Early Childhood Development Stages

Early childhood is an exciting time for parents, caregivers and even the children!

This early time in life is a period of the greatest growth and development, and when the brain develops the most rapidly. In these early years, children learn to talk, walk, think, and take in the world around them that results in establishing strong social-emotional foundations.

Understanding these “ages and stages” that young children go through will help you, as parents and caregivers, raise them in nurturing environments that support this remarkable growth and development.

For more information about early development, check out  -

• Infants (0-12 mos.)
• Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers

Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers

It’s Important to Know –

Infants, toddlers and preschoolers rapidly develop capabilities in emotional regulation, relationships, mental capacity, motor development, and language development. The foundation for future development is established at this time.

How strong that foundation is depends greatly on the quality of the young child’s early relationships and environments. In other words, positive early relationships and supportive, nurturing environments are the keys for healthy development. They greatly influence the ability to understand and express feelings and thoughts, care about others, cooperate and share, and to have later success in school and life. Learning about ways to support your children’s social-emotional development will help your children thrive.

• Zero-To-Three Child Development.org
• Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning - focuses on promoting positive social emotional development and school readiness in early childhood.

Many resources are available to help parents and caregivers understand and implement practices to support and encourage this important aspect of their children’s growth and development.