The Early Human Development
The first three years of one’s life are most important in respect of motor, cognitive, and psycho-social aspects. They are the basic learning years of one’s life. Early child development sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behavior, and health. The experiences children have in early childhood shape the brain and the child’s capacity to learn, to get along with others, and to respond to daily stresses and challenges. It is also very important because the emotional, social, and physical development of young children has a direct effect on their overall development. Children’s social cognition may be influenced by multiple factors, both external and internal to the child.
1. Motor Development:
Motor development is important throughout a child’s early life because physical development is tied to other development areas. For example, if a child can crawl or walk (gross motor skills), he/she can more easily explore their physical environment, which affects cognitive development.
Goals:
Most 3-year-olds can walk a line, balance on a low balance beam, skip or gallop, and walk backward. They can usually pedal a tricycle, catch a large ball, and jump with two feet. These kids can usually wash and dry their hands, dress themselves with a little assistance, and turn pages in a book. Most preschoolers can hold a writing instrument with their fingers, not their fists. Toilet training is also very important at this age. Preschoolers need to practice their physical skills so they can develop better balance and coordination.
2. Language development:
Language development is a critical part of child development. It supports your child’s ability to communicate, and express and understand feelings. It also supports thinking and problem-solving, and developing and maintaining relationships.
Expressive language advances from primarily using gestures and babbling at age 1, to using words, simple phrases, and some early sentence structures between ages 2 and 3. 1-year-olds (12 months to 24 months): Learn that words have meaning. Usually, recognize the names of family members and familiar objects.
Goals:
As they cross their third birthday they have a lot to say. They also understand more of what we say — even though they may not always follow the directions. Kids this age typically can; Use the basic rules of grammar, but make mistakes with words that don’t follow the rules, like saying “mouses” instead of “mice”. They also speak well enough that most strangers understand what they’re saying. Moreover, a toddler uses five or six words in a sentence and has a two- to three-sentence conversation. They easily tell their name, the name of at least one friend, and the names of most common objects. They understand basic words like in, on, behind, and next. As they are so curious they always ask “why” questions like “Why?” to get more information about things.
3. Social development:
From the age of 1 to 3 years, the child will start to show his/her little personality. During the so-called terrible twos, a child may decide he or she is the master of a new and exciting world. You may start to have trouble keeping up!
Goals:
At age three, the child will be much less selfish than he/she was at two. They will also be less dependent on others, a sign that their sense of identity is stronger and more secure. . As they approach age 4, most 3-year-olds do these things; they are interested — although hesitant — about going to new places and trying new things. They start to play with other kids (as opposed to only playing side-by-side). They develop empathy i.e., they start being able to comfort and show concern for an unhappy friend without prompting. They take turns while playing (even if they don’t like to!). They play “real life” with toys like play kitchens. Pre-schoolers start finding simple ways to solve arguments and disagreements. They can show how (but maybe not name) a variety of emotions beyond happy, sad, and mad.
4. Cognitive development:
Cognitive development means how children think, explore, and figure things out. As a parent, it is important to foster your child’s cognitive development as soon as he/she is born because doing so provides the foundation for your child’s success in school and later in life.
Goals:
Third-year, kids start thinking about the world in new ways. You may see some creative approaches to tackling tasks and activities. By the end of this year, kids become able to name the eight colors in a crayon box. They learn to recite numbers to 10 and start counting groups of things. They start understanding time in terms of morning, night, and days of the week. They remember and retell favorite stories. The preschoolers understand and talk about things that are “the same” and “different.” The kids now follow simple three-step directions like; “Brush your teeth, wash your face, and put on your pajamas.”
These are the most important developments of early life which will cast a lifelong effect on one’s life. If your child can not accomplish any one or a few of these goals you need not worry they will learn them soon in the next few months. But if your child faces difficulty in doing most of these tasks then you are advised to look for a child psychologist.
