Infancy and Toddler Stage

Physical Development: During this stage children are undergoing a lot of physical changes. Throughout
infancy which is in the time frame from 0-3 months the childs physical movement is random and
uncoordinated. As time goes on the child begins to develop eye coordination which allows the child to move
his/her head in 90 degree angle and can visually connect with objects that are midline (The Institute for
Human Services for The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program, 2007).
The Physical development of a toddler consists of eye, hand, and feet coordination which involve the fine
and gross motor skills. During this stage children are able to have more of a stable support. They go through
a stage of having the ability to lay on their tummy, supporting their bodies with arms and legs, to crawling, to
eventually standing with support. To a later development of more complex motor skills which would involve
walking, jumping, and running,

Language Development The language development of this stage is very gradual. The first development of
language in this period is through crying. The child speaks through cries which can communicate what the
child may need. Following the cry the child begins to make cooing sound which begins to develop towards
the end of the infant stage which is the third month. The child then begins to make gurgle sounds which
prepare the child to eventually put word sounds together and begin the stage of babble. During the toddler
stage the child learns to imitate words and develop phonemes which are the smallest sound units that signal a
change in meaning (Berk, 2013).

Cognitive Development: During the infancy stage of cognitive development the child is curious about his/her
surrounding, According to The Institute for Human Services for The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program,

2007, the infant physically explores his/her surrounding to learn about it; repeats movements to master
them, which also stimulates brain cell development. The toddler stage the child is able to make connection
between the parent and strangers. They toddlers begin to develop what is called the symbolic thinking, which
allows the child point to objects that is mentioned by parents. And learns by imitation.

Social Emotional Development- During this stage the child begins to respond positively to touch and
cries when upset or the needs are not being met. In this stage the child also begins to develop a strong
bond with care taker and feels separation anxiety when they cant see or hear them.

Moral Reasoning- During this early stage of infancy the child has no ability to moralize. As a child gets
into the later stage of toddlerhood the child begins to get a sense of other people around them. The child
learns that other people around them share the same environment. Infants and toddler do not have the ability
to judge wrong from right. They depend on adults to teach them the right from the wrong.

Delay: During the Infant and toddler stage the parent is able to determine if a child is signaling an atypical
development if the child is not showing any emotional cues. During the early period of this stage a child is
able to smile and respond to noises. If a child does not show any sign of emotional development the child can
possibly demonstrate a delay of development.

Strategies: Parents are able to influence the childs learning in this stage by providing lots of
communication and repeating the childs sound. The child at this stage is learning through imitation. So it is
important for a parent to speak to the child, copy the sounds the child is making, and read for brain
stimulation. The parents are also able to develop physical development by creating tummy time where the
child is able to lay on the belly and strengthen their back and neck. This will allow the child to begin the
stages of creeping and crawling.

Social Factor- A major social factor that influences this development is the adult in which the child is
surrounded by. This can either be in a negative or positive way. During this stage the child is imitating so it is
important to have positive role models around.