Domains of

Child Development

L C E S
P A
Information adapted from Foundations: Early Learning Standards for North Carolina Preschoolers
and Strategies for Guiding Their Success, NC Department of Public Instruction, 2005

B-4.01-Domains
 Oh, the
PLACES
Youll Grow
B-4.01-Domains
 Physical development & health
Domains
are Language development &
types or
communication
areas of
growth Approaches to learning
or
develop- Cognitive development
ment.
Emotional development
Social development
B-4.01-Domains
Physical Development and Health

This domain includes:

P Self-care
Safety awareness
Motor skills
Physical health and growth

B-4.01-Domains
 Self-Care
Awareness of hygiene
Basic hygiene practices
Basic self-help skills
Ability to care for
personal belongings
Routine care of the
environment

B-4.01-Domains
Safety Awareness
Importance of personal
safety
Basic health and safety
rules
Comfortable, safe
environment
Harmful persons,
objects, substances,
activities, and
environments

B-4.01-Domains
Motor Skills
Small muscle control
Experimenting with handheld tools
Activities to enhance hand-eye
coordination
Developing body strength, balance,
flexibility, and stamina
Large muscle control
Enhancing gross motor development
Increasing the ability to move their
bodies in space

B-4.01-Domains
Physical Health and Growth
Participating in physical activities for longer periods
Transition from high-energy to low-energy activities
Recognition and eating of nutritious foods
Awareness of personal health and fitness
Participation in games,
outdoor play, other exercise
Adaptive physical activities
as appropriate
Better use of vision and
hearing

B-4.01-Domains
Language Development
and Communication
This domain includes:

L
Receptive language
Expressive language
Foundations for reading
Foundations for writing

B-4.01-Domains
 Receptive Language
Understanding increasingly complex sentences
Understanding/using a growing vocabulary
Attending to language for longer periods
Consistently responding to requests for
information or action
Comprehending and using language for multiple
purposes, both cognitive and social
Developing familiarity with sounds and words
Understanding that people
communicate in many ways

B-4.01-Domains
 Expressive Language
Using verbal and nonverbal language to communicate
Using language in pretend play
Using language to establish/maintain relationships
Initiating and engaging in conversations
Creating and telling simple stories
Asking questions, making comments
Communicating with expression
Using more complex words
and sentences

B-4.01-Domains
Foundations for Reading
Motivation for reading
Show interest in books
Enjoy storybooks, information
books, and poetry read aloud
Independently read (turn
pages, point to words, tell the
story)
Independently write (write
symbols for names)
Show preferences for favorite
books
Use books to learn about the
world
B-4.01-Domains
Foundations for Reading
Vocabulary and comprehension
Develop knowledge about what things are, how
they work
Respond to questions about stories
Predict what will happen next
Relate personal experiences to stories
Ask questions about whats in a book
Imitate the special
language in books

B-4.01-Domains
 Foundations for Writing
Using a variety of writing tools and materials
Using a variety of writing in their play
Representing thoughts/ideas through marks
Learning to tell their thoughts for adults to write
Playing with writing letters, their names
Using letters/approximations to write their
names
Attempting to connect
word sounds with
letter forms

B-4.01-Domains
Approaches to Learning
This domain includes:
Pondering, processing, and applying
experiences

A
Curiosity, information-seeking, and
eagerness
Risk-taking, problem-solving, and
flexibility
Persistence, attentiveness, and
responsibility
Imagination, creativity, and invention
Aesthetic sensibility
B-4.01-Domains
 Pondering, Processing,
and Applying Experiences
Drawing on everyday experiences
and applying knowledge to everyday
situations
Seeking information to better
understand
Generating ideas and making
predictions
Describing or acting out a memory
Forming hypotheses about cause
and effect
B-4.01-Domains
 Curiosity,
Information-Seeking, and
Eagerness
Using multiple strategies
and senses to explore
Choosing to participate in
experiences
Demonstrating eagerness
and interest

