Developmental

Domain
When used in relation to human
development, the word "domain" refers
to specific aspects of growth and change.
The major domains of development are
physical, cognitive, language, and
social-emotional.
Children often experience a significant and
obvious change in one domain at a time.
For example, if a child is focusing
on learning to walk, which is in the
physical domain, you may not notice as
much language development, or new
words, until they have mastered walking.
It might seem like a particular domain
is the only one experiencing
developmental change during different
periods of a child's life, but change
typically occurs in the other domains as
well—just more gradually and less
prominently.
 Physical Development
The physical domain covers the development
of physical changes, which includes growing
in size and strength, as well as the
development of both gross motor
skills and fine motor skills.
The physical domain also includes the
development of the senses and using them.
When young, children are learning how to
perform different activities with their
fingers in coordination with their eyes
such as grasping, releasing, reaching,
pinching, and turning their wrist. Because
these small muscle movements take time to
develop, they may not come easily at first.
These fine motor skills help kids
perform tasks for daily living, like
buttoning buttons, picking up finger
foods, using a fork, pouring milk,
going to the restroom, and washing
their hands.
In addition to these fine motor skills, kids
also learn to use their larger muscles, like
those in their arms, legs, back, and stomach.
Walking, running, throwing, lifting, pulling,
pushing, and kicking are all important skills
that are related to body awareness, balance,
and strength. These skills allow your child to
control and move their body in different
ways.
Parents can help their child's physical
development by providing opportunities for
age-appropriate activities. For instance,
babies need regular tummy time to build
their neck and upper body strength, while
preschoolers and school-aged children need
plenty of opportunities to run around and
play. Even tweens and teens need regular
opportunities for physical activity.
Meanwhile, you shouldn't overlook your
child's need to develop their fine motor
skills as well. From an early age, give them
opportunities to use their hands and
fingers. Give your baby rattles, plush
balls, and other toys to grasp.
Later, toys that allow them to pick things
up and fit them into slots are good for
developing beginning skills. As they get
older, teach them how to button buttons,
use scissors, hold a pencil, and do other
tasks with their fingers and hands.
Physical development also can be
influenced by nutrition and illness. So,
make sure your kids have a healthy
diet and regular wellness check-ups in
order to promote proper child
development.
 SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
Development
The social-emotional domain includes a child's
growing understanding and control of their
emotions.1
They also begin to identify what others are
feeling, develop the ability to cooperate, show
empathy, and use moral reasoning.
This domain includes developing attachments
to others and learning how to interact with
them. For instance, children learn how to
share, take turns, and accept differences in
others. They also develop many different types
of relationships, from parents and siblings to
peers, teachers, coaches, and others in the
community.
Children develop self-knowledge during the
social-emotional stage. They learn how they
identify with different groups and their
innate temperament will emerge in their
relationships.
Tweens, especially, demonstrate significant
developments in the social-emotional domain
as their peers become more central to their
lives and they learn how to carry
out long-term friendships. Typically, parents
will notice major increases in social skills
during this time.
To help your child develop both socially and
emotionally, look for opportunities for them to
interact with kids their age and help them
form relationships with both children and
adults. You can arrange playdates,
explore playgroups, and look
into extracurricular activities. Also encourage
them to talk to their grandparents, teachers,
and coaches as well.
To encourage a sense of self, ask your child
about their interests and passions and
encourage them to identify their strengths
and weaknesses. Teach them about
recognizing and managing feelings. As they
get older, talk to them about healthy
friendships and how to handle peer pressure.
You also should not shy away from the
challenging talks like those
covering sex and consent. All of these
different social and emotional facets play
into your child's overall development.
 COGNITIVE Development
The cognitive domain includes intellectual
development and creativity.
As they develop cognitively, kids gain the
ability to process thoughts, pay attention,
develop memories, understand their
surroundings, express creativity, as well as
to make, implement, and accomplish plans.
The child psychologist Jean Piaget outlined
four stages of cognitive development:

Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to Age 2)

This stage involves learning about the

environment through movements and
sensations. Infants and toddlers use basic
actions like sucking, grasping, looking, and
listening to learn about the world around them.
 Preoperational Stage (Ages 2 to 7)

