1. Understanding Child Development

2. 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

3. Ages and Stages Infant –First year of life Toddler –First year until 3rd birthday Preschooler –Children ages 3-6

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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!

9. ALL AREAS ARE RELATED AND IMPORTANT TO DEVELOPING A HEALTHY CHILD!!