Child assessments evaluate development and progress by gathering objective information. Checklists provide a tool for recording a child's behavior to assess potential problems or to develop a behavior management plan.

While chronic malnutrition in the United States is rare, it does affect about 1 percent of U.S. kids, and many others suffer from dietary imbalances, according to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The Child Welfare League of America reports that 3.1 percent of households in the United States experience hunger.

Empathy -- the ability to feel for others and mentally put yourself in their place -- develops as a child ages. Because empathy is learned, you as a parent can help foster empathetic behavior and understanding. At certain ages, a lack of empathy is a perfectly normal developmental trait.

How tall your child grows is largely a matter of genetics, but nutrition plays an important role, too. Without a healthy, balanced diet, your child may not grow normally, explains Jo Anne Hattner, registered dietitian and pediatric specialist at the American Dietetic Association, in Parents magazine.

Developmental milestones for emotional and social skills can help you decide if your child lacks maturity. Keep in mind that children develop at different rates, so immaturity isn't always a cause for concern.

Children might pretend they are sick so that they can avoid certain activities such as going to school or doing a chore. How to deal with such behavior depends on a number of factors including the age of your child and the reason he is faking an illness.

Pregnancy starts at the point of conception when the sperm of a male fuses with the egg of a female. This can lead to several changes in your body. In fact, most women opt for a pregnancy test only after they observe symptoms such as missed periods and tender breasts.

It may sound harmless -- letting your child drift off to dreamland on the wings of music -- but constantly relying on certain sounds to incite sleepiness could have a few drawbacks.

Yogurt offers several health benefits, including protein and probiotics, but may not be a good choice for all children. If your child has health problems, talk with her doctor about whether yogurt is a healthy option to include in her diet.

If your child is normally full of energy, showing symptoms of lethargy can make you concerned he is experiencing an underlying medical condition. While lethargy resembles fatigue, it is typically accompanied by an underlying cause beyond missing a few minutes of sleep per night.

Boredom can help children develop problem-solving skills and creativity. It also can alert you to problems, such as anxiety or loneliness. Once you've talked to your child and ruled out an underlying problem, you need to help him learn to entertain himself.

Gymnastics is a highly challenging sport. Many children aspire to be Olympic gymnasts, but only a few will ever make it. The current methods for teaching gymnasts are extremely demanding and at advanced levels, require that children give up many areas of their lives.