Children chewing on their fists, their toys and their furniture is relatively normal, and most children go through it at some point. However, it can be alarming to you as a parent if it seems extreme or goes on for long periods of time, according to the KidsHealth website.

Preschoolers learn how to control and further their physical development and movement patterns through activities and play. Large muscle skills, or gross motor skills, necessary for running and throwing, develop faster than fine motor development skills, which progress at a slower pace at this age.

Communication involves using language to express ideas and share information, such as through listening, reading, speaking and writing. Children require good language and speech skills to interact with people and succeed in educational settings and other areas of life.

Most primary and secondary schools in Western countries test their students' intelligence every few years by administering a written IQ test. The results of these tests may determine the level of educational opportunity a child receives.

It is difficult to predict with absolute accuracy how tall a child will be when finished growing, which is typically around age 14 or 15 for a girl and age 16 for a boy.

Nearly 11 million children under the age of 5 in America are in some kind of child care every week, according to Child Care Aware of America. Day care is a necessity for many working families who cannot afford to have one parent stay home with the children.

Even with computers in school, children still write papers, complete math assignments and take notes by hand. If you notice your child struggles to complete handwritten assignments, take steps to help her increase her speed. There are several causes for slow handwriting, including learning disabilities.

With the creation of the No Child Left Behind Act, parents are able to transfer their students out of Title 1 schools. Parents must receive notification that their child is attending a Title 1 school each school year according to the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Poverty creates long-term disadvantages for children. The consequences of poverty—emotional issues, delayed development and lower academic achievement, among others—put a child behind peers who do not struggle with poverty. Poverty affects an increasing number of children.

The developmental biologist Jean Piaget named four stages of cognitive development. The first two stages, also known as the sensorimotor stage and preoperational stage, span the ages of birth to 7 years. Each stage contains certain cognitive milestones that mark early childhood cognitive development.

Open nearly any parenting book, and you'll find a list of early childhood milestones which describe the average age at which kids accomplish things. Each child develops differently, though. If your child lags a little in an area such as intellectual development, keep an eye out.

Being a parent comes with all sorts of things to think about when it comes to your child's safety. One way to keep kids safe in the car is by ensuring your child is properly buckled into the car seat that's recommended for her age.