B-4.01-Domains
 Risk-Taking,
Problem-Solving, and
Flexibility
Demonstrating a willingness to
choose both familiar and new
experiences
Demonstrating ability to tell
the difference between safe
and dangerous risk-taking
Trying several ways to solve a
problem
Being resilient (bouncing
back) when challenged
B-4.01-Domains
 Persistence, Attentiveness,
and Responsibility
Remaining engaged in an experience
Working to complete a task in spite of distractions
Seeking and
accepting help
Developing a
sense of purpose
Ability to follow
through

B-4.01-Domains
 Imagination, Creativity,
and Invention
Taking on pretend
roles
Approaching tasks
with more flexibility
and imagination
Using materials in
new ways
Thinking more openly
and creatively

B-4.01-Domains
Aesthetic Sensibility
Appreciating
and using humor
Demonstrating
a sense of
wonder
Taking delight
in beauty

B-4.01-Domains
Cognitive Development

This domain includes:

C Mathematical thinking and

expression
Scientific thinking and invention
Social connections
Creative expression

B-4.01-Domains
Mathematical Thinking
and Expression
Using numbers and counting
Recognizing shapes
Understanding words for places (in, out)
Duplicating simple patterns in the environment
Sorting objects based on one or two attributes
Describing a sequence of events
Understanding size and volume/comparisons
Using non-standard measurement
Understanding the passage of time
Using a variety of strategies to solve problems
Making and checking predictions
B-4.01-Domains
Scientific Thinking and Invention
Expanding knowledge of the environment
Comparing physical characteristics of
objects
Using the senses to observe and learn
Caring for pets and plants
Asking questions and seeking answers
Using simple tools to investigate
Manipulating the environment for
desired effects
Understanding discoveries
Making estimates
Thinking about things that are not present
Understanding uses of technology
Sharing responsibility in the care of the
environment

B-4.01-Domains
 Scientific Thinking and
Invention (contd.)
Showing awareness of
Their bodies
Seasons and weather
Time
Changes in the
environment
(freezing)

B-4.01-Domains
 Social Connections
Identifying similarities/differences among people
Understanding roles and relationships
Participating in a democratic community
Talking about changes in themselves/their families
Making sense of their world by asking questions
Showing awareness of different cultures
Identifying characteristics of the places they live
Recognizing roles of
community helpers
Helping others
Learning about people

B-4.01-Domains
Creative Expression
Participating in art, music, and other
creative activities
Using a variety of materials and activities
Creating drawings, paintings, and models
Using learning in all curricular areas to
reinforce learning in other areas
Sharing ideas about artistic creations
Showing respect for others creations
Showing creativity and imagination
Showing awareness of musical patterns
Imitating musical tones, songs, rhythms
Moving in response to beats and rhythms

B-4.01-Domains
Emotional Development

This domain

E involves developing
a sense of self.

B-4.01-Domains
Developing a Sense of Self
Showing self-confidence as they develop
Demonstrating persistence, a can-do
attitude
Showing greater self-direction
Being better able to express/regulate
emotions
Enjoying playing alone or near other children
Developing coping skills for change/adversity
Managing anger
Showing awareness of personal uniqueness
Recognizing that they are members of groups
Using pretend play to express feelings

B-4.01-Domains
Social Development

This domain involves

S
developing a sense
of self with others

B-4.01-Domains
Developing a Sense of
Self with Others
Approaching others easily, expecting
positive interactions
Seeking out others
Being aware of the effects of their behavior
on others
Balancing their needs with the needs of
others
Working to resolve conflicts
Playing cooperatively with other children
Showing interest in others points of view
Responding to others feelings and showing
empathy B-4.01-Domains
Developing a Sense of Self with Others
(cont.d)

Realizing the difference between

intentional and unintentional actions
Showing ease with familiar people
Forming positive relationships
Accepting differences among
people
Following social rules and routines
Recognizing the classroom as a
caring community with respect for
safety and rights of others

B-4.01-Domains
1. Can you name the
domains of child development?

2. Can you give at least

one example of each?

P L C S
A E

B-4.01-Domains