Keeping an eye on your preemies development can help you determine when a little help might be necessary.

Preemies aren't just small...

Sometimes preterm children can develop at different rates to a child born full term. In this way it is important to know the key developmental milestones and timeline so that you are able to give your preemie any help if required.

Select from the menu items for related information...

Cognitive development in childhood and adolescence

Keeping an eye on your preemies development can help you determine when a little help might be necessary

It’s amazing how quickly babies grow and develop! The table below highlights some important milestones. Although the table gives an average age at which milestones are achieved it is important to realize that even babies born at term achieve these milestones at varying ages. For preemies, you should always correct for their prematurity.

General Cognitive development in childhood & adolescence

Have a look at the following information for typical development of these skills. You should talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your preemie's development.

Age	Cognitive Achievement
2 - 4 years	A large increase in creative activities such as, make-believe play, drawings, and understanding spatial symbols (e.g. photographs, simple maps, and models) Are able to tell the difference between living beings from non-living objects Are able to group items based on common functions and behavior Can make sub-groups (e.g. fruit and vegetables are sub-groups of food)
4 - 7 years	Shows complex social dramatisations in play Produces more realistic drawings Magical beliefs about fairies, goblins, and other events that violate expectations with plausible explanations are replaced with more rational and realistic explanations Recognizes the consequences of changes in familiar situations
7 - 11 years	Mental states and beliefs of others Able to suppress inappropriate responses Participate in pretend play
7-8 years	Thinks in a more organized and logical way about tangible information Shows improved understanding of relationships of objects in space, such as understanding distance, give clear directions, and navigate familiar environments
11 - 20 years	Can reason abstractly in many different situations Displays the “imaginary audience” concept (i.e. where an individual thinks people are listening and watching them all the time), which is strongest in early adolescence and gradually declines

These milestones represent overall age trends. There are individual differences in the exact age at which each milestone is attained (Berk, 2008).

One of the greatest minds in history, Albert Einstein was born preterm.

Complete preemie guides for premature babies

Everything you need to know in a simple hands on guide!

A quick and comprehensive guide to understand all that is happening when you are faced with preterm birth and the NICU.

Packed with extra features like progress charts, NICU checklists and plenty of others. ‘The preemie guide’ is a must for any new parent.

Take control and know all you need to with ease

Help us help you!

Preemiehelp.com is here to provide preemie information, community and solutions to the people that need it most... you!
Preemie Help is also looking to provide a resource for any professionals that have contact with preterm babies and children in order to help them best understand the challenges that face a preemie. Get in contact to help us impact preemies.

Preemie, Premmie, or Prem?

Most babies spend between 38 and 42 weeks in their mother’s uterus. So, technically a preterm birth, preemie, premmie, or prem, is an infant who is born less than 37 completed gestational weeks.

New Release - Preemie Development

All in one easy to read eguide

‘The complete preemie guide to: ‘Preemie development’ is the must have guide to the NICU for new preemie parents.

With an easy-to-read layout this comprehensive guide is over 130 pages of important information about the NICU and your preemie.

Using Adobe’s .pdf format makes the guide usable across a wide range of platforms from ipad to PC, smartphone to macbook.

Packed with extra features like progress charts, NICU checklists and plenty of others. ‘The preemie guide’ is a must for any new parents.