This guide will help you answer 2.1 Describe how children learn and the expected pattern of babies and children’s development from birth to seven years. Areas of development to include: cognitive, speech, language and communication, physical, emotional, social, brain development, literacy and numeracy.
How Children Learn
Children learn differently depending on their age, environment, and individual characteristics. Learning during the early years is primarily experiential. This means that children learn through play, exploration, and hands-on activities. They develop skills by interacting with their environment and the people in it. Learning through sensory experiences such as seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling is crucial.
Children also learn through imitation. They observe and replicate the actions and language of adults and peers. Repetition plays a critical role in solidifying newly acquired skills and knowledge. Positive reinforcement helps in encouraging desirable behaviours and boosting confidence.
Expected Pattern of Babies and Children’s Development
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development involves the growth of a child’s ability to think and understand. This development allows children to process information, solve problems, and gain an understanding of the world around them.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies learn through sensory experiences and physical actions. They develop object permanence and begin to recognise familiar faces and objects.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers start to show curiosity about how things work. They engage in basic problem-solving and understand simple instructions.
- 2 to 3 Years: Children can complete simple puzzles, understand cause and effect, and start categorising objects by shape and colour.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers develop their memory and attention span. They can follow multi-step instructions, ask questions, and begin to understand time concepts.
- 5 to 7 Years: School-aged children can think logically about concrete events. They understand rules and can perform simple mathematical operations.
Speech, Language, and Communication
Speech, language, and communication encompass a child’s ability to understand and use language, both verbally and non-verbally.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies communicate through cries, coos, and babbling. By the end of the first year, most can say a few words like “mama” or “dada”.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers use single words and simple two-word combinations (“want milk”). They understand basic commands and identify common objects.
- 2 to 3 Years: Language skills improve, and children form simple sentences. Vocabulary rapidly expands, and they start to use pronouns.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers engage in more complex conversations. They can tell short stories, ask more detailed questions, and use a wider range of vocabulary.
- 5 to 7 Years: Children become fluent speakers. They can understand complex sentences, enhance their vocabulary, and improve reading and writing skills.
Physical Development
Physical development refers to the growth of a child’s body and the refinement of motor skills.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies develop head control, grasp reflex, and start to crawl and walk.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers refine walking, start running, and can climb stairs with help. They also improve hand-eye coordination.
- 2 to 3 Years: Improvement in fine motor skills allows them to turn pages, build towers using blocks, and start to throw and catch a ball.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers gain better control over their movements. They can dress themselves, use scissors, and ride a tricycle.
- 5 to 7 Years: School-aged children develop more complex motor skills. They can write neatly, participate in sports, and handle smaller objects with precision.
Emotional Development
Emotional development involves the emergence and regulation of emotions, the ability to form relationships, and self-awareness.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies develop trust with caregivers. They show basic emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers start expressing a wider range of emotions. They show attachment to caregivers and experience separation anxiety.
- 2 to 3 Years: Children develop a sense of independence. They start to understand and express their feelings more clearly.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers learn to manage their emotions better. They begin to show empathy and develop self-esteem.
- 5 to 7 Years: School-aged children continue to refine their emotional regulation. They have a clearer sense of self and understand social norms.
Social Development
Social development revolves around a child’s ability to relate to others and form relationships.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies recognise caregivers and become attached to them.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers start to play alongside other children but engage primarily in solitary play.
- 2 to 3 Years: Children begin to engage in parallel play, playing next to peers without much interaction.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers engage in cooperative play. They make friends, share toys, and understand turn-taking.
- 5 to 7 Years: School-aged children form larger social networks. They participate in group activities, develop closer friendships, and understand social rules and roles.
Brain Development
Brain development is the foundation for all other areas of development.
- Birth to 1 Year: During infancy, the brain establishes neural connections. Sensory experiences and interactions shape brain development.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers’ brains undergo rapid growth, helping in motor skills and language acquisition.
- 2 to 3 Years: Increased neural connections allow better cognitive and social processing.
- 3 to 5 Years: Brain development aids in more complex thinking and problem-solving.
- 5 to 7 Years: Continued brain growth supports advanced skills in literacy, numeracy, and emotional regulation.
Literacy Development
Literacy development involves the ability to read and write.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies enjoy looking at books and being read to.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers imitate reading behaviours. They turn pages and pretend to read.
- 2 to 3 Years: Children recognise some letters and understand that print carries meaning.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers start to recognise sight words. They can write their name and begin to understand phonics.
- 5 to 7 Years: School-aged children read simple books independently and write sentences. They gain better comprehension and writing skills.
Numeracy Development
Numeracy development includes understanding and using numbers.
- Birth to 1 Year: Babies recognise different quantities in simple terms.
- 1 to 2 Years: Toddlers begin to understand number words and concepts like “more” and “less”.
- 2 to 3 Years: Children can count to three and recognise basic shapes.
- 3 to 5 Years: Preschoolers count to ten, recognise numbers, and start simple addition and subtraction.
- 5 to 7 Years: School-aged children understand number sequences, perform basic calculations, and grasp more complex concepts like time and money.
Conclusion
Understanding how children learn and develop from birth to seven years is crucial for anyone working in early years settings. This knowledge helps in creating the right environment and experiences to support each child’s growth in various developmental areas. Implementing age-appropriate activities and maintaining a supportive environment can significantly enhance a child’s overall development.
By recognising and nurturing each stage of a child’s development, early years practitioners ensure children are equipped with the necessary skills for future education and life.
