Knowing some basic concepts in Child development may help you to decide what types of activities would be good for a certain age group of children. Also it may help you decide what kind of materials you may need and how to keep them safe. This is to be used as a reference only not as a teaching.
<b>3 to 5 Years <sup>1</sup></b>
At this age, Children believe that everything revolves around them. They are the center of their world. Their world is full of magic. Their imagination is working all the time. They are also learning to be a good companions to other children their age.
How the child uses their hands
• Learns to hold his crayon better. Fat pencils and crayons help him to start drawing and pretend writing.
• Learns how to button his clothes and zip and unzip by himself.
• Offers to help with household chores. He may learn to pour liquid from a pitcher into a cup. Spilling at this age is normal though, so don’t get too upset if this happens.
<b>How the child moves </b>
• Learns to throw and catch a large ball.
• Hopping, climbing and skipping are activities that this child may love to practice.
• Learns to pedal a tricycle during this period.
• More prone to accidents because he may be more adventurous.
<b>How the child communicates </b>
• Asking "why" is a favorite activity for the child during this period. The child wants to know what causes the events around him.
• Learns to listen to the explanations of others with interest.
• Vocabulary continues to grow rapidly.
• Pronouncing words better, but may still leave out or substitute some sounds (especially "L" or "R").
• Imagination and his increased ability to remember the past make him an interesting storyteller.
• Recites familiar stories you have read. Reading is all about playing with words and sounds through rhymes, songs and stories.
<b>How the child is growing emotionally </b>
• May develop new fears especially about unfamiliar sights and sounds.
• Learns to share with others, most of the time.
• Learns to follow simple rules in games like "hide and seek", but will always want to win and be first. Playing "fair" comes later.
• Enjoys playing make believe games.
• May be very easily influenced by what he watches on TV. He may try to act as if he were his favorite character.
<b>5 to 7 Years <sup>1</sup> </b>
Years As the child begins school, each day becomes an adventure and a time of discovery. This period of childhood is the time each child begins to learn skills needed to become a self-sufficient person. Each child has his or her own personality that influences each step of learning and development. Physically, this is also a time of tremendous growth. The child will grow about 7 lbs. and 2 1/2 inches each year during this time. Muscular strength, coordination, and stamina increase, though the child may be somewhat clumsy at this time as his height and weight increase so rapidly.
How the child uses his hands
• Learns how to use a pencil to make shapes (like a square) and then to make letters, words and sentences.
• Draws people, houses and trees with more detail than before
• By age 7, the child will be able to tie his shoes
<b>How the child moves</b>
• Will develop more visual-motor coordination and be able to catch bounced or thrown balls more easily. The balls can be smaller now.
<b>How the child communicates </b>
• Recognize opposites, defines objects by their use, and uses relatively good sentence structure.
• Understands the rules of conversation and is able to talk and then listen.
<b>How your child explores</b>
• Children at this age can be both cooperative and competitive.
• May believe that objects have feelings. For example, a child of this age might feel sorry for a car that has a lot of passengers in it.
• Understands the concept of today, tomorrow, and yesterday.
• Follows two-step directions. For example, if you say to your child, "Go to the kitchen and get me a trash bag" they will be able to remember that direction.
• Knows his full name, age and address.
<b>How the child is growing emotionally </b>
• Developing self-esteem is a central issue at this age.
• Becomes aware that she is one of many people in the world. Up to this time, most children are focused primarily on themselves. Sometimes, this makes a child seem less outgoing than before.
• Enjoys being with parents and at home more at age 5 than she did at age 4. By age 8, children will probably be more focused on his peers.
• Develops the social skills to make friends.
• Mimics both good and bad adult behavior.
• Communicate well with others without your help.
• Gravitates toward playing with children of her own sex.
• Take time to listen. Take what the child tells you seriously. Most often children at this age tell the truth.
7-9 Years <sup>2.3</sup>
<b>How the child uses his hands </b>
• Have gotten the hang of basic dexterity, language, and social skills; now they're eager to practice and refine them
• Like to challenge themselves, intellectually, with puzzles and games that test their growing knowledge or involve strategy (checkers, card games)
• Hand-eye coordination more developed and is likely to be more interested in drawing and printing.
<b>How the child moves</b>
• Enjoys challenging themselves physically, with pick-up sticks, jacks, roller skates, pogo sticks, and ball games.
• Drives self until point of exhaustion
• May develop nervous habits or assume awkward positions, e.g., sitting upside down on the couch, constant foot tapping.
• Is busy and active; has frequent accidents.
<b>How the child develops socially </b>
• Because of the activity in higher brain "control" centers, children increase in levels of attention and ability to inhibit impulses.
• Makes new friends easily; works at establishing good two-way relationships; develops close friend of own sex. Considers clubs and groups important; enjoys school, doesn't like to be absent, and tends to talk more about it.
<b>How the child is growing emotionally </b>
• Likes more responsibility and independence. Is often concerned about doing well.
• May not respond promptly or hear directions; may forget; is easily distracted.
• May complain a lot ("Nobody likes me," "I'm going to run away," etc.).
7-9 Years <sup>2.3</sup>
<b>How the child moves</b>
• Engages in active, rough-and-tumble play (especially boys); has great interest in team games.
• May show self-consciousness about learning new skills.
<b>How the child develops socially </b>
• The Speed and efficiency of thought increases
• Planning and problem solving skills increase
• Likes working in groups.
• Boys and girls differ in personalities, characteristics, and interests; are very group and club oriented but always with same sex; sometimes silly within group.
• Becomes interested in world and community; may like to participate in community activities.
<b>How the child is growing emotionally </b>
• Emotional regulation becomes greater
• Is becoming very independent, dependable, and trustworthy.
• Is concerned with style.
• Girls mature faster than boys.
• Likes privacy.
1. www.howkidsdevelop.com
2. childdevelopmentinfo.com
3. http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/training/cdevguid/cdg11.htm#MORAL
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