Significant Advancements in Early Childhood Ages: What You Need to Know
Child development is a fascinating journey, spanning several domains including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. This article provides an overview of typical milestones in each domain, from infancy through pre-kindergarten.
**Physical Development**
In the first year of life, infants progress rapidly. By about two months, they can roll over and lift their heads while on their stomachs. Around six to seven months, they typically sit without support, and by nine to twelve months, most infants crawl and stand with support. During toddlerhood (one to three years), children start walking independently, running, and climbing with support. Pre-kindergarten (three to five years) sees children hopping on one foot, using safety scissors, and dressing independently.
**Cognitive Development**
Infants begin to understand objects continue to exist even when out of sight (object permanence) by about nine months. Around two years, they start sorting shapes and colours, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships. Pre-kindergarten children grasp basic time concepts, recognise numbers and letters, and engage in more complex problem-solving activities.
**Social/Emotional Development**
Infants start smiling at faces and laughing by about two to four months. They demonstrate affection to familiar people by around six months. Toddlers engage in parallel play with other children, display temper tantrums, and imitate actions and emotions of others. Pre-kindergarten children start engaging in cooperative play, taking turns, and showing empathy.
**Language Development**
In the first year, infants coo, babble, and make sounds that resemble words. Toddlers say their first words around 12 months, combine two-word phrases by about two years, and use simple sentences by age three. Pre-kindergarten children speak in full sentences, ask questions, and tell stories.
**Sensory Development**
Infants respond to voices, identify smells, and differentiate between tastes and textures. Toddlers recognise familiar objects, imitate sounds, and have full sensitivity to taste. Pre-kindergarten children continue refining sensory skills, developing food preferences.
It is important to note that these milestones are general guidelines, and development can vary significantly among children. Early childhood education programmes like BBMA provide language-rich classroom environments, self-help skill practice, early literacy activities, sensory and art experiences, and guidance strategies to support children's development.
Reading together daily, talking throughout the day, providing plenty of physical activity, limiting screen time, following your child's lead, and creating consistent routines are simple, powerful ways to support development across all domains.
Potential red flags for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers include not responding to sounds or their name, not making eye contact or sharing smiles, not babbling, not reaching for or grasping objects, not walking independently, not using at least 15-20 words, not imitating actions or words, loss of previously acquired skills, speech that is difficult to understand, significant difficulty interacting with other children, inability to engage in pretend play, extreme difficulty with transitions or changes in routine.
If you have concerns about your child's development, it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional or early childhood educator.
Parents can support child development in preschool by reading together daily, communicating frequently, and providing interactive learning opportunities. Early education programs like BBMA can provide additional resources, promoting self-help skills, early literacy, sensory experiences, and guidance for this developmental stage.
It is crucial to note that if parents have concerns about their child's development in any domain (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, or sensory), it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or early childhood educator for proper guidance.
