GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT:

The first five years of a child’s life lay a foundation for a child’s learning, behavior, and health. Early
childhood experiences shape a child’s brain and capacity to learn, develop social skills, and navigate
daily challenges and stressors. The emotional, social, and physical development of young children has a
direct effect on their behavior, social skills, school readiness, and overall child development, influencing
habits that extend into adulthood.
4 Domains of the 5 Stages of Child Development
Each stage of development surrounds progressions across four different domains.
These various developmental domains are interdependent, and a child is unable to advance in one
sphere without progressing in the other.
1. Communication Domain
Children have to learn to be able to communicate effectively with their family, peers, teachers, and
more.
Communication is the first step that develops across the five stages of child development, which will
progress into conversation skills and navigating relationships as they grow older. 
2. Physical Domain
Across the 5 stages of child development, the body develops in both gross and fine motor development.
The gross motor development that takes place allows your child to move in the world with balance,
coordination, ease, and confidence.
Guide children’s gross motor development from an infant’s first attempts at reaching for a caregiver,
through a toddler’s walking and unsteady running, and into the active play of preschoolers and beyond –
jumping, kicking, climbing, and dancing!
3. Social-Emotional Domain 
A child’s social and emotional development helps children understand who they are, what they are
feeling, and how to interact with others.
The social and emotional health of preschoolers helps children to form positive relationships, as well as
manage and express their emotions in a wide range of scenarios.  
4. Cognitive Domain 
Cognitive development in children involves all of the processes of how children think, understand, and
navigate the world around them. Developmental milestones in the cognitive domain include
mathematical and scientific concepts such as quantity, classification, and cause and effect.
This cognitive development includes elements like curiosity, an initiative in seeking information, and
adapting behavior in response to new knowledge.
5 Stages of Child Development
1. Newborn (0-3 Months)
Communication: Newborns primarily communicate through crying for various needs, and may become
calm when spoken to. Babies will begin to coo at around two months, as well as make vowel sounds. 
Physical: Newborns can turn toward sounds, and can follow objects with their eyes. They can grasp
objects, and begin to lift their head for longer periods. 
Social-Emotional: Newborns try to look at you and other people, and will begin to start smiling at
people. 
Cognitive: Newborns are interested in and recognize familiar objects and people at a distance.
They may even begin to get bored with repeated activities!
Encourage your child’s growth across the four domains by providing adequate stimulation for your baby
through books, eye contact, play, toys, toys, and more toys!
It’s important to help strengthen their muscles by placing babies on the stomach for short periods for
stronger back and neck muscles, as well as time on their back to kick their arms. Support parent bonding
and attachment through plenty of talking, body contact, eye contact, and proper early communication
efforts. Every bit helps your child grow!
2. Infant (3-12 Months): 
Communication: Infants begin babbling from months 3-6. After this developmental milestone is met,
infants will begin to imitate various sounds and start laughing around months 6-9.
Around months 9-12, infants can imitate various sounds, communicate with gestures, and say a few
simple words. 
Physical: By ages 3-6 months, infants can start to control their head movements, as well as bring their
hands together.
Infants aged 6-9 months can begin sitting without support and can bounce in a standing position.
From months 9-12, children can begin picking up objects, crawling, and standing without assistance. 
Social-Emotional: From 3-6 months, infants begin responding to facial expressions, as well as different
tones of voice.
From 6-9 months, infants will respond to various gestures (such as clapping hands), and understand
various emotions of others. Around this time frame, infants will also begin feeling comfortable around
faces familiar to them, and anxious around strangers. Around months 9-12, infants will begin to express
themselves and their emotions, as well as establish connections and relationships with those around
them. 
Cognitive: Months 3-6 are when infants begin recognizing familiar faces (such as a parent), noticing
music, and responding to signs of love and affection. Months 6-9 are when receptive language
development occurs, where infants begin understanding and processing the words that they hear.
Months 9-12 are when infants begin to imitate gestures, understand the word “no”, and explore cause
and effect, such as throwing objects. 
Encourage development in your infant through opportunities for physical development, like supervised
exploration, encouraging sitting up, and reaching for objects that may be a little further out of reach.
Encourage language development by having fun together, making different sounds with rattlers or bells,
and keep on talking! Across the board, using positive reinforcement in early childhood (hugs, kisses, etc.)
helps encourage your child’s development. 
3. Toddler (1-3 Years)
Communication: Your child’s toddler years is when they will expand their language skills greatly. From
the first year, children will say their first word and build a vocabulary of up to 5-10 different words. By
18 months, they will use up to 50 words, and start to be able to name objects and pictures, with speech
primarily being telegraphic (main words are there but connecting words are not). Between 2 and 3 years
old, children will begin to start saying their first full sentences, with sentences beginning as
combinations of three words. Children will be able to discuss what they are doing, and their
communication skills continuously improve. 
Physical: Starting at one year, children will begin to use a preferred hand (right or left), can make marks
on paper, and reach movement milestones. They can crawl fast, sit up easily, and can stand and walk a
few steps on their own. Around two years old, confidence allows them to improve their walking, and
gain the motor skills to feed themself, and maybe drink from a cup! By 3 years old, children can typically
