Early Childhood Development
The preschool years are magical!!
Your child has transitioned out of the infant and toddler stages and is now embracing their newfound independence. Every interaction is a learning opportunity and your child is developing in so many ways.
Before we begin exploring simple learning activities, lets take a look at some of the different developmental domains that your child is growing in. That way, when you are engaging with your child, you will be able to understand the different skills being learned.
Physical: This includes both fine motor skills (think of things your child uses their hands for in every day tasks ex. drawing, dressing, turning pages in a book, etc. ) as well as gross motor skills (think of what they use their whole body for ex: running, jumping, throwing, etc.)
Cognitive: Some concepts in this domain include thinking and reasoning, memory, attention, and understanding concepts, just to name a few.
Social/Emotional: Think about the way your child manages and expresses their emotions and the way they interact with peers and adults. While all developmental areas are critical, this one lays the foundation for success in all areas. Children with strong social and emotional development will be better prepared for school and life.
Language and Literacy: Communication, literacy, vocabulary, and phonological awareness are key elements to this domain.
Take a moment to reflect on your child. Have you noticed them favoring one or more of these domains? For example, does your child prefer to run outside or would they rather quietly work with a puzzle? Does your child love to dance to music or draw a picture? Every child is unique and has different skills and abilities and children will develop in all of these areas. As adults, our job is to provide safe and age appropriate opportunities for them to grow and explore in all domains.
