Learning to use the toilet is an important milestone for young children. Child care providers and parents need to work together to decide when a toddler is ready to learn how to use the toilet. Here are some things child care providers should keep in mind as toddlers approach this important milestone:
The early elementary years are an important time for social and emotional development. During the early school years, having friends, whether they are special friends or best friends, is very important. Children at this age level want to be able to fit in with their peers and may prefer to play with their own gender for awhile. This is also a time where children begin to show interest in the rules and whether or not something is done “right.” The …
As young children grow, they learn different ways to process information from the world around them, and their thinking skills are very different at different ages. Infants are focused on exploring the world around them. Preschool-age children like to ask questions and test out ideas. School-age children think logically, but still have a hard time understanding abstract concepts such as “freedom.”
Child care providers can help young children develop thinking skills by observing carefully, providing interesting materials and problems, asking …
Physical development is an important area of child development that includes children’s physical growth, as well as their increasing ability to control the muscles of their bodies. Children’s physical development follows a predictable pattern, but each child grows at his or her own rate. Active play helps children develop their motor skills. Child care programs can support children’s physical development by providing safe surroundings, good nutrition and plenty of time for active play and exploration. Learn more about how child …
As children begin elementary school, they also show important advances in both thinking and language skills. They become better at logical thinking and problem-solving. They are motivated, active learners. School-age children begin to learn bigger words, to produce longer and more complex sentences, to manipulate language in new ways, to learn subtle exceptions to grammar rules and to understand their native tongue much better.
Child care providers in out-of-school child care programs can support the development of thinking and language …
The toddler years are a time of exploration, active play and developing independence. Caring for toddlers is exciting but can be exhausting. Child care providers will be better equipped to support and nurture toddlers if they understand some of the typical developmental milestones in the toddler years. The following articles provide information child care providers can use to better understand children’s growth and development between 12 and 36 months of age.
During the preschool years, children develop new thinking skills and become competent at using language to communicate. These newly developed thinking and language skills enable preschoolers to begin solving complex problems, asking and answering questions, and using their imagination to create and act out stories. Child care providers can support thinking and language development in preschoolers through conversations, reading, math and science activities, creative questions, and opportunities to pretend. The following are common milestones of thinking and language development in …
Between the ages of 3 and 5, children are still growing quickly, and are continuing to practice their large and small motor skills. Child care providers can support preschoolers’ physical and motor development by ensuring that children eat well-balanced meals and snacks, by building in plenty of time for active play and by planning a wide variety of activities to encourage motor development. The lists below give an idea of what to look for in the physical development of preschool-age …
Preschool-age children between ages 3 and 5 are active, busy learners who enjoy a wide variety of activities. Working with preschoolers can be rewarding for child care providers because they are self-directed, self-motivated, creative and love to play. In order to plan a curriculum that keeps preschool-age children learning and growing, child care providers need to understand how 3- to 5-year-olds grow, think, use language, understand feelings and relate to other people. The following articles provide basic information about children’s …
Six- to 8-year-olds are continuing to grow and develop their large and small motor skills. As they enter elementary school, children may begin participating in organized sports, dance, and other activities that require well-developed motor skills. Child care providers in out-of-school child care programs need to know the basic milestones of physical development in school-age children in order to plan challenging but realistic physical activities. The following lists detail some common physical milestones in 6- to 8-year-olds.
