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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
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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!!