dress and undress themselves, use the toilet alone, and can play more – running, jumping, hopping, and
riding tricycles.
Social-Emotional: At one year, children will develop object permanence, or the understanding that
objects still exist even if they can’t be seen or heard.
From 2 to 3 years, emotions are clear, and your child will want to do what they want.
Accompanying this growing independence is a rollercoaster of feelings and tantrums as children begin
to work out who they are.
Otherwise known affectionately as the “Terrible Twos.” This child development stage marks the
beginning of playing alongside other children, increased confidence with strangers, and an
understanding that others have feelings too. 
Cognitive: As a 1 year old, your child’s cognitive development allows them to  name certain body parts
and recognize familiar objects in books.
During this time, they are much better at solving puzzles. From 2 to 3 years, they can name colors,
recognize letters, and count numbers aloud. Children still have difficulty understanding the difference
between reality and make-believe. 
Encourage your toddler’s early childhood development by setting and maintaining predictable routines,
reading to them, limiting screen time, responding to tantrums or extreme emotions with calmness, and
encouraging and allowing them to experiment with independence. 
4. Preschool (3-5 Years) 
Communication: Beginning at 3 years old, your child will begin to master certain difficult sounds, and can
speak more clearly though they still make grammatical tense errors. Your child will start  to ask a lot
more questions – What? Why? How? 
Physical: At three years old, your child’s gross motor skills are strengthened every day, and we see
evidence of this everyday on the playground.
Your child has increased confidence using tricycles, walking up and down play structures, and catching
balls. In the classroom, children are refining their fine motor skills using scissors, writing letters, drawing
shapes, and using forks and spoons. 
Social-Emotional: At three years old, children begin to feel more comfortable around others in their life,
and participate in dramatic play in the classroom. This allows your child to express imagination, and
participate in various games in small groups. Children continue to understand their  feelings, body, and
understand when they have done something wrong. 
Cognitive: Your child has a much better memory, is able to sing songs, tell stories, know numbers, and
their full name and gender. They are much better at concentrating, and start reading books on their
own.
 Encourage your child’s development in this stage by allowing them to express their feelings with
reassurement, encourage being social, and equip them with a sense of responsibility through simple
chores. 
5. School Age (5-17 Years)
Communication: At five years old, children begin to use more complex sentences, tell stories, answer
questions, recite nursery rhymes or sing songs. Your child will develop more advanced language skills as
they progress through this age period. 
Physical: At five years old, children are largely independent across all of their gross and fine motor
movements. They can dress, eat, and wash mostly independently. They can hold their pencils properly
and walk along straight lines.
Social-Emotional: At five years old, children become increasingly socially aware. They have
conversations with one another, enjoy making new friends, have fewer arguments, take turns, can be
bossy, and show their anger through actions or words. They enjoy their independence but still need
comfort and reassurance. As they progress to the end of this age group, they are largely shaped by the
dynamic social environments and experiences they are exposed to. 
Cognitive: Beginning at four years old, children have a stronger sense of what is wrong and how to lie.
They can understand contextual words (in front of, behind, etc.), comparisons, and grasp numbers,
colors, size, and time with increased understanding. Complexity of the various subjects increase as they
progress through childhood. 
Encourage your school-age child by having fun through learning (think games, fun books, and following
their interests!), modeling healthy habits, and always leaving enough time for play.
DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH LIST
Infant -- birth to 1 year
Able to drink from a cup
Able to sit alone, without support
Babbles
Displays social smile
Gets first tooth
Plays peek-a-boo
Pulls self to standing position
Rolls over by self
Says mama and dada, using terms appropriately
Understands "NO" and will stop activity in response
Walks while holding on to furniture or other support
Toddler -- 1 to 3 years
Able to feed self neatly, with minimal spilling
Able to draw a line (when shown one)
Able to run, pivot, and walk backwards
Able to say first and last name
Able to walk up and down stairs
Begins pedaling tricycle
Can name pictures of common objects and point to body parts
Dresses self with only a little bit of help
Imitates speech of others, "echoes" word back
Learns to share toys (without adult direction)
Learns to take turns (if directed) while playing with other children
Masters walking
Recognizes and labels colors appropriately
Recognizes differences between males and females
Uses more words and understands simple commands
Uses spoon to feed self
Preschooler -- 3 to 6 years
Able to draw a circle and square
Able to draw stick figures with two to three features for people
Able to skip
Balances better, may begin to ride a bicycle
Begins to recognize written words, reading skills start
Catches a bounced ball
Enjoys doing most things independently, without help
Enjoys rhymes and word play
Hops on one foot
Rides tricycle well
Starts school
Understands size concepts
Understands time concepts
School-age child -- 6 to 12 years
Begins gaining skills for team sports such as soccer, T-ball, or other team sports
Begins to lose "baby" teeth and get permanent teeth
Girls begin to show growth of armpit and pubic hair, breast development
Menarche (first menstrual period) may occur in girls
Peer recognition begins to become important
Reading skills develop further
Routines important for daytime activities
Understands and is able to follow several directions in a row
Adolescent -- 12 to 18 years
Adult height, weight, sexual maturity
Boys show growth of armpit, chest, and pubic hair; voice changes; and testicles/penis enlarge
Girls show growth of armpit and pubic hair; breasts develop; menstrual periods start
Peer acceptance and recognition is of vital importance
Freud vs. Erikson: Comparing Theories of Development

