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If you’ve ever spent time with young children, you already know they are amazing learners. They develop new skills and vocabulary at what seems to be a hundred miles per hour. Young children absorb information and learn in many different ways simultaneously. For example, while a toddler is learning important physical skills and coordination—they’re also developing speech, studying social cues and learning emotional expression. It’s remarkable how much those little minds can take in at once. This is one of the many reasons early childhood education is so important. If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard quite a bit about some of these child developmental milestones already. Doctors, teachers and all sorts of professionals who interact with kids keep an eye out for important changes as children grow. But even if you’ve studied up on early childhood development, keeping track of important milestones can seem overwhelming. We compiled this resource to help you understand all of the important child development stages little ones go through and what milestones to look for along the way. Why is early childhood development important?You can probably guess why children need to develop and grow as they go along. They can’t stay infants forever, no matter how cute they are. But professionals who work with children are much better equipped to help them learn if they understand how they grow. “By being aware of development, educators and caregivers can understand what types of environments children need,” says Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes, PhD, LMHC, LPC-MHSP, EIP and host of Counselor Toolbox Podcast. Fostering the right environment can help children develop self-esteem while also explaining some of their behaviors, Dr. Snipes explains. “Understanding early childhood development can help you more effectively support your young ones, but more importantly, it helps children develop a strong sense of confidence and determination.” When you have a strong foundation for what is going on in those little minds—you’ll have a much better idea of what they need to flourish. There is also a benefit to catching any development trouble early on. “Early childhood education professionals need to know how to use screening tools when they suspect a delay may be present, and how to support parents in seeking help,” says Dr. Ari Yares, PhD, NCSP and psychologist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that significant delays in development can be indicators of a medical or psychological condition. Catching potential underlying causes early can allow parents and caregivers to get support for their child and better understand how to adjust to their needs. According to the CDC, certain therapies and interventions will be much more effective early in a child’s life, when their brain is most adaptable.1 This makes early childhood education an ideal stage for keeping an eye on what those little ones are learning. Important areas of early childhood developmentEarly childhood development is a little easier to understand when you break it into categories of learning. The CDC separates early learning abilities into four primary areas:1
In healthy children, these areas are all important in growth and development. When you consider a learning environment, these growth areas intersect. For example, social and emotional awareness often increases through language and communication in the preschool years. Or toddlers might problem-solve and make cognitive discoveries through movement and physical growth. But when you understand development as a whole, you see that educating children goes way beyond letters and numbers. “We often focus on creating a language-rich environment using colors, numbers and shapes, but leave out building a child’s emotional vocabulary,” Dr. Yares suggests. Leaving an important element—like emotional expression—out of the picture can make learning more difficult for young students. “ECE professionals need to understand the full gamut of early childhood development, since emotional expression is often tied to behavioral difficulties we see in young children,” Dr. Yares says. While there are certain child development milestones to keep an eye out for (e.g., beginning to make sentences or learning to walk), experts in early childhood education experts warn against measuring all children against a checklist. “Understand that development does not happen in a neat, linear fashion like textbooks or charts describe,” Dr. Yares explains. “It is uneven and varies from child to child, even within the same family.” He advises early childhood professionals to understand important time frames and milestones, while learning about how development works at a more holistic level. The CDC outlines common early childhood development milestones laid out by the age range when these changes typically occur. If you have a rough idea of what to expect from children as they reach these milestones, you will be better equipped to work with children and keep an eye out for healthy growth. Milestones at 2 – 4 months old1
Milestones at 6–9 months old1
Milestones at one year old1
Milestones at 18-months old1
Milestones at two years old1
Milestones at three years old1
Milestones at four years old1
Milestones at five years old1
Applying early childhood development to the care environmentWhether you are teaching young ones, keeping them safe and busy in a care center, or even raising one of your own, understanding childhood development stages can make a great impact on how you relate with little ones. “ECE professionals are uniquely positioned to help children develop an emotional vocabulary through activities like reading and by describing behavior and feelings happening in the classroom,” Dr. Yares explains. “This is directly linked to the support that young children need in expressing their wants and needs and dealing with the emotional reactions.” Dr. Snipes adds that preschool-aged children tend to think very egocentrically and in “all-or-nothing terms.” She stresses the importance of speaking in concrete terms so children do not feel responsible for something that may not be their fault. When teachers understand how children develop, they’ll know to separate the child from the behavior to prevent children from internalizing harmful messages. Looking at how children grow and what they need at different stages of development will also help teachers see a bigger picture of education. Dr. Snipes emphasizes that needs like sleep and nutrition have a huge impact on a child’s ability to learn and manage their emotions. When teachers partner with parents and caregivers, these aspects of early childhood development will be helpful to provide the best support possible for every child. Supporting early childhood developmentNow you’re aware of some significant early childhood development milestones and the importance of understanding these stages children advance through. While these are accepted as general guidelines, remember that every child is unique. If you’re excited at the thought of helping children grow and develop in their own way, perhaps you have a future in doing just that! Find out if you’d be a good fit in our article, “6 Signs You Have What It Takes to Become a Childcare Provider.” 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Learn the Signs. Act Early. Developmental Milestones. [Information accessed August 2020.] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2018. It has since been updated with information relevant to 2020. Insight from Dr. Snipes and Dr. Yares remains from original. How can a teacher improve a child's brain activity?Reading is one of the best ways to promote a child's brain development. Even before he/she can recognize letters or words, reading kick starts language and communication skills. Hearing words and seeing pictures connects the two in a child's mind.
What is the significance of studying the brain process?Studying the nervous system advances understanding of our basic biology and body function. Knowing how things typically work can help shed light on what may happen when there are problems. It can help researchers find ways to prevent or treat problems that affect the brain, nervous system, and body.
What are the most important aspects of the brain that we should learn more about?Each area of the cerebrum specializes in a function – sight, hearing, speech, touch, short-term memory, long-term memory, language and reasoning abilities are the most important for learning.
What are the stages of a child's brain development?Contents. |
