Understanding Child Development

Development

• Change or growth that occurs in a child

• Helps you plan appropriate activities for children

• Helps you make sure children are safe and protected from danger

• Helps you be a better parent or caregiver

Ages and Stages

• Infant – First year of life

• Toddler– First year until 3rd birthday

• Preschooler– Children ages 3-6

Areas of Development

• Physical Development– Physical body changes– Occurs in a predictable sequence

• Gross motor development– Trunk, arms, and legs

• Fine motor development– Fingers and toes

Cognitive Development

• Also called intellectual or mental development

• Refers to the mental processes used to gain knowledge

• Language, thought, reasoning and imagination are included in this area

Social-Emotional Development

• Social Development– Learning to relate to others

• Emotional Development– Learning about personal feelings and their

expression– Includes self-concept and self-esteem

CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT

• Basic patterns are similar

• Cephalocaudal principle

– Development moves from head down

• Proximodistal principle

– Development moves from spinal cord out

• Maturation

– The refinement (improvement of abilities)

Remember:

• Each child develops at their own rate– No two children will develop at exactly the

same rate– Even identical twins will develop at different

rates!

ALL AREAS ARE RELATED AND IMPORTANT TO

DEVELOPING A HEALTHY CHILD!!