During this stage, children learn to

think symbolically as well as use words
or pictures to represent things. Kids in
this stage enjoy pretend play, but still
struggle with logic and understanding
another person's perspective.
 Concrete Operational Stage (Ages 7 to 11)
Once they enter this stage, kids start to think
more logically, but may still struggle with
hypothetical situations and abstract thinking.
Because they are beginning to see things from
another person's perspective, now is a good
time to start teaching empathy.
Formal Operational Stage (Age 12 and Up)
During this stage, a child develops an
increase in logical thinking. They also
develop an ability to use deductive
reasoning and understand abstract ideas.
As they become more adept
at problem-solving, they also are able to
think more scientifically about the world
around them.
You can help your child develop and
hone their cognitive skills by giving them
opportunities to play with blocks,
puzzles, and board games. You also
should create an environment where
your child feels comfortable asking
questions about the world around them
and has plenty of opportunities for free
play.
Develop your child's desire to learn by helping
them explore topics they are passionate about.
Encourage thinking and reasoning skills
by asking them open-ended questions and
teaching them to expand on their thought
processes. As they get older, teach them how
to be critical consumers of media and where to
find answers to things they don't know.
 LANGUAGE Development
Language development is dependent on the
other developmental domains. The ability to
communicate with others grows from
infancy,
but children develop these abilities at
different rates. Aspects of language include:
Phonology: Creating the sounds of speech
Pragmatics: Communicating verbally and
non-verbally in social situations
Semantics: Understanding the rules of
what words mean
Syntax: Using grammar and putting
sentences together
One of the most important things you
can do with your child throughout their
early life is to read to them—and not just
at bedtime. Make reading and enjoying
books a central part of your day.
Reading out loud to your kids from birth
and beyond has a major impact on their
emerging language and literacy skills.
Aside from reading books, look for
opportunities to read other things, too,
like the directions to a board game, letters
from family members, holiday cards,
online articles, and school
newsletters. Hearing new vocabulary
words spoken expands a child's
vocabulary and helps them prepare to
identify unfamiliar words when used in
context.
In addition to reading, make sure you are
talking to your kids even before they can say
their first word. Tell them about the things
you are doing or what you're buying in the
store. Point out different things and engage
them in the world around them. Singing to
your child is another excellent way to build
your child's language skills.
As they get older, try holding regular
conversations, answering questions, and
asking for your child's ideas or opinions.
All of these activities are an important part
of their language development.
Cognitive development involves how
children think, explore, and figure
things out. It refers to things such
as memory, and the ability to learn
new information. This domain
includes the development of
knowledge and skills in math, science,
social studies, and creative arts.
Research shows that even at a young
age, children have the capability to
observe, explore, and discover the
world around them. The National
Science Teachers Association
recognizes that these skills can be
encouraged from birth.
For example, giving infants and toddlers
opportunities for exploratory play and
teaching science and engineering
practices in Preschool help to foster
children’s natural curiosity and
engagement with their environment.
This lays the foundation for science
learning in K-12 and beyond.
 Infants:
Explore new objects and situations
with your baby. Let them see you study
an object, and look at it with wonder
and curiosity.
• Read non-fiction, informational books
about plants, animals, and other science
topics. Make sure the books have
photographs rather than illustrations.

• Allow your infant to explore different

materials through their senses.
 Toddlers/Twos:

As you investigate an object, ask your child

questions. For example, if you are looking at a
fish swimming, you can ask, “How do you think
he breathes? Why do you think he’s that color?
What different body parts can you see?” As you
ask questions, point to what you’re asking
about.
• When doing different experiments or
activities with your child, be willing to
repeat them so your child can see the
outcome multiple times. For example,
two objects may look the same but one
floats and one sinks in water.
• Throughout your day, be mindful of
opportunities to show your child an
unfamiliar phenomenon. For example, if
you are washing dishes, show your child
what happens when you add dish soap to
water. As you do this, explain what you are
seeing. For example, “I notice that the water
and soap didn’t mix. It looks like the soap
sank to the bottom of the water. What do
you think would happen if we stirred the
water?”
 Preschool/Pre-K:

Read non-fiction, informational books about

plants, animals, and other science topics.
Make sure the books have photographs
rather than illustrations. Ask your child
questions that will be of interest. For
example, you can ask how animals in the
wild are similar to, or different than pets.
• As you cook or bake, encourage your
child to make predictions about what
will happen when ingredients are mixed.
Ask them to provide an explanation for
why they think this will occur. Then,
allow them to mix the ingredients and
explain what they see.
• Encourage your child to ask questions
and think about how things work. The
best way to encourage behavior is
through modeling. Ask lots of questions
while talking to, and playing with your
child.
 School Age:

As you investigate a phenomenon, ask

your child open-ended questions. First, ask
your child what they notice. Then, ask
more specific questions about their
reasoning. Let your child make the
observations and predictions.
• Encourage your child to make comparisons.
Once your child has drawn comparisons
between two animals or natural objects, ask
why they think the objects are similar and
why they’re different. For example, if they
have compared a snowshoe hare and a jack
rabbit, ask why they think it might be
helpful for each animal to have certain
characteristics.
• Prompt your child to think critically
about how things work and ask
questions. You can do this by asking
lots of questions yourself, or by asking
what they wonder about a particular
phenomenon.
 END!
Thank you !!!
And Godbless us all!

Reporter:
Jackylyn j. vicencio