The same patterns of development and maturation drive all children while hereditary, cultural and backgrounds make each child unique. Children differ in their rate of growth, their ultimate size and capabilities and in how they respond to their environments. Thus, understanding the basics of early childhood development is important for caregivers/parents.
Early Childhood
The early childhood years are from 1 to 6 years old. This time is characterized by intense activity and discovery. The American Academy of Pediatrics teaches that this period is marked by physical and personality growth, with motor development that advances quickly and steadily. Children in this phase of childhood acquire language and social skills, gain self-control, and develop an awareness of dependence and independence as well as a sense of self-concept.
Essential Needs
Regardless of the stage of development, the needs for every child are physical, biological and emotional including love, emotional security, discipline, appropriate independence and self-esteem. These needs are crucial to keep in mind throughout early childhood when children are at their most vulnerable to the world around them. According to Abraham Maslow, physical needs such as food, sleep, and shelter must be met before emotional needs such as love, affection or entertainment. For example, there's no use trying to comfort a two-year-old with hugs and kisses if she has missed lunch and needs a nap.
Development
Growth and development are processes that happen gradually over a lifetime with advancing measures of complexity that expand the individual's capacities for learning and maturing. Ideally, development happens physically and mentally at the same time. Development during childhood is a complex process which cannot be rushed. Childhood growth follows predicable patterns. For example, the gross motor movements of babies are typical: they learn to hold their heads up, push themselves up with their arms, turn over, crawl, walk and run. This type of development is gradual, one step at a time, however, it is amazing how quickly an infant can go from no motor control to running in 12 to 16 months.
Sequence of Development
According to the professionals at Virginia Tech, development happens in expected directions but cannot happen beyond the development of nerve and muscle growth. For example, a child cannot learn to throw a ball until his nerves and muscles are ready for the task. In all dimensions of development there is a definite, predictable sequence. In an orderly way children pass through every stage -- in a specific order. Each stage is affected by those preceding it and those that follow. Motor skills build on each other -- we all have to crawl before we can walk. Most behavioral skills and language skills follow specific patterns; children first play alone, then with others and in increasingly complex activities.
Developmental Pace
Although there is a fixed order of development, it does not progress at the same rate or pace in all children. Experts agree, there are periods of rapid growth and periods of slower growth both physically and emotionally. The focus of development often shifts at different stages. For example, a child who has just begun walking is enjoying the thrills of locomotion so much it may take precedence over another activity like speech and he may not learn any new words for several months.