Key Differences and Similarities Between the Two Theories

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory and Erik Erikson's psychosocial
theory are two well-known theories of development.
While he was influenced by Freud's ideas, Erikson's theory differed in a number of
important ways.
Like Freud, Erikson recognized the importance of the unconscious on development.
He also believed that personality develops in a series of predetermined stages.
Unlike Freud’s theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson’s theory describes the impact
of social experience across the whole lifespan.
Freud's approach has fallen out of favor with many modern psychologists and
researchers, whereas Erikson's views remain popular and relevant.

Freud's Theory
The first stage of psychosexual development is known as the oral stage.
Birth to 1 Year
The two theories of development both focus on the importance of early
experiences, but there are notable differences between Freud's and Erikson's ideas.
Freud centered on the importance of feeding, while Erikson was more concerned
with how responsive caretakers are to a child's needs.
At this point in development, a child's primary source of pleasure is through the
mouth via sucking, eating, and tasting.
Problems with this stage can result in what Freud referred to as an oral fixation.
Erikson's Theory
Trust vs. mistrust is the first stage in Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial
development.
 During this stage, children learn to either trust or mistrust their caregivers.
The care that adults provide determines whether children develop a sense of trust
in the world around them. Children who do not receive adequate and dependable
care may develop a sense of mistrust of others and the world.
Freud's Theory
The second stage of psychosexual development is known as the anal stage.
Ages 1 to 3 Years
While there are a number of differences between Erikson's and Freud's ideas, their
theories both focus on how children develop a sense of independence and mastery.

In this stage, children gain a sense of mastery and competence by controlling

bladder and bowel movements.
Children who succeed at this stage develop a sense of capability and productivity.
Those who have problems at this stage may develop an anal fixation. As adults,
they might be excessively orderly or messy.
Erikson's Theory
Autonomy versus shame and doubt is the second stage of psychosocial
development.
During this stage, children become more mobile. They develop self-sufficiency by
controlling activities such as eating, toilet training, and talking.
Children who are supported in this stage become more confident and independent.
Those who are criticized or overly controlled are left doubting themselves.
Ages 3 to 6 Years
During the preschool and early elementary years, Freud's theory was much more
concerned with the role of the libido. Erikson's theory was more focused on how
children interact with parents and peers.
Freud's Theory
The third stage of psychosexual development is known as the phallic
stage. In this stage, the libido's energy is focused on the genitals. Children become
aware of their anatomical sex differences which leads boys to experience
the Oedipus complex while girls experience the Electra complex.
By the end of this stage, they begin to identify with their same-sex parent.
Erikson's Theory
Erikson's third stage of psychosocial development is the initiative versus
guilt stage.
In this stage, children begin to take more control over their environment. They
begin to interact with other children and develop their interpersonal skills.
Those who are successful at this stage develop a sense of purpose while those who
struggle are left with feelings of guilt.
 Ages 7 to 11 Years
Freud believed that this age served as more of a transitional period between
childhood and adolescence. Erikson, on the other hand, believed that kids continue
to forget a sense of independence and competence during this phase.
Freud's Theory
The fourth stage of psychosexual development is known as the latent
period. In this stage, the libido's energy is suppressed and children focus more on
other activities such as school, friends, and hobbies.
Freud believed this stage was important for developing social skills and self-
confidence.
Erikson's Theory
Industry versus inferiority is the fourth stage of psychosocial development.
Children develop a sense of competence by mastering new skills, like writing and
reading on their own.
Kids who succeed at this stage develop pride in their accomplishments, while those
who struggle may be left feeling incompetent.
Adolescence
Adolescence played a critical role in both Freud's and Erikson's theories of
development. In both theories, teens begin to forget their own sense of identity.
Freud's Theory
The fifth stage of psychosexual development is known as the genital stage.
It is the time when adolescents begin to explore romantic relationships. According
to Freud, the goal of this stage is to develop a sense of balance between all the
areas of life.
Those who have successfully completed the earlier stages are now warm, caring,
and well-adjusted.
Erikson's Theory
The fifth stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is
the identity versus role confusion stage.
It occurs during adolescence, from about 12 to 18 years.
During this stage, adolescents develop a personal identity and a sense of self.
Teens explore different roles, attitudes, and identities as they develop a sense of
self.
With proper encouragement, children will emerge from this stage with a strong
sense of self and what they want to accomplish. Those who struggle will remain
confused about who they are and their place in society.