As parents, our children are growing and changing so rapidly every day! It can be overwhelming at times to think about all your little needs to learn. I know I still worry with my own big kids- did I teach them all they need to know? Areas of development help us as parents and professionals to organize our thoughts on how a child is growing and developing. We generally think of child development as divided into five main categories:
- Social Emotional Development
- Cognitive Development
- Language Skills (Receptive & Expressive)
- Motor Skills (Gross & Fine Motor)
- Self-Help Skills
At pediatrician visits, your practitioner will likely use a screening tool that asks a question or two for each area to determine whether your child is developing appropriately. Dividing the skills into different areas can help us assess a child’s development and understand if a bit of help, such as support from a physical therapist, may benefit our little. Please keep in mind that while separating these areas help to conceptualize the different skills, we are all human and there is a lot of overlap and messiness in the areas.
Social Emotional Development
Put simply, this area addresses a child’s ability to interact with their families and others, as well as their developing ability to emotionally regulate their feelings and bodies. Early on, children generally recognize their parents and by 18 months often experience separation anxiety from preferred caregivers. This is normal and speaks to our strong bond with our children. Social Emotional Development includes developing confidence, empathy and the ability to build relationships. Our job as parents is to love them, model for them and let them know- even though they may experience some big- we can help them through it all.
Cognitive Development
Very simply, this area includes a child’s ability to solve problems. Early cognitive development is often exploring behavior, such as looking at shapes or bold colors. As their motor skills increase, littles often use all their senses to explore and experiment- everything is a sensorimotor experience. They may put objects in their mouths, rub their hands or feet on toys, move them up and down to experiment. As they start to understand their bodies more, they typically move on from exploring to more problem solving- placing objects in and out of containers, building skills toward simple puzzles. The ability to problem solve and to show persistence are linked to later success in academic areas.
Language
Language Skills (or Communication Skills) are typically divided into two areas: Receptive and Expressive Language. Receptive Language is what a child can understand. Do they respond to their name? If you say, “Where’s Mama?” do they look toward their mom? Do they show understanding when you ask if they want their favorite treat or toy? Can they follow very simple instructions such as “Give me cup,” when you hold your hand out?
Expressive Language includes what a child is able to communicate. For babies, you may notice eye gaze at first. You may ask if they hear the dog and they glance toward the puppy. For our very little children, it can include pointing or gesturing to a desired object.
Motor Skills
Often the area of Motor Skills is divided into two areas: Gross Motor & Fine Motor Skills. Gross motor skills involve large motor movements, such as rolling over, crawling and walking. Fine Motor skills include more refined movements, such as using a spoon to feed themselves or moving puzzle pieces. Fine motor skills include skills such as coloring or writing as well.
There is a lot of overlap in this area. If a child is not able to sit up well, it’s difficult to develop the strength and coordination needed to hold a crayon and color. It’s so important that littles be given lots of time to move and strengthen all their muscles in order to develop the stamina required for life. While a wiggly toddler is a lot of work, long term it’s better for them to wiggle, learn and develop all the skills they need to be successful.
Self Help Skills
Self Help Skills, sometimes called “Adaptive Skills,” are just what they sound like. Can your child do some things for themselves? For a one-year-old, that may look like feeding themselves small pieces of food or holding their own cup. For an older child, they may be expected to put on or remove a piece of clothing. These tiny steps lead to independence one day.
Supporting Overall Development
You may have noticed that a lot of these areas of development can overlap, creating some messiness. Especially early on, a child’s skills are so interdependent. If a child has some trouble with their motor skills, it may be difficult for them to point (considered a language/communication skill). If a child has a delay in their language skills, it may be hard for them to call their mom (which could be considered a social emotional skill).
This interconnectedness is really a good thing because as you interact with your baby or toddler, by being truly present and following their lead, you are helping all areas to develop. Singing “The Ants Go Marching” as you help your little to toddle around the room of course helps their motor development as they practice their balance and motor movements. However, it also strengthens their social emotional development by fostering the child-caregiver bond. It supports their language because they are hearing new combinations of words and new vocabulary. They are integrating both sides of their brain with music and movement. Their cognition is also growing as they begin to understand their size and ability to navigate the world around them. Their ability to walk will allow them to do more for themselves and become more independent.
For more information on areas of development, developmental milestones and suggested strategies for parents, please see the CDC’s Developmental Milestones.
Concerns
If you have concerns about your child’s development, please reach out to your pediatrician. For more information, see the GLP Blog post First Steps to Take If You Have Concerns About Your Child’s Development.