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Early Childhood Development - Coggle Diagram
Early Childhood Development
Physical Development
Physical Development Milestones
Steady increase in height and weight, but at a slower pace than during infancy.
By age 3, most children weigh about 30 pounds and are about 36 inches tall.
Growth slows down but becomes more consistent after the initial rapid growth phase in infancy.
Gross Motor Skills
2-3 years:
Walking and running more confidently; climbing stairs with assistance; kicking a ball.
3-4 years:
Improved running; can jump with both feet; balance improves; begins hopping on one foot.
4-5 years:
Able to walk backward; more coordinated with running and jumping; can throw and catch balls with more precision.
5-6 years:
Mastering skills like skipping; can ride a tricycle or bicycle with training wheels.
Fine Motor Skills
2-3 years
: Ability to stack blocks, scribble with crayons, and turn pages of a book.
3-4 years:
Ability to draw simple shapes (e.g., circles, squares); beginning to cut with scissors; starts using utensils (spoon, fork).
4-5 years:
Can draw basic figures (e.g., a person with body parts); can tie shoelaces; beginning to write simple letters.
5-6 years:
Improved control over writing and drawing; able to print some letters and numbers; uses tools wi
Brain Development
Myelination:
The process of coating the neural pathways with myelin, which improves the speed and efficiency of communication in the brain. This supports improved coordination and motor skills.
Prefrontal Cortex Development:
The part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions like planning, decision-making, and impulse control begins to mature in early childhood.
Cognitive Development Milestones (Piaget's Preoperational Stage
Symbolic Thought:
Language Development
2-3 years:
Children start using two- and three-word combinations to communicate.
3-4 years:
Vocabulary expands rapidly, with children starting to use full sentences and understand basic grammar (e.g., plurals, past tense).
4-5 years:
Use of more complex sentences, asking questions, and forming ideas. Pronouns and auxiliary verbs become more accurate.
5-6 years:
Children may begin to narrate stories and describe events in logical order.
Pretend Play
Engaging in imaginative play, such as pretending to be a parent, doctor, or superhero.
Develops as part of symbolic thinking, where children use objects or actions to represent something else.
Egocentrism
Difficulty in understanding the perspectives of others, meaning children may assume that others see, hear, and feel the same way they do.
Common example: "Mountain task" where a child can't understand why someone on the other side of a mountain would see things differently.
Centration
Focusing on one aspect of a situation and ignoring other relevant features. For example, a child may focus only on the height of a glass when judging the amount of liquid inside, ignoring the width of the glass.
Irreversibility
Difficulty understanding that actions can be undone. For example, after a toy is broken, a child may not understand that it can be fixed or restored to its previous state.
Emotional Development Milestones
Emotional Regulation
2-3 years
: Struggle with emotional regulation, may have tantrums when frustrated or upset.
3-4 years
: Begin to recognize and label their own emotions and the emotions of others. May learn strategies like deep breathing or asking for help when upset.
4-5 years
: Better able to control impulses, though still easily overwhelmed by strong emotions. They may begin to understand the concepts of guilt and pride.
5-6 years
: Show greater understanding of delayed gratification and are better able to cope with disappointment. Emotional regulation improves with age.
Self Concepts and Identity
2-3 years:
Begin to recognize themselves in a mirror and understand their identity (e.g., "I am a boy" or "I am a girl").
4-5 years:
Develop a broader self-concept based on physical characteristics (e.g., "I am tall") and personal preferences (e.g., "I like chocolate ice cream").
Empathy
2-3 years:
Can recognize when someone else is upset and may try to comfort them, but may not fully understand the emotions involved.
3-4 years
: Can show more appropriate empathy by offering comfort (e.g., a hug or kind words) and beginning to consider how others feel.
5-6 years:
More sophisticated understanding of emotions and better able to identify emotional causes and outcomes. May begin to act more considerately toward others.
Social Play
3-4 years:
Beginning to engage in pretend play with others, developing more complex social interactions.
4-5 years
: More cooperative play, sharing, taking turns, and following group rules in games.
5-6 years:
Highly social play with rules and structured games, showing more empathy and better conflict resolution skills.
Parenting Styles
Authoritative (Warmth, Structure)
Characteristics
: Responsive, sets limits and expectations, encourages independence.
Impact:
Promotes self-regulation, social competence, and cognitive flexibility.
Authoritarian (Strict, Less Warmth)
Characteristics
: High control, low warmth, strict rules, no room for negotiation.
Impact
: May lead to obedience but can cause social and emotional struggles.
Permissive (Supportive, Few Boundaries)
Characteristics:
Highly responsive, lenient, few rules or expectations.
Impact:
Can result in high self-esteem but may struggle with self-control or discipline.
Neglectful (Detached, Minimal Involvement)
Characteristics:
Low responsiveness, low demand, neglectful or uninvolved.
Impact:
Potential emotional instability, behavioral problems, academic struggles.
Cultural Influence
Individualistic Cultures (Independence, Self-Expression)
Characteristics:
Focus on personal achievement, self-reliance, and individual rights.
Impact:
Promotes independence, self-esteem, and personal identity.
Collectivistic Cultures (Interdependence, Group Harmony)
Characteristics:
Emphasizes family, group responsibility, and maintaining social harmony.
Impact:
Encourages social cooperation, respect for authority, and emotional restraint in public.