Early Childhood Stage

Physical Development: During this stage children have undergone a great amount of physical
development. A child in this stage has begun to master gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Children during
the early childhood stage are physically active. They have more coordination with their hands and feet.
Children in this age are able to hop, jump, climb, run, and ride big wheels and tricycles (The Institute for
Human Services for The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program, 2007,) During their fine motor skills,
children in this period is learning eye hand coordination through cutting with scissors, grasping tweezers, and
writing utensils.

Language Development Children in this stage are known as big talkers. They begin to recall and put
words together whether they are used correctly or not. According to PBS Parents, 2015, children in this
stage use ever-increasing language skills to become a big talker and develop an awareness of the power of
the written word. Children are also learning semantics and phonological awareness which prepare the child
to become readers and making connection to a word and its meanings,

Cognitive Development: During the Early childhood stage children are beginning to develop a vivid
imagination. During this stage the child begins to develop imaginary play, becomes ego centric, and has an
increase of vocabulary in their day to day conversation. During this stage the children are still having a lack
of time perception. This stage is also a time for memory, recalling, and retrieving information. The cognitive
development in the early childhood stage also allows the child to be able to practice self control.

Social Emotional Development- During this stage a child begins to develop a sense of imitation.
Children learn from what they see and copy what others do. This is also the stage where self regulation
begins to emerge. Children learn to feed themselves and show a strong sense of self through confidence.

Moral Reasoning- During the early childhood stage children begin to learn the values family begins to
demonstrate. The children in return develop a need to want to please the parents. Children in this stage also
develop the understanding of treating others the way they want to be treated. In other words, children learn
to keep their hands to themselves if they want another peer to do the same.

Delay: During the Early childhood stage a parent can notice a possible delay if the child is not interacting
with peers, possible delay recognition if the child is not talking and expressing themselves with vocabulary. A

child can also demonstrate delay if they are incapable of holding writing utensils, or using their gross motor
skills properly.

Strategies: Parents are able to influence the childs learning in this stage by providing lots of imaginary
play. Children in this stage learn through play. Parents can encourage imaginary play as well as modeling and
scaffolding. Parents can also begin to read with their child and ask open ended question to develop
comprehension. The child is able to make connections in this stage so any conversations that can lead to the
child making a connection are a great tool.