquiring a certain set of complex skills as they continue to grow. “Developmental milestones include physical or behavioral signs of physical, social, and cognitive progress that lead to mastery over one’s environment such as smiling, crawling, manipulating objects, walking, self-care, and talking are examples of developmental milestones that provide valuable insight into a child’s development” (