Areas of Child Development

     

Motor or Physical Development

(Body Movement)

Cognitive Development
(Thinking and Learning)

Language Development
(Receptive and Expressive)

Sensory Development
(Seeing, Hearing, Touching, etc.)

Social and Emotional Development

(Getting Along with Others, Feelings About Self, etc.)

Self-Care Development
(Dressing, Feeding, Washing, etc.)

CD-1

The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

Regular Skill Development



Skills usually develop in sequence or in stages of development. Simpler skills or components of skills usually develop first, i.e., a child usually crawls before walking. A childs skills may be more advanced in one area of development than another. Some skills develop in growth spurts, i.e., no progress for a while, than quick, substantial progress. Skills may be inconsistently demonstrated while child is mastering them.
The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

CD-2

Skill Delays, Deficiencies and Regressions



Skills can be Delayed, i.e., not mastered at fast as most children the same age. Skills can be Deficient, i.e., not as strong as those of most children the same age. Skills can become Regressed, i.e., return to any earlier level of development or not available at all.
The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

CD-3

Childhood Problem Behaviors



Behaviors that interfere with a childs ability to learn and/or a childs ability to get along with others. The presence of certain behaviors at certain times in a childs development can be problematic.


Staring into space a lot at six months of age would not be problematic, but it would be if the child was two and a half years old.

The absence of certain behaviors at different times in a childs development can be problematic.


Not talking at all at two and a half years would be problematic, but not at six months of age.
The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

CD-4

Children with Disabilities and Other Special Needs



May have Skill Delays, Deficiencies, Regressions and/or Problem Behaviors

       

In One Area of Development In More Than One Area of Development In All Areas of Development That Are Mild to Severe That Are Life Long That Are Temporary That Are Obvious at Birth or Early in Life That Do Not Emerge Until Later in Life
The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

CD-5

Risk Factors in Child Development



Experiences early in Life that put a Child at Risk for Later Life Difficulties:


Birth Risk Conditions: prematurity, low birth weight, etc. Medical Risk Conditions: brain injury or infection, heart valve disorder, etc. Family Risk Conditions: prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs, child abuse, parent developmentally disabled, etc.
The Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

CD-6