Early childhood, roughly ages three to six, brings rapid growth in language, memory, reasoning, and early academic skills. Developmental milestones help caregivers and professionals notice progress and identify when additional support may be useful. They are guides, however, not rigid deadlines.
Children develop at different rates, but common patterns provide a useful overview. At about age four, many children use sentences of five or more words, know their name and age, name familiar colors and shapes, sort objects, follow a story, and anticipate what might happen next. They are beginning to understand past and present.
All flashcards
What are developmental milestones?
Abilities commonly observed around particular ages. They help adults notice patterns and consider support, but they are not fixed deadlines.
What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation?
Assimilation fits new information into an existing schema; accommodation changes or creates a schema to fit new information.
What is the information-processing cycle?
A process of attending to information, organizing and storing it, then retrieving it when needed.
What are autobiographical memories, and how can caregivers support them?
They are long-term memories of personal events. Caregivers can support recall by talking with children about past experiences.
What is scaffolding?
Temporary support that helps a learner complete a task just beyond their independent ability; support is reduced as competence grows.
Quiz questions
A child changes their animal categories after learning that cats are different from dogs. Which process does this illustrate?Answer: Accommodation: revising a schema to fit new information.
A child uses a cardboard box as a spaceship during pretend play. Which ability does this illustrate?Answer: Symbolic representation, using one thing to stand for another.
A toy is moved while its owner is away. In a false-belief task, where would a child with an understanding of false belief predict the owner will look?Answer: Where the owner last left the toy, based on the owner’s belief.
What does the zone of proximal development describe?Answer: The gap between what a child can do alone and with help.
What characterizes Learning by Observing and Pitching In?Answer: Learning through observing and contributing to meaningful shared activities.
Based on Lifespan Development by Diana Riser, Rose Spielman, David Biek (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.