Early Childhood

Developmental Milestones
Kelly Simmons
EED278
March 20, 2014

The four primary developmental domains of young children are:

Cognitive
Language
Physical
Social & Emotional

Cognitive Development

Infants

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Infants begin to show problem solving skills at six

months, although they have been learning this skill
since birth every time they touch, see, or taste
something. By 6-7 months of age an infant remembers
an object is still there even it is hidden. At 8-9 months
an infant enjoys dropping things just to see what
happens. By 10 months of age an infant can remember
daily routines and his attention span increases to
attend to an activity for up to 15 minutes.

Toddlers

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Toddlers learn to talk, feed, and dress themselves.

They learn to problem solve by experimenting and by
being allowed to try to figure things out for
themselves. Pretend play is emerging. By the age of
two a childs imagination is in full bloom. Pretend play
helps children learn how to think logically and
problem solve. Toddlers enjoy imitating others and
thinks symbolically.

Preschool

http://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/~/media/BH/Centers/1253/Galleries/MathCountsinPresch
ool-photo-1092012120000AM/6348537914785277181003942JPG634853791481966516.ashx?bc=White&mw=438&thn=0

Preschoolers cognitive development include

naming colors and shapes, following two to
three-part commands. They are able to count
and sort objects by shape and color. They like to
sing, play rhyming games, and some are able to
write their name. Preschoolers have a good
imagination, enjoy fantasy and pretend play.

Kindergarten

http://atozenglish.ch/

Kindergarteners are curious and ask many

questions. Their phonemic awareness has
improved and they begin to write and many will
begin to read. Number knowledge increases to
20+, they are able to count and compare quantity,
create patterns, and add and subtract. More
complex spatial relationships and time are
mastered. They like to pretend, sing, and dance.

Language
Development

Infants

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A child's language development begins at birth by

listening and watching a parents mouth. By 1-3
months infants begin to coo and by 7 months they are
making many new sounds. Vowels are the favorite
with consonants soon to follow. Infants begin to
babble between 4-8 month and by 12 months
babblings begins to sound more like words as
consonant vowel combination begin, like dada.

Toddlers

http://twinpossible.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/toddler-talk
ing-on-telephone..jpg

Toddler language development consists of naming

familiar objects and beginning to create short
sentences. Pronouns first appear and they are
experimenting with tenses and plurals. Their
vocabulary has increased to 150-300 words,
although fluency, volume, and pitch need further
development.

Preschool
Click icon to add picture
Preschoolers vocabulary has
increased to nearly 1000
words. Fluency has improved to
90%. They begin to use plurals,
past tenses, and some
prepositions. They understand
and answer simple questions.
Four year olds can easily follow
simple commands, love to
verbalize when playing, and
can repeat words with four
syllables.

http://www.ewell-grove.surrey.sch.uk/afterschoolclub/sessions.html

Vrrr, Varoom!, said John as

he played with the cars.

Kindergarten age
Language
Development
Kindergarten age children typically
use adjective and adverbs, knows
opposites, are able to define
common objects, knows how old
they are, and understands more
complex time concepts. Speech
articulation has greatly improved
and grammar is correct. By age 6
vocabulary has increased to around
2,500 words with sentences
approximately 7 words.
http://www.housewifeintown.com/2012/09/words-with-friends-hybridhomeschool.html

Physical Development

Infants

http://kidzgrowonline.com/

A newborn begins random and reflexive movements.

At 3-5 months an infant can hold his head up and can
sit with support, is able to push up on forearms when
on tummy, and grasps things with a palm grip. By 8
months an infant can roll over, sit without support,
and is able to pull himself to standing position.
Between 9-12 months he can stand alone, may walk
for the first time, and uses the pincer grasp.

Toddlers

http://www.extension.org/pages/25818/what-child-care-providers-can-e
xpect-in-toddlers-physical-development#.Uy4xH4WwV24

Physical development in the toddler years

shows rapid development. A child will now
climb stairs, feed self, throw balls, scribbles
on paper, run, and kick a ball, Between 2-3
years of age a toddler will dance, hop, jump,
draws, and becomes more coordinated.

Preschool

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Between the age of 3-5 a child will begin more

advanced movements. He will move with
balance while running, jumping, and galloping.
He will pedal a tricycle and climb with ease. Fine
motor skills improve as small muscles in hands
have strengthened. Eye hand coordination has
improved but is still developing.

Kindergarten

http://2es-cummings.wikispaces.com/maggie+and+milly+and+molly+and+may+-+f
ind+yourself

Kindergarten age children can now skip with

alternating feet, kick a ball with full leg extension,
and throw and catch a ball with more coordination.
Eye hand coordination is not yet fully developed,
but greatly improved. Spatial awareness is
developing as Kindergarteners are able to run and
change directions quickly and with ease.

Social & Emotional

Development

Infants

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Infants like to be held, they smile and laugh,

and they prefer primary caregiver. Between 6-8
months of age infants have formed an
attachment to primary caregiver and may
exhibit stranger or separation anxiety. By 12
months they move away from primary caregiver
when playing and imitates gestures and actions.

Toddlers

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Toddlers will test limits and have temper

tantrums caused by frustration. They enjoy
playing alone or along side another (parallel
play). Their attention span has increased
and they are able to communicate basic
needs.

Preschool

Kindergarten

http://ecochildsplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/goddard-kids-an
d-blocks-small.jpg

Preschool age children are able to adjust to

new situations, manages own feelings, is
independent, and exhibits self direction.
They follow classroom routines and rules and
respects the environment. They share and
play well with other children.

http://promega.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/my-daughter-hates-circletime/kindergarten-teacher-and-children-looking-at-birds-nest-in-libr/

Kindergarteners are confident and very social.

They enjoy sharing with friends and they have
better control of their emotions. Teachers
become an important person in their life.
They gain comfort and security from routines.

References
Dodge, D. T., Colker, L. J., & Heroman, C. (2002). The creative curriculum for preschool
(4th ed.). Washington, DC: Teaching Strategies.
Schaefer, C. E., & DiGeronimo, T. F. (2000). Ages and stages: a parent's guide to normal
childhood development. New York: John Wiley
Your Six Year Old. (n.d.). PBS. Retrieved March 22, 2014, from
http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/six