Early

Childhood Fact Sheet

Physical

The Early Childhood period is from 3 to 6 years. During this time children will
display physical milestones. In the beginning of the early childhood period he
should be able to walk up stairs using alternate feet. Walking down the stairs
leading with one foot. By the time children are between 4 and 5 years old, their body
movements become smoother and more flexible. Their movements will include
using the shoulders, torso, trunk, and legs to throw balls farther and faster. Balance
will improve as they develop in the early years such as their strength, agility and
flexibility. They will use these skills to support running, jumping, hopping and ball
throwing and catching.



Language (oral)

At this age the child should be able to display understanding of Language
(receptive). At three he should be able to show understanding of frequently used
simple phrases or sentences leading up to showing an understanding of a series of
complex statements that explain how or why things happen at 6 years of age. For
example, at 3 passes the milk at lunchtime after an adult communicates, Please
pass the milk. If the child is developing typically, by age of 6 he will for example,
explain how to plant seeds to a peer after an adult reads a book about planting
seeds.

It is also during this time that a 3 year old will respond to one-step requests or
questions that involve a familiar activity or routine, leading up to the skill of
carrying out a multi-step request that involves a new or unfamiliar activity or
situation, for example chooses a book and then carries it to the library counter after
an adult says, Find a book and take it to the library counter.

Based on the Language Development Milestones in the text, early learners should
improve in phonological awareness and in word pronunciation. Pronunciation
improves during the preschool years due to maturation of the vocal tract and active
problem-solving efforts on the childs part. Phonological errors from children are
resistant to adult correction. Berk, L. (2012) For example, when a child is trying to
pronounce each individual sound within a word, therefore, they will experiment
with phoneme patterns, such as du, and ju.


Cognitive

Cognitive milestones for the Preoperational Stage, 2-7 years old, which
representational or symbolic activity will increase. Berk, L. (2012) Milestones that
Early Childhood children should attain are an increase in representational activity,
as reflected in language, make-believe play, and drawing leading to increasing
awareness that make-believe and other thought process are representational
activities. He will also replace beliefs in magical creatures and events with plausible
explanations.

Atypical

Atypical usually development at a different pace than their peers. Atypical goes
against what would be considered the normal behavior or development of a child.
Strategies for Families
One strategy that I would recommend for parents would be to play with their child
at this stage because play is an important part of development in Language, Physical
and Cognitive. Encourage make-believe play and play along. They learn language
skills by talking through play, physical skills improve by moving the body and
cognition improves because they learn a variety of new skills. Family involvement is
important to prepare children for success. The authors for the article, Family and
Classroom Correlates of Head Start Childrens Developmental Outcome, state,
children from better home environments seemed to benefit more from classroom
quality in the area of problem solving and reasoning

Social Factor
Environment risk factors such as living in an unsafe community, or receiving care
from a low-quality child care setting. These factors should be taken into account
when trying to understand how to best support childrens social and emotional
health through comprehensive and ecological approach.

Cultural Factor
Parenting styles has a huge influence on this stage of development. For example, if
the parents are authoritative in parenting more than likely the child will be happy
and successful. Parents that use this parenting style often have rules that they
expect to be followed and parents usually tell they children the reasons for the rules
and are willing to hear the childs feelings when setting limits.

Play-Based Strategies
Social play helps children develop a sense of belonging as they interact with others
and learn how to negotiate rules for positive social interactions. Social play can be
playing house at home with mommy and daddy.


Berk, L. E. (2013). Child development. Boston: Pearson Education.

Bryant,D., Burchinal, M., Lau, L.. Family and Classroom Correlates of Head Start
Childrens Developmental Outcomes. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0885200694900116