Child Development Series: Areas of Development in Early Childhood

“Through play, children learn about themselves and others, about how things work and about the world around them. And every play experience helps prepare them for school.”

Carol Nagode, Ms. Ed.

Fisher-Price Child Research

Physical: the changes in size, shape, and physical maturity of the body, including physical abilities and coordination.

• sensory: development of  the senses; sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
• fine motor skills: small movements that occur in the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips and tongue. (ex. pinching fingers together to pick up a bead)
• gross motor skills: involve movement of the arms, legs, feet, or entire body. (ex. dancing)

Cognitive:  the learning and use of language; the ability to reason, problem-solve, and organize ideas; it is related to the physical growth of the brain.

• curiosity: (ex. discovery tubs)
• imagination: (ex. pretend play)
• creativity: (ex. finger painting)
• thinking & problem solving: (ex. puzzles)

Social:  the process of gaining the knowledge and skills needed to interact successfully with others. & Emotional: feelings and emotional responses to events; changes in understanding one's own feelings and appropriate forms of expressing them.

• sharing & cooperation: (ex. buddy system/buddy playtime)
• listening & communication: (ex. playing telephone)
• self expression & confidence
• security & happiness

“Decades of research have documented that play has a crucial role in the optimal growth, learning, and development of children from infancy through adolescence.”

American Academy of Pediatrics

sources: 
Fisher-Price's Joy of Learning
Fosterparentscope Training
Wikipedia.org
My Brain :)